Trees don’t have a voice, but if Hawai‘i’s native forests did, their message would be simple.
It would be “Help,” according to J.B. Friday, a forestry extension specialist at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
A measure moving through the state legislature, House Bill 1951 (HB 1951 HD2), aims to strengthen invasive species management and support research and response efforts tied to the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR).
The bill would require CTAHR to establish a Center on Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension, aimed at developing new ways to detect, monitor, and manage invasive species.
Supporters say the proposal builds on more than a decade of work by UH researchers, whose findings have shaped how the state responds to threats like Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, an invasive fungus that targets ʻŌhiʻa trees.
“The data and protocols UH has developed over the years are the backbone of our response,” said Maui-based researcher Melissa Strohecker.
In written testimony, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources backed the measure, citing the growing threat invasive species pose to native ecosystems and the need for stronger, coordinated response efforts.
Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, submitted written testimony supporting HB 1951, citing the need to increase biosecurity capacity across the state and noting that no single agency can manage all pest and invasive species efforts alone.
“It should augment the Department’s existing efforts, not replace or substitute them,” Hurd wrote.
More than a decade since Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death was first identified by UH researchers, the fungal disease continues to threaten Hawai‘i’s ecosystems. While more than a million trees have already been lost on Hawai‘i Island, O‘ahu’s disease is present but not yet out of control.
UH has been involved from the moment Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death was identified. Researchers confirmed the fungal pathogens on Hawai‘i Island in 2014, and UH teams now coordinate aerial surveys, field sampling, laboratory testing, and public outreach.
“From mapping to educating landowners, our work ensures early detection and coordinated action,” said Ambyr Miyake, statewide Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death outreach coordinator.
This research has directly informed policy, including restrictions on moving ʻōhiʻa wood between islands and guidelines for safely handling infected trees.
“UH research doesn’t just study the disease, it gives lawmakers and communities the tools to act quickly and effectively,” Strohecker said.
Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death has killed more than a million trees statewide and continues to spread, attacking ohia lehua which makes up roughly 80% of Hawai‘i’s native forests.
The ʻōhiʻa is sacred to Hawaiian culture and vital to ecosystem health, capturing water and providing habitat for countless species. Its loss reshapes forests and disrupts the balance of native ecosystems.
But the root of the problem runs much deeper than the fungus itself, researchers say.
“The fungi need an injury to get into the trees,” Friday said. “So forest protection isn’t just about the disease, it’s about preventing damage in the first place.”
Across the islands, invasive animals, particularly pigs and goats, strip bark and damage tree trunks, opening the door to infection, a problem UH researchers hope the new biosecurity center can help mitigate through coordinated invasive species management under HB 1951. Once a tree is infected, it cannot be saved.
“Once a tree shows signs of infection, there’s no turning back, so spotting it early is crucial,” Friday said.
Dead trees create openings for invasive plants, which outcompete native species and prevent forest regeneration.
“It’s a chain reaction,” Friday said. “Pathogen, animals, and weeds all working together.”
Hawai‘i Island has seen the most severe impacts. On Maui, detections remain limited, with no major spread in recent years due to geography, access, and rapid response.
On O‘ahu, the disease remains limited. Roughly two dozen trees have tested positive, and only the slower-moving strain has been detected in residential areas as opposed to the more aggressive strain found on Hawai‘i Island.
Infected trees are usually recognizable by the rapid browning of leaves that tend to stay on the tree, with the whole canopy affected rather than one branch at a time.
“Public reporting has been key,” Miyake said. “Residents spotting sick trees allows us to respond before the disease spreads.”
Because the numbers remain low, crews can still contain outbreaks by cutting infected trees, treating the wood, and preventing further spread.
When a tree is suspected of infection, crews assess it and collect samples, which are confirmed in a Hilo lab. If positive, teams come and remove the tree.
“Every step, from detection, removal, follow-up, is coordinated to stop the spread,” Strohecker said.
New technology, including remote sensing to measure water content in leaves, allows early identification before visible symptoms appear. Long term solutions are being developed to protect affected ʻōhiʻa forests, such as the creation of genetically resistant ʻōhiʻa trees.
Researchers with UH Hilo have made improvements in diagnostic testing through aerial sampling drones, which have proven useful in the collection of wood samples in hard to reach terrain or from upper canopy branches.
Fenced areas show significantly lower infection rates by excluding pigs and goats. Fencing has become one of the most effective ways to protect forests, though it is expensive and sometimes controversial.
Funding for fencing has been uncertain in recent years, as some fences block traditional hunting grounds, restrict access to culturally significant areas, and change how animals move through the landscape.
“Keeping the animals out is the best defense,” Friday said.
House Bill 1951 represents an effort to maintain momentum by tying funding, research, and management together.
But researchers say public action remains essential. Cleaning boots and gear, avoiding moving plant material, and reporting tree deaths are key.
“Prevention isn’t just on the researchers, it’s on everyone,” Friday said.
