Arbor Day ... of a different kind

BIG whole for new forest tree

Yesterday's headlines read "Ohia in Trouble" and shared a similar story to those we included in previous blog entries.  One additional quote stood out, however.  A research ecologist with the US Forest Service graphically outlined the severity of this crisis with the following quote.


"Ohia (trees) form the foundation of our native forests...a keystone species in terms of forest development...and, they comprise approximately 50% of the biomass of a native forest." 

Marc and Chris at work

This is not just about the loss of "some" trees, but is a very serious condition that could place the entire island ecosystem at risk.

Today, the chain saws are buzzing as the last of our our recently dying ohia trees are cut down, about 15-16.   Today, we ALSO dug a gigantic hole for one of our new forest trees.  (see 6/13 post for all the new trees)  It seemed an appropriate response to something over which we have no control. 

"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."  Maya Angelou

If you live here on the Big Island, and need tree work, we would have no hesitancy in recommending the two amazing tree guys who did our work:  Call Chris or Mark 968-7527 or 209-1311

Introducing "Princess I'ilani"

Tasha Tudor and Corgyn

As most of our friends and ohana know, we have been a three-dog family for many years.  Now, once again, we feel our family is complete with the adoption of our newest corgi -- Princess I'ilani.  While we were initially considering a puppy at first, when we met this little girl, we fell in love. 


She is a sweet, gentle petite little girl and her given Hawaiian name means "midget from heaven."

We had the name "Tasha" on the refrigerator for years -- thinking that one day we would add a little girl to our family -- named in honor of Tasha Tudor.  (If you don't know who this grand lady was, please check out this link: Tasha Tudor and her CORGIS .)
 
I'ilani is also one of Reba's pups so she is Poko's true little sister, and already the two of them are best buddies.  Reba mom even seems a bit relieved that Poko has a youngster to play with.

(And, for those of you who wondered about our sanity as we considered the idea of an additional puppy -- we have come to our senses and decided three is quiet enough.) 

Luana Ohana Forest

We have been doing a bit of research about what kinds of trees we want to replace our lovely Ohia trees as they die.  Right now, our property is surrounded by a stately Ohias, but so far, the only ones dying are up nearer to the front of the property.  If you have a mental image for Hawaii of white sand beaches and palm trees then that’s not where we live.  We live in a tropical forest with many kinds of beautiful trees.

Whatever we choose to plant needs to appear natural in this forested setting.  As we began our tree search, however, we were finding an abundance of palm trees (hundreds of kinds), fruit trees by the dozens,  and lots of exotic imports.  Although there are LOTS of beautiful palms available, and we have a few, that was not the direction we wanted to go.  Given the infected, dying ohias, using them as replacements just didn’t seem wise either.  Because of our age, we don't have 20 years to wait -- we want to enjoy our forest soon!

Many phone conversations and emails later, most of which simply referred me to other leads that just didn’t pan out, we got a hit and it led me to a charming dedicated tree and forest LOVER --  Jill, of Future Forest Nursery right here on the Big Island.  Jill is a silviculturalist whose passion of 24 years has been “silviculture” – controlling (growing, planting and monitoring) the establishment and quality of forests – for a variety of uses/reasons.

She listened as I explained my desire for a “real forest” sidestepping the easy palm solution.  Despite the fact that her chosen profession regularly deals with thousands of trees and large forest-related projects, she listened as I gave her my “Tree Wish List” of 1) Native and endemic Hawaii trees, 2) hardwood trees 3) eucalyptus, 4)flowering/ornamentals.   Her reply was “I have all those!”   So I made arrangements with her to come and pick them up at her magical wonderland property up in the hillsides above Kailua-Kona.

We are very excited about our new baby trees, which Jill assured us we would be fully enjoying within five years.  So, here are a few photos of the 13 different varieties that will be part of Luana Ohana Forest.

I asked Jill if it was OK to share her contact info with you and she said yes; however, she also said to remind people that sometimes it takes months for new seedlings, so she is always rotating a variety of trees.  Her website is extensive and well worth a visit: www.forestnursery.com.   MAHALO JILL!
 

Trouble in Paradise

As I write this blog entry, I am looking out the window at our beautiful ohia trees in bloom with lehua blossoms.  As I look south, though, across to our neighbor's property I can see dozens of leafless dead ohia trees that reflect what is happening to some of our trees as well.

This last week we had a sad project -- taking photographs of the ohia trees on our property that have died because of an insidious fungus.  Just in the last year, about 12 of our beautiful ohia trees have died.  One week they look fine; but within 7-10 days we watch them die from the bottom all the way to the top.   Those of you who have visited our home in the Puna District on the Big Island can understand how devastating this is.  We have friends who live close who have lost ALL of their ohia trees!

Just this week a disheartening report from University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources was released.

Ohia trees alive and full of Lehua blossoms

You can read the report if you like by using the following link UH Ohia Report.
The Honolulu Daily Beat news is equally grim:  Honolulu Daily Beat - OHIA TREES

Same view -- 1/2 our trees gone

Here are the two important sentences from this report.

"This disease has the potential to kill ʻōhiʻa trees statewide."  "Currently, there is no effective treatment to protect ʻōhiʻa trees from becoming infected."

The first photo was taken just a year ago, and the second was taken yesterday.  At this point, all we can do is enjoy them every day, hope that they don't all die, and begin to buy (different) replacement trees.  Several of the dead trees are too close to the electric lines or the house and will have to be cut or topped.

Bird-Bird-BIrd! Bird is the Word!

While we were still living in Northern California's Humboldt County, we enjoyed watching the birds from our kitchen window.  We had some really amazing sitings and enjoyed the annual return of many species.  Naturally, when we retired and moved to the Big Island, we made sure our library was well stocked with books to help us identify our new bird family.  One of the first birds we "met" was the lovely Honey Creeper, the 'Apapane; we found a dead one in our driveway when we first moved in.  We preserved it by dehydration and its sweet form graces one of our windows as a reminder of the island's fragility.

The story of both flora and fauna here in Hawaii is really a sad one.  Like other places on the planet, the birds (and plants) of Hawaii evolved for millions of years.  The isolation that produced such a distinctive array and variety did not serve well when that isolation was lost at the introduction of colonization. The birds had no predators or disease.  Even with the earliest waves of Polynesians, things began to change, but that change has reached exponential levels in current times.  Invasive plants, insects and  mammals, as well as human beings, have resulted in mass waves of extinction in the bird (and plant) population.

  "Today, the rate of colonization by alien species is estimated to be about 10-20 species per year," says Jack Jeffrey, local bird photographer (of bird guidebook below), whose website is full of fascinating history, and photography.  Check out Jack's beautiful website! 

Jack's photos in Guidbook

At our bird feeder

MYSTERY BIRDS

This week while watching the comings and goings at our feeder, we discovered a new pair of birds.  After a few tries, we were able to get some photographs to help begin identification.  Now, you may think this is easy -- but it is NOT!  

At first we got really excited because the birds appeared to be a very RARE endangered and nearly extinct Palila, but of course we suspected that was not the case. (Just look at their similarities!!)


Half the fun was the "Quest for the Bird's Identity."  We are "faceless people" that is we don't partake in Facebook.  However, just in  "tossing it out" to a small e-mail world of ohana we received a pile of helpful replies.  There are 2 (but not mutually exclusive) answers:  They are juvenile Saffron Finches (from our "regulars" the bright yellow adults pictured in our ohia trees) or they are one of many kinds of Saffron Finches (we did find an EXACT match) -- but it could go either way. 

6/6 Update:  Saw the new pair gathering nest materials - suspect that they are not juveniles.