Eco-friendly koa
logging proposed
for Big Isle

Koa Timber would avoid
building roads by using
a helicopter

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By Rod Thompson
Star-Bulletin

HILO >> The owner of a Honolulu lumber milling company is proposing an environmentally friendly koa logging operation on 16,266 acres of private land north of Hilo.

Koa Timber Inc., owned by Pacific Isle Woods proprietor Kyle Dong, has applied to the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to operate on 13,129 acres of conservation-designated land owned by Hawaii Forest Preservation LLC and 3,137 acres owned by Ohana Sanctuary LLC.

The project would harvest dead and dying koa by using a helicopter to avoid making roads through the forest. Harvested spots would be replanted in koa. Dong believes there is enough old wood in the area to harvest on a 100-year cycle. The Land Board will hold a hearing on the proposal April 11 at 6 p.m. in the Hawaii County Council room.

THE LAND, in three parcels, was bought for about $10 million by the two limited-liability companies last year during liquidation of the estate of the former owner, Ling Kai Kung, a nephew of the late Nationalist Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek.

The land lies generally between Hilo and Laupahoehoe at 1,600- to 3,800-feet elevation.

"The project site, while not pristine, contains areas of largely intact native forest dominated by koa and ohia, along with patches moderately to heavily invaded by alien species, mainly strawberry guava or waiwi," a draft environmental assessment says.

"Even without logging, the current invasive plant and animal species may be a threat throughout the entire area," the assessment says.

Wild pigs inhabit the area and spread strawberry guava, an aggressive plant that crowds out native vegetation.

The assessment says there is enough old wood to sustain harvesting of 50,000 to 100,000 board feet of koa per month.

Dong was not available for comment on the value of the wood.

Winkler Wood Products Inc., not associated with Dong, said it currently retails koa at $4.30 to $45 per board foot, depending on quality.

Koa Timber's initial expenses would include $550,000 for a Huey H1H helicopter and $300,000 for fencing along the mauka boundary of the properties, separating them from the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge.

Money would also be spent to fence and exclude pigs from 100-acre blocks of land over several decades, the assessment says.

In letters attached to the assessment, state Sen. David Matsuura (D, South Hilo-Puna), manager of neighboring Umikoa Ranch, gave his support.

The Nature Conservancy's Rex Johnson made no commitment but thanked Dong for consulting with his organization.