Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death

Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) is a fungal disease that is rapidly killing forests of ʻōhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha)—an ecologically important native tree species within the Hawaiian Islands that has provided a plethora of habitats for endangered birds and other species. Initially reported in 2010 by landowners in Puna, one of nine districts on the Island of Hawaiʻi, ROD spread quickly across tens of thousands of acres of ʻŌhiʻa trees on the Hawaiian Islands. To date, hundreds of thousands of these trees have died from this fungal disease alone. Previously healthy Ōhiʻa trees have been observed to die within a few days to weeks, which is why the disease is known as "Rapid Ōhiʻa Death."

In April 2018, the cause of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death was identified as two fungal species within the genus Ceratocystis that were previously unknown to science: Ceratocystis huliohia and Ceratocystis lukuohia. By May 2018, infected ʻōhiʻa trees were found on the island of Kauai, prompting requests that members of the public limit transportation of ʻōhiʻa products within the island. The less aggressive of the two fungus species, C. huliohia, has been confirmed on Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. According to experts, the fungus is likely to have been carried between the islands on the shoes or hiking boots of tourists, but it can also be transmitted by dirty tools, animals or via the wind. Currently, there is no cure for infected ʻŌhiʻa trees. Ways to prevent the disease from spreading is through avoiding the transmission of any parts of the tree to other ʻŌhiʻa's, such as by removing soil debris from shoes, other gear, and tools. In order to fight back against the spread of this disease and to educate citizens on what the disease is, scientists and government officials have created a "ROD Strategic Response Plan," which outlines topics such as what the disease is, how it spreads, and how to prevent it from spreading.