Rotten at The Core
Hawai‘i’s Coconut trees are dying from an epidemic disease
by Olivia Techoueyres 12 Sept 2000, Maui Time
Hawai`i’s tropical image is often portrayed by its beautiful white sand beaches and magnificent swaying coconut trees. These trees are also a symbol of the visitor industry and are used widely for landscaping parks, roadways, business districts, hotels, golf courses, scenic vistas, and residences. Besides their beauty, “the tree of life” provided a valuable source of food and building materials for the Hawaiians and other islanders. Unfortunately, the future of coconut trees in the islands is bleak, because of a devastating disease that is killing them at an alarming rate.
This disease, known as “coconut heart rot”, is caused by the fungus Phytophthora katsurae. The pathogen was first identified in the 1970 by the University of Hawai`i (UH) on Kaua`i. The disease started on the windward side of the Islands with the loss of few trees. Nobody got alarmed because it seemed to spread slowly and was attributed to the wetness of the location. However in the last few years, coconut palms have died in great numbers on the windward side despite the unusual droughts.
On Maui, approximately 20 percent of the coconut trees have died. Scattered outbreaks are now beginning to occur in the drier areas of central, south and west Maui. The disease has also become an epidemic in Kaua`i, O`ahu and the Big Island. The dead palm shown on the cover, a victim of the disease, is located at the North Kihei Road entrance to Kihei. Infected trees have also been found in Kahului, Wailuku, Kihei, Wailea, Makena, Lahaina, Ka`anapali, Napili, Kapalua. Experts are realizing that the disease is now on the leeward side of the Islands, and the daily irrigation combined with the strong heat of the day will help the fungus thrive.
