Goals and Objectives

Prevent Miconia plants from becoming established in new areas and to slow their spread where they exist now.

Eradicate all flowering or near flowering trees in the Kona infestations (Honalo and Honaunau) by 6/30/99 and define population boundaries.

Search potential areas and locate/validate plants reported by outside sources. Eradicate outlying and remote populations.

Three new areas were explored and found to have miconia. A botanical garden near site 4-Ninole was visited and a six-foot tall potted Miconia was found at the registration desk. Owners did not allow Miconia staff to destroy the plant, stated it was there for educational purposes. A DLNR forestry crewmember found a mature miconia tree in Kamuela Highlands subdivision, intentionally planted in a residential lot about a mile from the back end of Waipio valley. This owner was contacted and reluctantly allowed Miconia staff to destroy the plant. A road survey including interviews with residents in the subdivision did not reveal any other Miconia in the area. In a report from DLNR Forestry Division, Miconia was seen near Waa Waa subdivision in Puna. This new infestation was later confirmed by Miconia field crews, and was located in Nanawale Forest Reserve, near Waa Waa. Residents of Waa Waa formed a volunteer group and have adopted the site. They have been working with the Miconia crew and on their own to destroy the plants. Fifteen mature trees and almost 5000 immature plants were destroyed so far. Work is still in progress at this site.

Work at core populations was limited this past quarter to one day of crew work, and following up on hotline calls in highly visible areas. The crew worked in a gully just above Mamalahoa Hwy. in Onomea. Fifteen trees and 2264 immature plants were treated on a four acre block. This area was also treated last year by the field team and Alu Like summer youth.

A total of 30 separate sites were monitored this quarter. Three of these sites were initial visits, the balance (27 sites) were areas where prior work was inspected. Seedlings and saplings are still sprouting at sites where mature trees were destroyed in the past.

The fungus has survived and is steadily infecting trees at the application sites. Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture will apply the fungus at all suitable sites when more of the fungus is cultured. HDOA is short on staff at this time, so additional fungus treatment will not be right away.

visit Hawaiian Ecosystems At Risk > HTTP://WWW.HEAR.ORG < for more information on invasive species

Operation Miconia

mahalo to Sig Zane of Hilo for creating
the Miconia Logo

Big Island Invasive Species Committee/Operation Miconia
16 East Lanikaula Street - Hilo, Hawaii - 96720
Ph: (808) 961-3299 - Hotline & Voice Mail
Alt. Ph: (808) 974-4140 - Office & Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture Reception Desk
FAX: (808) 974-4148