Office of the Mayor County of Maui

SUBJECT: HEART ROT OF COCONUT

Dear Mr. Visintainer:

I wish to express my support of the request by the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals to appropriate $10,000 to continue the research and treatment of the Heart Rot of Coconut.

On Maui, about 20-25% of the coconut palms on the north shore have died because of this disease. On newly infected trees, the rot occurs internally with no visible external symptoms, which makes diagnosis and eradication extremely difficult.

Based on previous work by the University of Hawaii, it has been shown that injecting a systemic fungicide into the trunk of healthy trees will protect them from this infection. Without funds to treat this disease, many of our coconut trees will die. Because of the potential harm of this disease, Maui County strongly supports the appropriation of $10,000 to effectively treat and eradicate the Heart Rot disease.

Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to provide our comments on this important matter. Should you require additional information, please let me know. I would also appreciate being informed of the progress of this appropriation request.

Very truly yours,

JAMES “KIMO” APANA

Mayor, County of Maui