Hawaii Tribune-Herald: Industry in Jeopardy
November 12, 2020
By Guy Cellier
I was hired by Prudential Timber as the project manager for the planting of trees along Hamakua after the demise of sugar. During this process, we planted more than 10 million trees on more than 25,000 acres of abandoned sugar cane land. This process provided work for machine operators, planting crews, professional foresters, local nurseries and paid regular tax dollars.
These trees were planted to stimulate a timber industry that could involve exports as well as local processing. They were planted as an agricultural crop to be harvested. The state has also planned for and planted trees to help to create a timber industry. The Waiakea Timber Management Area outside Hilo has more than 12,000 acres of non-native hardwoods planted to stimulate local processing and create jobs.
The vision of the Hawaii forest industry — be it on private or public land — has always been higher value timber products, like sawtimber and veneer. However, these value-added industries could not materialize without a market for the waste material — more than 50% of each tree.
Finally, the vision and work of many can be realized. With sustainable energy companies like Honua Ola, the waste timber has a place to go and the higher value products can be locally produced, providing much needed jobs. Let’s allow companies like mentioned to move ahead — providing sustainable, locally produced renewable power, as well as being the catalyst to jump-start a green, renewable timber industry.