FIELD TRIP: HARC Maunawili Substation Tour and Tree Disease Walk

Saturday, August 2, 2025

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM HST

Location: Hawai'i Convention Center, Main Entrance

Organizer(s)

ND

Nicklos S. Dudley

Head of Forestry Program
Hawaii Agriculture Research Center
Maunawili, Hawaii, United States
CF

Carrie Fearer

Assistant Professor
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
EK

Elena Karlsen-Ayala

USDA Forest Service
Hamden, Connecticut, United States

Ticketed event; preregistration required

Brief Description: Explore how scientists at the Hawaiian Agriculture Research Center (HARC) are using genetics, silvicultural practices, and breeding techniques to advance Hawaii's forestry sector and improve the yield and quality of harvested trees. This tour will highlight the successful host-resistance program of the endemic, high-value hardwood tree, Acacia koa, that is threatened by the disease koa wilt. After the tour of the Maunawili Substation led by HARC senior forest scientist, we will be taken on a disease walk by USFS research plant pathologists in the nearby Waimānalo Forest Reserve to observe other tree diseases threatening Hawaii's native tree species, including Rapid Ohi'a death and myrtle rust.

Buses will pick up participants at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Buses will stage outside the main entrance.