The public is being asked not to take cut and stockpiled ohia trees from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (formerly known as Saddle Road) improvement project on Hawaii Island to minimize the risk of transmission of a fungus attributed to Rapid Ohia Death.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal Lands Highway Division are completing the final phase of the project. Construction has commenced for the realignment of the roadway from milepost 5.6 to milepost 11.7 west of Hilo. The contractor has performed initial site preparation work and vegetation clearing operations are now underway.

Provisions for tree removal, handling, and the disposition of cut timber have been developed for the project to minimize the risk of transmission, including sanitation of equipment and tools when leaving the project site, and a key component of containing ohia and other vegetative matter within the project area.

Similar efforts are in effect to prevent the introduction of the fungus from other locations on the island that could be transmitted by vehicles and equipment that are not thoroughly sanitized.

Several individuals have made inquiries or requests to take vegetation from the project site and there have been instances observed of individuals hauling timber from the work area. We ask the public to please refrain from leaving the limits of the existing Saddle Road and removing any vegetation from the project site.

According to experts, Rapid Ohia Death is attributed to a fungus (Ceratocystis fimbriata) that has been spreading rapidly across the island. Aerial surveys taken in January show the disease has affected more than 34,000 acres on the Big Island. The fungus lives inside ohia trees and can be transported with wood and untreated wood products to uninfected areas on the island.

While extensive research efforts are occurring, experts agree that the most immediate action to prevent the acceleration of the fungus spread is to restrict movement of infected ohia trees. In fact, there is a new quarantine rule that prevents the interisland movement of all ohia plant or plant parts and soil, except by permit issued by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Please help protect our native forests and kindly leave all plants in the project area. Visit www.rapidohiadeath.org for additional information on the disease.