KAILUA-KONA — The restriction on the movement of ohia and soil from Hawaii Island is now permanent, the state Department of Agriculture reported.
Administrative rules imposing permanent quarantine restrictions on the intrastate movement on ohia and other material that may spread rapid ohia death, also known as ohia wilt, which is destroying the native ohia forests on Hawaii Island, became permanent last week.
These permanent rules replace the emergency interim rules established in August 2015. To date, the disease has only been detected on Hawaii Island.
The permanent rules restrict the movement of the following from Hawaii Island:
Ohia plants and plant parts including: flowers, leaves, seeds, stems, twigs, cuttings, untreated wood, logs, mulch greenwaste and frass (sawdust from boring insects, such as beetles); and soil.
Movement of ohia material and soil from Hawaii Island requires inspection and a permit issued by the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Testing and quarantine of some items may be required.
Shippers may contact the Plant Quarantine offices in Hilo at 961-9393 or Kona at 326-1077 for more information.
Any person who violates the rule may be charged with a misdemeanor and fined not less than $100. The maximum fine is $10,000. For a second offense committed within five years of a prior conviction under this rule, the person or organization shall be fined not less than $500 and not more than $25,000.
Rapid ohia death is a deadly fungus that is killing ohia trees in east, west and south Hawaii Island. ROD was first noticed in 2010 in Puna.