AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Honolulu, HI

What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Honolulu?

Honolulu is home to a wide array of vibrant trees, from palms, Eucalyptus, Jacaranda, Citrus, Banyan tree, Golden Shower tree, and of course the Koa tree (Hawaii’s most common native tree) to Macadamia, Noni, Papaya, Hala, Ohia, and Sausage trees. While these multi-hued species liven up our landscapes and add lush greenery to our island home, they may also become afflicted with various diseases. Honolulu’s damp and warm environment makes trees particularly susceptible to several tree conditions that can affect the health and stability of these beautiful trees. 

Phytophthora katsurae (coconut heart rot) is a common disease affecting young and newly planted coconut palms. It spreads during windy weather and storms and targets the roots and crown of a plant, after which it will begin to kill the tree within three years. You can spot the disease through symptoms such as premature loss of fruits, leaf discoloration, nut rot, and nut dropping. The young leaves wilt, dry, and are often bent or drooping into the tree canopy. Over time, trees are left with only a skirt of older leaves, and eventually, all leaves die off, and only trunks remain. After this, the death of the trees follows. 

Powdery mildew disease is another common disease affecting trees in Honolulu. It’s caused by different fungi species and appears as a white powdery substance on a tree leaf surface. This fungus can keep trees from producing fruit or flowering, cause defoliation during the growing season, and prevent the tree from reaching mature growth.

Every tree species can be affected by powdery mildew, but the most common are fruit trees, including Mango, Avocado, and Papaya trees. Stopping powdery mildew in its earliest stages of development provides the best control. Professional pruning and trimming of affected branches may keep the disease from spreading to other parts of the same tree or neighboring trees. 

Another issue that trees in Honolulu face are bugs. The Pacific beetle cockroach is a tiny, brown pest attracted to Cypress and Citrus trees. These bugs tend to leave behind large sections of dead foliage or missing bark. 

The coconut rhinoceros beetle is another invasive species endangering Honolulu’s trees. The pest pierces the top of trunks to feast on sap, stealing precious nutrients from palm trees and papaya trees. Papaya mealybugs are fans of Papaya trees, but they also like to feast on Citrus, Plumeria, and Hibiscus trees. Their toxic injection damages tree production and causes honeydew growth. The best way to eliminate pests is to hire our tree specialists to remove all the dead trees and foliage to eliminate nesting locations. 

While some of these issues may not kill your trees, they can cause significant damage. Dead or dying trees constitute a hazard to everyone living near it, not only because it attracts pests but also because of how easy it is to break. Those branches can hit people, windows, cars, walls and cause severe damage. You know how often we have a gust of wind in Honolulu, so never ignore a dead or dying tree.

Does the City of Honolulu Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?

In Honolulu, the responsibility of maintaining trees in public spaces and deciding where to plant them on public land falls to the city. The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is responsible for all city parks across the island of Oahu, while the Division of Urban Forestry (DUF) is responsible for urban trees. 

DUF is responsible for planting and maintaining urban trees, clearing trees that obstruct utility lines, traffic devices, rights-of-way or pose a threat of danger, and clearing fallen trees from city streets and other city properties. Trees on private property are the owner’s responsibility, so their maintenance and removal solely fall on you. 

Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Honolulu?

A fallen tree can be a terrifying experience. Even if nobody is harmed, the damage it causes can be in the thousands. It’s crucial to establish who is responsible for the fallen tree, as they will be in charge of its removal.

If you’re a homeowner?

As a homeowner, the responsibility to remove a fallen tree on your property solely falls on you – it doesn’t matter if the tree or limb came from your property, your neighbor’s property, or even the municipal property. If you have any trees on your property, it’s your responsibility to maintain these trees to lower the risk of them falling.

If you’re a renter?

A fallen tree is often considered a maintenance issue, so tree removal isn’t your responsibility as a renter. Most times, a lease contract isn’t going to state tree removal responsibilities. Unless stated explicitly in the lease, it’s legally and financially the landlord’s responsibility to remove a fallen tree. 

If you’re a landlord?

As a landlord, the tree is on your property, so consequently, the tree is yours, and the responsibility to remove a fallen tree is yours. And if you were negligent about the tree’s maintenance, you might be found responsible for damages. This may even result in a lawsuit if the damages are considerable. 

If you’re a neighbor?

