TROPICAL FORESTRY IN EAST HAWAII
PLANT OR RENEW A HARDWOOD FOREST
LEGACY
Keanakolu, Moku O Keawe
On the island of Hawaii, at around 6000' elevation on the east facing slopes of Mauna Kea lie thousands of acres that come under the care of the Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
With the goal of regenerating the forest, creating jobs, and earning revenue, the DHHL put out a request for proposals (RFP) to salvage dead and dying Koa from a 132 acre tract of degraded forest.
Micah Miller, Certified Tropical Forester, wrote the forestry proposal that won the logging contract, and Big Island Koa Company began a two year camp out on the mountain, salvaging Koa. Logs were milled on site into 4/4 and 8/4 stock, edged, and moved to our storage area for kiln drying. This product is available at reasonable prices, please call for more information: 808-640-6894
In the Spring of 2008 we were notified by DHHL that Micah's proposal to salvage Koa had been accepted over seven others for the third reforestation project at Humu'ula. While the contract is being finalized we are preparing once more to set up camp on Mauna Kea, this time for three years, and with 350 acres to care for. This is a good time to contact Micah Miller and arrange for future shipment of green slabs of Hawaiian Koa from which you can manufacture your own veneer.
During the Winter a fire occured in the dry grasses that blanket these degraded Koa forests, causing a 2600 acre burn which passed quickly through the trees without causing much damage. Much of the thick blanket of invasive grasses which prevents koa regeneration was burned away. We are anticipating more legacy seeds to sprout, having been stimulated by the fire and nourished by the minerals provided. Hopefully these will become apparent during the next few weeks, and replace those destroyed in the fire. If you want to know the rest of the story, send an email inquiry from this site, and mahalo for caring.
Before the area is logged, it is inspected by various agencies and professionals who have a part in making certain this is a sustainable harvest which will leave a legacy of an invigorated and improved forest. Healthy trees are left undistrubed, dying trees are left intact for wildlife habitat, and healthy legacy trees are left for their seed source.
