Tradewinds Forest Products Harvest Big Island Eucalyptus Trees to Ship to Japan

Driving down the beautiful Hamakua Coast years back we saw changes occurring. One of the most curious for the Kamaaina (locals) was why so many eucalyptus trees were being planted. Since the plantings, the trees have grown at an amazing pace. Well, now here is the answer to the “mystery of the eucalyptus trees.”

Eucalyptus trees on their way to Japan

(Stephens Media). A representative of Tradewinds Forest Products LLC tells reporter Erin Miller that the company has started harvesting eucalyptus trees planted along the Hamakua Coast in the late 1990’s. Edwin De Luz Trucking has the contract to move the timber from Hamakua to Kawaihae, where it is being stored prior to being shipped to Asia.

Managing member Kevin Balog said his company is trying to avoid Waimea’s heavy traffic in the mornings and afternoons by driving the truckloads of lumber through the town between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. Tradewinds has about 14,000 acres of land in Hamakua.

Balog said the company tested harvesting and shipping logs to Oahu to be burned at an island power plant instead of coal–a venture that wasn’t effective. For now, Tradewinds is storing the logs near Kawaihae Harbor until it has a sufficient number to ship to Asia.

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