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The Maui News
The state is reminding travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival this week that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ohia from Hawaii island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ohia death, which is devastating to native forests, the state Department of Agriculture said.
It is estimated that at least 1 million ohia trees have been killed by disease just on Hawaii island alone, according to a department news release Monday.
The quarantine restricts the movement of ohia plants and plant parts, including flowers, leaves, seeds, stems, twigs, cuttings, untreated wood, logs, mulch, green waste and frass (sawdust from boring insects) and any soil from Hawaii island. Transport of such items is only allowed with a permit issued by the Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Branch.
"Agricultural inspectors will be stationed at the airports in Hilo and Kona to collect any 'ohi'a material which will be respectfully returned to the native forests on Hawai'i Island," said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Board of Agriculture. "It takes all of us to protect Hawai'i."
The board issued an emergency quarantine in August 2015 to stop the spread of the plant fungus from Hawaii island to other islands. A permanent quarantine rule was established in 2016. Any person who violates the quarantine rule may be charged with a misdemeanor and face fines ranging from $100 to $10,000, the news release said. For a second offense committed within five years of a prior conviction under this rule, the person or organization will face fines ranging from $500 to $25,000.
Travelers seeking more inspection information may contact DOA's Plant Quarantine office on Maui at (808) 872-3848.
More information on the disease may be found at hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/reportingohiawilt/ or cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/rod/.