Hawaii; Then and Now

[Deleted User 62]

Here's something I hadn't noticed before. You can actually see the piles of logs being stockpiled near the harbor: http://goo.gl/maps/JSaOi

[Deleted User 287]

Here's something I hadn't noticed before. You can actually seen the piles of logs being stockpiled near the harbor: http://goo.gl/maps/JSaOi

So, eucalyptus grows that straight?

[Deleted User 62]

Yes, the trees were originally planted for lumber, but the whole operation was shut down for some shady contract dealings. Then they grew without management for a few years and were never thinned properly. The end result was 50 foot tall trees growing too close together: http://goo.gl/maps/L7b6Q Note: they have been harvesting for over a year and still haven't made a visible dent in the supply of trees...

[Deleted User 287]

So, because the trees grew wild they were no longer good for wood production, only pulp?

[melville]

Here's something I hadn't noticed before. You can actually seen the piles of logs being stockpiled near the harbor: http://goo.gl/maps/JSaOi

So, eucalyptus grows that straight?

Yes. Some of them grow to 300' tall. Scroll on down to street view for some 80 footers:

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=mi ... CAgQ_AUoAg

They're imported and invasive, but they do make a pretty row of trees by the sawmill. I think they came here as the redwoods got cut and the landowners wanted something that grew faster.

[Deleted User 62]

So, because the trees grew wild they were no longer good for wood production, only pulp?

I talked to a friend in the industry last night, and he said it's mostly being exported to Asia as firewood! To answer your question, yes. If you'll notice, those trees are only a little more than 1' diameter at the base. Kinda hard to get any decent lumber out of trees that size, unless you're building a pole house...

[Chuey]

That's a neat photo project, Timo.

I had heard that Eucs were imported into Calif. with plans to make railroad ties of them. I have no idea if that's true or not.

Chuey

[Deleted User 62]

Eucalypus trees come in many varieties; some are very oily and get made into computer paper with less static, others like robusta, are super tough (stronger than steel in some applications) useful in fence making and the sugar cane companies used it to line their flues. Here's a fence we built back in the 1980s using robusta with keawe (mesquite) posts. It will probably outlast me:

[ME 109]

Are the trees origins from Aus?

Train lines and wharves and docks and houses and etc, etc has taken a huge toll on our red gum eucalyptus.
There are about 700 eucalyptus species over here, with many needing to be in flower for thorough identification.

The trees in Tim's photos look like the gums that grow on the black spur, which is an area to the north east of Melbourne that is taken over by motorcyclists almost every weekend.
SteveD has put a photo of said area on Boxerworks many times.
Incredibly straight and tall with high canopies.

Why mess with trees instead of concrete for rail road ties? Wooden ties went out with button up boots.

[Deleted User 62]

Jeff, I assume your question was for Chuey, but here's my take on it. While concrete ties may be the better, newer thing, I wonder about the cost effectiveness. After WW2 someone had the bright idea to plant huge tracts of various kinds of eucalyptus on the islands. They have been used for power generation, and all the other uses you've mentioned. The problem as I see it, and what we are dealing with big time here on the island, is that those trees have a lifespan. Much like any other crop, they grow, get old and die in the field unless harvested at the proper time. Much like the pine forests were decimated to build the transcontinental railroads in the USA, with proper care and replanting, they will come back. Some of you may remember my stories of logging old growth Koa back in the 1980s. The environmentalists cried out that we were destroying the forests. I took a ride out Mana Road to the old logging site a few years back, and was amazed to see some of the strongest, thickest growth of new Koa trees I've seen anywhere... I think it's the timeline; I may not see the regrowth in my lifetime, but it will happen.