Paradise lost: Hawaii palm trees to be cut down due to CRB

HALEIWA, Hawaii (KHON2) — Hawaii’s palm trees are on the chopping block.

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Several palms were marked for removal after being damaged by invasive beetles on the North Shore of Oahu and experts said it is a troubling sign.

Longtime Haliewa resident Kali Bass said he first noticed the V-shaped fronds that indicate damage from coconut rhinoceros beetles at Ali’i Beach Park about two years ago. He said the trees were not always so shabby.

“Oh, no ways,” Bass said. “It just scares me that on this island, there won’t be another coconut left in about four years or so!”

The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation said marked trees could be removed as early as the week of Monday, Sept. 30 due to concern over heavy crowns falling on beachgoers.

The palms at Ali’i are not the first casualties of the beetle battle. Parks and Recreation officials said about 100 palms were previously cut down along the Leeward Coast.

“We’ve, of course, seen that in some parts of Oahu, but when it happens to the beach parks where people have gone for recreation and it’s a, it’s an important part of the look of the area, it really hits home. Unfortunately, I think on Oahu, that’s probably going to be happening more frequently with trees dying on their own or having to be removed,” CRB Response deputy incident commander Keith Weiser said. “Yeah, it’s very troubling. One of the big risks is if a tree dies and it doesn’t get removed and taken care of, it can become a breeding site and more beetles are going to come out of that decaying tree.”

KHON2 counted about two dozen palm trees that were marked for removal at Ali’i Beach Park on Friday, Sept. 27. Residents and visitors alike said it will not feel the same after they are gone.

“It’s a sad feeling,” said Florida visitor Sandra Weber. “You think of Hawaii, Florida, California, any of those tropical places, they have palm trees, different varieties, coconut trees, what have you. It’s the symbolism of Hawaii!”

“It’s what you really associate a tropical island paradise with, is coconuts! Coconut palms or whatever,” Bass said. “I believe that they should put more effort really into research, scientists going, whatever it takes to stop these things.”

Weiser said they have seen evidence of banana, sugarcane and even taro being damaged by CRB.

“And once palms are gone, they’re going to go for other things and keep going down their favorites list until they, you know, find something they can feed on,” Weiser said.

City officials said they have plans to cut down about 80 palms from Mokuleia to Haleiwa and will consider options to replant young trees in their place once they are gone.