HILO » The CEO of a lumber manufacturing company says he remains optimistic about plans for eucalyptus logging on the Hamakua Coast.

Don Bryan says Tradewinds Hawaiian Woods hopes to start cutting trees next year and to process them at a sawmill in Ookala.

He tells the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that the company’s primary product would be eucalyptus. The company hopes to also offer other exotic woods for international and local sales within a year.

Bryan has been promoting eucalyptus harvesting for a decade.

Bryan says the area has about 40,000 acres of potential timberland.

His company intends to harvest trees on about 150 acres at first and could work up to 300 acres per year.

Bryan spoke last month to the Rotary Club of South Hilo.