The state said today that hundreds of thousands of native ohia trees have been killed by a mysterious disease dubbed “rapid ohia death.” “Ohia trees cover more than one million acres statewide and ohia is widely considered the most important forest tree in Hawai‘i,” said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case. “They are so important for protecting our forest watersheds that it’s necessary our approach to combating this disease involves the highest levels of government and includes non-government agencies and private partners that can provide additional resources and expertise.”