Hawaii imports much of the lumber used to build its homes, schools and infrastructure, but a new University of Hawaii at Mānoa research project is asking whether some of that material could instead come from trees already growing on the islands. More than 34,000 acres of managed eucalyptus plantations exist across Hawaii, yet much of the wood is not used for structural construction because engineers and builders lack the locally specific design data required to certify it for that purpose. Led by civil engineering researcher Jun Wang, the new project will harvest Hawaii-grown eucalyptus, turn the trees into lumber and test the material for strength and durability. Supported by a $300,000 USDA Forest Service Wood Innovation Grant, the work aims to establish engineering design values for structural applications. The researchers say successful testing could reduce dependence on imported lumber while creating new opportunities for Hawaii’s forestry and wood-products industries. If successful, the research could help turn an underused local resource into a reliable material for Hawaii's future construction needs. If the research proves successful, it could mark a meaningful shift toward genuine self-sufficiency for Hawaii's construction industry, turning a long-overlooked local resource into a practical, lower-emission alternative to the imported lumber the islands have relied on for decades.
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