What if your neighbor’s tree falls onto your property and damages your house? Who’s responsible for the tree removal? In this case, you’re responsible for the tree removal. Similarly, if your tree falls onto your neighbor’s property, it becomes their responsibility to have it removed. Whichever side of the property line the trunk stands on establishes the rightful owner of the tree. However, if you’re the tree owner and you ignore visible signs of disease, rot, or damage, you may be held liable for the tree removal cost and any damage.

How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Honolulu?

There is a very close relationship between trees and the soils they grow in. Similar to most tropical soils, Hawaii is blessed with a rich volcanic loam. Hawaiian soils are created from a mixture of limestone, volcanic ash, basaltic lava, and material deposits from water runoff, making the soil acidic but fertile. 

The soil type in Honolulu is referred to as Andisol (soil developed from volcanic ejecta such as ash, pumice, and cinder). These soils contain vast amounts of organic matter on the surface, and as they become more weathered, they have a tremendous water-holding capacity. The combination of good physical properties (good drainage, high water holding capacity, stable soil aggregates, and low bulk density) coupled with their naturally high organic matter content makes Andisols generally highly productive soils. This allows a variety of trees to thrive.

Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Honolulu?

Weather controls many aspects of tree health and vigor, which influences the ability of trees to ward off insects and diseases. Hawaii lies just below the Tropic of Cancer, and many people consider its mild tropical climate to be the world’s ideal. But this warm climate is also conducive for many diseases affecting trees in Honolulu. While Honolulu’s warm and humid weather may favor tree growth and vigor, it also provides ideal conditions for fungal infections to take hold and thrive. As a tree’s vigor declines, its ability to deal with pests will decrease. 

What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Honolulu?

There are serious safety issues that arise when trees are too close to power line structures. If there’s a storm with high winds or heavy snow and ice accumulation, the dead tree can fall, taking down the power lines along with them. This poses a significant electrocution hazard to anyone in proximity, so removing dead trees is necessary to keep everyone safe. If the tree is on your property, it’s your responsibility to inspect and hire certified tree removal specialists to remove the dead tree safely. The city recommends calling the Hawaiian Electric – Vegetative Management if you have concerns about trees interfering with high-voltage lines. 

How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Honolulu?

When the fallen tree removal responsibility falls to you, don’t try to do the work on your own — always consult our professionals for expert tree removal service. Handling chainsaws and other power tools can be extremely dangerous, especially after a major storm, when surfaces are likely still slick with water or ice. Our tree removal professionals have the necessary experience and equipment to ensure that the trees you want to be removed are gotten rid of quickly and efficiently without having to risk your well-being. 

The average cost to remove a tree in Honolulu is around $1265. These costs will vary based on circumstances particular to your project. Complex projects can cost more, especially when multiple trees are involved or the work takes a full day or two. If you’re looking for both tree and stump removal, you will have to pay slightly more ($100 – $150).

Complete tree removal in Honolulu that includes tree root removal, stump removal, tree debris, shrubs, and trunk removal will cost you significantly more as trunk and roots are priced separately and require a lot of additional labor. If you have more than one tree that needs to be removed, this will undoubtedly increase the price of the tree removal service.

When providing an estimate, our tree removal specialists will consider several factors that can increase or decrease the cost of your project. Here are a few things that can affect the cost of your tree removal:

Tree’s Condition

The health of the tree can affect the price of your tree removal. If there’s any rot or decay, the tree becomes far less stable, very unpredictable, and a safety hazard. This means more equipment, labor, and time is involved in the removal process. In many cases, the only way to remove a dead tree safely is by crane, which can significantly increase the cost of tree removal. The cost required to remove a fallen tree is also much less than cutting down a standing tree. 

Location

The location of the dead or fallen tree has a significant effect on the overall cost because it affects its accessibility. A tree in a crowded neighborhood, near a building, fence, or close to power lines, would be much more challenging for us to remove because of the increased level of danger. Our tree removal experts will have to use special equipment to take down the tree without damaging your property. You will also have to pay more if your tree is located in a remote area.

Tree Size

The larger the tree, the more labor and equipment have to go into its removal. A tall tree will likely have to be limbed before it can be felled, affecting how many man-hours it takes our tree experts to take the tree down fully. It usually costs $125 – $450 for small trees (up to 30 feet high), $150 – $800 for medium size trees (from 30 to 60 feet high), and $750 – $2000 for large trees (from 60 to 100 feet high).