I just heard from my friend who works up at the koa mill site on Mauna Loa where I obtain my koa lumber. It appears someone has started three fires in the koa forests here on the Big Island. He said it looks like nearly 2,000 acres have burned. This is one of the most beautiful and dense koa forests on earth, and one of the most sacred places I have ever visited in my life. It is a tragedy for the soul of Hawaii. Surley the ancient ones are shedding tears as they look down on this horrific occurrence, a scar to their culture.
My friend had some very tense moments coming down off the mountain, as the fire burned across the trail. This is very sad and it is not possible to “enjoy the ride” today! Prayers are welcome as they are needed to help ensure the fire is out and also that those who are responsible are brought to justice. He just sent me photos which I will attempt to post later.
That’s to bad. Koa is a beautiful wood. I’m actually looking into having some bonzer fins made of koa wood right now w/ some slabs I have in the garage.
that is awful. how resistant is Koa to fire? I know some mainland tree species need fire in order to germinate. Fire is a natural part of many ecosystems(almost all of the continental US needs a burn every now and then)
Howzit RichardMc, Wow would have thought that would be in the paper along with the news about the lava flow. That’s a shame to think of all that Koa just burning up and the fact that it’s arson makes it even worse. Have you heard about the 12 Monkey pod trees they cut down at the new shopping center in Koloa, I was wondering where they would end up, would make some nice lumber.Aloha,Kokua
totally agree…are the hawaiian forests as messed up as ours? I know there is huge problem with exotics there, but not sure about the disturbance regime change due to haole-ization, etc…seems like the erosion is out of control on some islands with the historic overgrazing, cultivation, and now development, etc…that usually goes hand-in - hand with poor forestry…just add an idiot with matches and you have a nightmare. My guess is that after a fire in Hawaii you’d get invasion by salt cedar and other opportunistic invasive species, no?
Quote:
that is awful. how resistant is Koa to fire? I know some mainland tree species need fire in order to germinate. Fire is a natural part of many ecosystems(almost all of the continental US needs a burn every now and then)