Unfortunately, Hawaii’s native forests now face a another threat – a fungal disease called Rapid Oia Death that is killing one of the islands state’s most important native trees. Precautions are being taken to help prevent its spread both on Big Island (such as the spraying of John’s boots seen here) and to other islands (which is why we visited Maui and Oahu before Big Island, and John and Laura wore new boots and thoroughly cleaned clothes when visiting Kauai).