Tradewinds does not have the contract for the trees in Hamakua

One of the biggest myths that Tradewinds never corrects or clarifies is the myth that they have the contract for the trees in Hamakua. The Protect O'okala Ad Hoc Steering Committee cannot find a forestry expert in the state who believes this is true or ever will be true. The truth is the trees on Kamehameha Schools’ Hamakua lands were planted expressly for chipping, not value-added veneer, and according to forestry experts, less than 15% of the trees are veneer quality wood. Tradewinds simply will not be securing the contract to log these trees. If you doubt this statement, please contact the president of Tradewinds, Don Bryan, and ask him to produce the contract or a letter of intent for these trees. He will not be able to do so because neither exists.

If you doubt our statement about the quality of the trees, please contact the forestry experts at the State Department of Forestry and Wildlife and ask them. Michael Constantinides of DOFAW and other experts at the Hawai'i Agriculture Research Center have done extensive research into the island's tree inventory. We urge you to ask the experts, not the people marketing Tradewinds.

Just to clarify, the trees that Tradewinds has a license to log are in Waiakea, south of Hilo, at the State's Waiakea Timber Management Area. Attached is Tradewinds license to log that area. No such agreement exists, nor will exist, for Tradewinds to log the trees in Hamakua.

Protect O'okala Ad Hoc Steering Committee