It’s not only state agencies that are working to save the ohia tree.
A crowdfunding campaign to create an ohia seed bank at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Lyon Arboretum began in February. The seeds that are collected will serve as an insurance policy for the native tree, allowing for eventual reforestation of areas devastated by rapid ohia death.
Since kicking off in February, the Ohia Love campaign has surpassed its original goal of $35,000 to reach $38,220 in contributions as of Thursday. So far, 424 people have donated to the cause.
“The outpouring of support — I expected people to care and want to help, but it’s been really amazing,” said Marian Chau, manager of the arboretum’s Seed Conservation Laboratory. “People have been sharing the information and spreading the word.”
At the end of the month, Chau and seed lab technician Tim Kroessing will make their first trip to the Big Island to gather seeds on the Kona side.
“On that part of the island, the ohia are at the right stage to collect seeds,” Chau said. The trees will have finished flowering and begun to produce capsules. Mature capsules can be collected for seeds. Chau and Kroessing are working with Jill Wagner of the Hawaii Island Native Seed Bank, who has helped coordinate with land owners and state agencies to arrange collection sites. The ohia seeds will be processed at the seed bank before being shipped back to the Oahu arboretum in sealed storage packages. Since reaching its first goal, the campaign has moved on to a second: $50,000.
That amount will allow the arboretum to hire a student employee dedicated to the project, and to double the amount of seeds that can be stored.
“We’ve designated different zones around the island that we want to visit,” Chau said.
One type of ohia, the Newelli variety, had its entire range threatened by ROD. The team plans to make a trip in the fall, when it is fruiting, to ensure that it is added to the seed bank.
“That’s a riparian variety, so it’s found growing right along streams,” Chau said. “It’s pretty unique for ohia; we definitely don’t want to lose it.”
To make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/ohialove.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
