Hawaii Forestry Extension

09/30/2026

The white-faced ( chihi) is an occasional visitor to our shores. You can see a little bit of iridescent green tones on the wings of the bird on the left.

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09/23/2026

The Merrie Monarch Festival announced a three-year moratorium on the use of three native Hawaiian plant species, maile, palapalai, and ʻōhiʻa lehua, in the Merrie Monarch hula competition next year and going forward. The festival organizers are concerned with over-harvesting of maile (Alyxia stellata), a fragrant native vine, palapalai (Microlepia strigosa), a native fern, and the spreading of Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, a fungal disease, on ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), a forest tree with spectacular blossoms. It is hoped that the pause in use will allow populations of these culturally important plants to recover and also will encourage the use of other appropriate materials. The photo depicts a lei (garland) made of other native Hawaiian plants including pūkiawe (Leptecophylla tameiameiae), ‘ōhelo (Vaccinium reticulatum), ‘ae fern (Polypodium pellucidum), and ‘a‘alii‘i (Dodonaea viscosa).

09/12/2026

Be the ʻanoʻano, keep planting ʻŌhiʻa. Help teach others about the importance of Hawaiiʻs keystone species! ♥️

09/11/2026

Here's a chance to learn the latest about the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle at the science symposium at UH Manoa in two weeks.

08/28/2026

Hurricane Lala may have spread Rapid Ohia Death in Puna, Ka‘u, and South Kona.,

More than one million trees on Hawaiʻi Island have already been lost to the fungal disease Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, and Hurricane Lala may worsen that epidemic.

08/13/2026

A new w**d to look out for for people on the Big Island.

08/13/2026

Looking at possibilities for using our eucalyptus plantations.

08/09/2026

2026 Hawaii's Woodshow opened last night with more than 420 visitors at the First Friday event. Come see us at the Downtown Art Center 1041 Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu!

07/31/2026

What causes this damage to coconut trees? This question is one for Hawai‘i island residents: people on Guam, American Samoa, and sadly now on O‘ahu are only too familiar with the damage caused by the coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros). V-shaped cuts in the leaves (photo 1) and large holes bored in the stem just below the crown (photo 2) are signs of the beetle. CRB has been found on the Kona side of Hawai‘i island but so far is still isolated there and could still be eliminated. If you are on the Big Island and you see signs of coconut rhinoceros beetle, please report it to the Big Island Invasive Species Committee: https://www.biisc.org/pest/coconut-rhinoceros-beetle/ That website also has great information about the current status of the beetle, signs, look-alike species, and more. Big Island Invasive Species Committee

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