Deadly Disease Striking Coconut Palms

Thousands of coconut trees threatened as island braces to fend off plague.

By Gene Thompson, Maui Island Weekly, May 11-17, 2000

If any one thing symbolizes the magic of the Hawaiian Islands, it is the coconut palm. Our visitor advertising is saturated with photos and drawings of these graceful trees. Besides their beauty, “the tree of life” provided a valuable source of food and building materials for Hawaiians and other islanders.

And despite their delicate appearance, coconut palms are among the strongest of trees, holding up in storms that wreak destruction all around them. Yet even the coconut palm is no match for the dread coconut heart rot disease that has come to Hawaii and Maui.

The disease started in the 1980’s on the windward sides of the islands where its growth was aided by the heavier rainfall there. In the 1990’s the disease began to appear in the arid areas of Maui. The dead palm in the photo on the right, a victim of the disease, is located at the North Kihei Road entrance to Kihei. Infected trees have been found in Maui Meadows, Wailea and West Maui.

The disease enters the crown of the tree causing its bud to decay. The tree fronds on infected trees gradually die and fall, posing a safety hazard beneath them. Once the process starts the infected tree is effectively dead and should be removed, said Philippe Visintainer.

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