Hurricane Lowell May Spread Fungus Across Kauaʻi Forests
Storm winds could carry beetle-borne spores that kill native ʻōhiʻa trees, and state assessments of the damage are still underway.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Botany
Live Poll
Do you think Hawaii's natural areas are getting better or worse in your community?
Hurricane Lowell may have spread the fungal pathogen behind Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death across Kauaʻi's native forests. The state and its partners are still assessing storm impacts in those forests.
Why it matters
The disease has already killed more than a million ʻōhiʻa trees on Hawaiʻi Island, and high winds can wound trees and carry the beetle frass that spreads it. Kauaʻi's forests have so far seen fewer than 1,000 cases since the disease was first identified there in 2018.
Kauaʻi has recorded fewer than 1,000 Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death cases, while Hawaiʻi Island has lost more than a million ʻōhiʻa trees to the disease. Officials have not yet determined how many trees the storm infected, and infected trees may take several months to die.
The details
The fungus enters ʻōhiʻa trees through wounds in their bark and roots, and tiny beetles feeding on infected trees produce powdery frass carrying its spores. Hurricane Lowell's strong winds may have wounded trees and carried that frass into new areas, and road access to many remote parts of Kauaʻi stayed blocked for weeks after the storm.
Timeline
2014: Tropical Storm Iselle hit Hawaiʻi Island and new Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death hot spots appeared.
2018: Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death was first identified on Kauaʻi.
November 10, 2026: Hurricane Lowell may have spread the disease across Kauaʻi's forests.
Seasonal Patterns
Storm-driven spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death follows the pattern seen after Tropical Storm Iselle on Hawaiʻi Island in 2014, when new hot spots appeared after a storm. Kauaʻi's first identified cases in 2018 suggest the disease has been moving across the islands over several years.
Hikers and residents on Kauaʻi should watch for official guidance on which forest areas are open and safe to enter while assessments continue. Anyone who spots dying ʻōhiʻa trees should report them to state forestry officials so that new infections can be tracked.
The takeaway
Storms can move forest disease far beyond where it started, so reducing wounds on trees and limiting movement of infected material can slow the spread. Watching for early signs of decline in ʻōhiʻa can help catch new outbreaks sooner.
Further reading
For more on the plant science behind this forest threat, see the Botany section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hawai'i Public Radio.
Live Poll
Do you think Hawaii's natural areas are getting better or worse in your community?
