KALOPA, Hawaii – Hakalau resident GB Hajim recently happened across this deforestation, right up against the north border of Kalopa State Park.
Those straight “sticks” on the ground are 70-80 foot long trees, according to the photographer.
“Anybody know the laws about clear cutting in Hawaii?” wrote Hajim on his Facebook page, where he posted the panaramic image. “Max size of clear cut? Erosion mitigation?”
Hajim – a Big Island filmmaker who lives in Hakalau – estimated the size of the clear cut to be 80-160 acres.
“It wasnʻt native forest,” said Hajim, “but I am worried about the devastating erosion that will happen because of the way they cleared.” He said he voiced these concerns in a public hearing over six years ago, and that “they promised not to harvest them in more than 5 acre areas.”
A large eucalyptus tree harvest is currently underway across Hamakua. The trees are being trucked to Kawaihae were they are eventually shipped off island.
Hajim said he called DLNR to check it out, because “it seemed wrong.”
If Big Island Video News finds any answers, we will post an update here.
