HI HB1548

Appropriates $750,000 from general revenues to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for fiscal year 2019-2020 to study and combat rapid ohia death.

Rapid ohia death has killed hundreds of thousands of native ohia trees and affected more than 135,000 acres of forest on Hawaii island, with ohia comprising 80 percent of the state's native forests.

Disease is caused by two fungi species, Ceratocystis lukuohia and Ceratocystis huliohia, which are spread by boring beetles attracted to dead ohia trees and by wounds caused by hooved animals.

Ohia trees provide critical habitats for plants and animals, recharge island aquifers, and hold significant cultural importance to native Hawaiians for practical uses and traditional practices including hula.

Effective July 1, 2019.