(BIVN) – The ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest was be held at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo on Sunday.

Hundreds of participants were treated to live music and entertainment, informational talks, games, and demonstrations on how to reduce the spread of Rapid ‘Ohi’a Death, the Ceratocystis fimbriata fungus that has already killed hundreds of thousands of ʻōhiʻa on Hawaii Island. This disease has killed trees in the South Hilo, Puna, Kaʻū and Kona districts – and recently, in Waimea, officials say – and has the potential to kill ʻōhiʻa trees statewide.

Anya Tagawa, who does outreach for the Hawaii DLNR DOFAW Natural Area Reserve System program, spoke about organizing the event during a video interview.

There were many booths set up to relay the information on how to preventing the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources lists these five important practices: