Tunnel Vision

Invasive trees crowd out native species - Hwy 132

After Hurricane Iselle it took weeks to clear trees

In the few years we have both visited and lived here in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii, there have been a few changes in a category that might be called ‘tunnel vision.’  

Prior to Hurricane Iselle in 2014, there was a stretch of Highway 132 (from Pahoa Village down to Kapoho) that was tunneled with overgrown giant savanna-like Albezia trees that had become infamous as “the trees that ate Puna.” The cleanup was long and messy, but as a result, it brought discussions about this horribly invasive species to the foreground; the result has been a heightened sense of public and county awareness towards appropriate management (somewhat illusive goal being eradication.)

"Mango Road" to the ocean

Looking up our driveway in 2012

One of the beautiful places here in Puna that first struck our hearts was the Mango edged one-lane road down to the boat ramp at Pohoiki – a magical tunnel I have featured several times in our blog entries.  Unlike the junky invasive trees, these mango trees are stable and strong, and produce piles of mangoes annually.   

We found another tunnel, oddly enough,when first looked at the house we now live in. The driveway into our property formed a long lush green tunnel.  Of course, later we learned most of that tunnel was invasive species.  We also lost some ohia long the drive.  We have since planted local, endemic, and hardwood trees as replacements.

Tree stump of large Albezia removed

"Tree Tunnels" on the way to our house (both now gone.)

For several years we have referenced "tunnels" to give directions to our house.  Our street was just past the "second tunnel" coming down Leilani. Fortunately the newly formed Big Island Invasive Species Committee is NOT suffering from "tunnel vision" and are taking a proactive stand to remove some of these giants before they fall over.

Big Island Invasive Species Committee  BIISC --is a cooperative of over 20 agencies including education, forestry, agriculture, transportation, tourism, watershed, university and National Guard.  Power and internet providers also have had to reconsider their own tunnel vision and take a serious look at how much prevention saves when disasters occur.

     

A Very Bad Tree!

One of our 100' tall Albizia trees

When we bought our house in 2012, our realtor pointed out several lovely looking trees and warned us that we would want to have them removed.   WHY?  We asked.  Well, the Albizia is a fast growing tree that is invasive (weedy) in native ohia forests in Hawaii, especially in Puna on the Big Island. as well as on land disturbed by human activities. Albizia causes ohia to die off, and makes the environment more favorable for other invasive species (clidemia, guava, and possibly miconia and the coqui frog.)   (These trees were apparently imported from New Guinea or Solomon Island where they are cut down and used.)

Bad tree!  One tree can cover a whole acre!

Treated with poison, the tree dies fast.

Known as "The Tree that Ate Puna, "  the albizia's beautiful appearance is deceptive.  Their brittle wood and weak structure pose a hazard to nearby infrastructure. Cars and houses have been flattened, and people severely injured and nearly killed by these forest monsters.


This was particularly true in 2014 when Hurricane Iselle came ashore just a few miles from our house.  Hundreds and hundreds of these junk trees fell, causing power outages that for some residents lasted week
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Recently the both the state and county agencies have united with Hawaii University and other concerned citizen groups to create programs to help eradicate these invasive trees.  Neighbors have attended seminars and have been provided with a new potent poison called "Milestone" that can kill a big tree in only one week!! This last week, we carefully applied just a few drops of this to another 100' tree, and in only a week, the top limbs and leaves are dying.

(Credit for aerial photos:  Big Island Now)