Building on the success of past community gatherings, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) hosted the ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest and East Hawaiʻi Master2 Gardeners plant sale at its CARES Komohana station in Hilo in January.
Originally conceived as a way to raise awareness about the devastating disease Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD), the festival has grown into a collaboration between CTAHR and many government and community partners involved in the scientific research in the fight against ROD.
From ma uka to ma kai
The festival highlighted the interconnection between the ʻōhiʻa tree and Hawaiʻi’s environment, from ma uka to ma kai. CTAHR Educational Specialist Charlotte Godfrey-Romo explained that ʻōhiʻa makes up approximately 80% of Hawaiʻi’s native forests and is essential for recharging the island’s aquifers.
“Everything relies on ʻōhiʻa,” Godfrey-Romo said, adding that when invasive species replace them due to ROD, invasive species take over and reduce the ability of the watershed to recharge the aquifer.
Fun and community learning
The event featured interactive educational booths and a popular plant distribution from the East Hawaiʻi Master Gardeners, the UH Indigenous Cropping Systems Lab and the Ornamental Extension Program. People lined up early to take home spices, peppers, herbs and vanilla, ʻulu (breadfruit), ko (sugarcane), ʻawa (kava) and many more plants.
One guest described the atmosphere at the Komohana station as “one giant hug,” noting how the facility’s circular layout brought people together in a shared mission of conservation.
Key educational takeaways:
- Updates on ROD and how to prevent it from spreading.
- Information on how wild cattle and feral pigs and ambrosia beetles contribute to the spread of ROD.
- Steps that ranchers, farmers, hunters and lei makers can take to protect the forest.
For more information on upcoming events and tips for protecting native forests, visit the ROD website.
