The World's Largest Koa Tree

Last week I had the opportunity to go to one of the Nature Conservancy's protected preserves here on the Big Island. This 8,000 acre parcel is located in the South Kona district about 5500 feet up on the southwestern slope of Mauna Loa. The name of the preserve is Kona Hema, and the land was purchased some years ago from area ranching concerns in the Conservancy's efforts to protect the pristine upland koa and ohia forests that reside there.

This area also contains the world's largest koa tree, a massive 119 foot tall behemoth that is close to nine feet in diameter at the base. It is maybe 500 years old and of course predates western influence in Hawaii.