September 30th — Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) Workshop Blog

The Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) outreach team from the Komohana Research and Extension Center hosted a 2-day outreach workshop for individuals who conduct outreach, non-formal education, and community engagement across the state. The purpose of this workshop was to prepare participants in sharing knowledge about ROD with communities across the islands.

HER took part in the event by hosting the workshop group in Keau’ohana to discuss restoration efforts in a forest impacted by ROD. A large group of 50 attendees were divided into two smaller groups facilitated by President, Jaya Dupuis and some of HER’s crew members. The event made for hardy discussion about restoration practices relating to the spread of ROD.

Most residents have been made aware of the serious threat this fungus poses to Hawaii’s most important native canopy tree, found in almost all of Hawaii’s micro climates from dessert to bog. ʻŌhiʻa is the first to rise out of barren fields of lava to begin the journey of tropical bounty, it is with no question the most significant species to the health of our ‘aina.

ROD presents a most serious threat to the entire State of Hawai’i. We can honestly say it has been the deepest tragedy for our beloved Keau’ohana despite HER’s best efforts. But we are determined to see it through this crisis, and witness the power of  long term restoration.