#invasive species

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience is asking farmers, home gardeners, landscapers and others across the state to complete a survey to strengthen efforts to control invasive fruit flies in Hawaiʻi.

A statewide environmental coalition is applauding Hawaiʻi lawmakers for advancing what it calls a historic first round of Green Fee investments — while pressing for stronger transparency as the money begins flowing to projects across the islands, including Maui.

Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Month returns this May for its ninth year, bringing together residents, farmers, government agencies and community organizations to tackle one of the state’s most persistent environmental and economic threats.

The University of Hawaiʻi is at the center of a multi-front battle to protect the state’s native ecosystems, farms and communities, with researchers currently leading 98 grant-funded projects totaling more than $30 million aimed at combating invasive species.

A second dead coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) was found in a detection trap on Wednesday afternoon, April 8, 2026, approximately 2 miles west of Molokaʻi Airport, by staff from the Molokaʻi/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC). This is the second CRB detection on Molokaʻi. This follows the first Molokaʻi detection of a dead CRB on April 7.

A large dead insect suspected to be a coconut rhinoceros beetle was found in a trap by staff from the Molokaʻi/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC) on Tuesday morning, April 7, 2026, near Kaunakakai Harbor. Based on photographs of the specimen, it is likely a coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) and is being sent to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (HDAB) Plant Pest Control Branch on Oʻahu for official species confirmation. If confirmed to be CRB, this will be the first detection of CRB on Molokaʻi.

Mālama Hāmākua Maui announced the launch of its 2026 Coqui Control Workday Series in partnership with the Maui Invasive Species Committee, beginning Tuesday, March, 31.

The Maui Invasive Species Committee is launching a Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle music video contest open to Maui students grade three and up; submissions due April 17, 2026.  The goal of the contest is build awareness critical to protecting Maui, where CRB has not yet established.

The Kula Community Association invites community members to attend its General Meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, featuring timely updates on invasive species, water quality, watershed restoration, and East Maui water management. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in the evening, beginning with food and informal conversation.

The Friends of Haleakalā National Park seeks National Park Service experienced hikers to volunteer for a strenuous three-night service trip in Haleakalā Crater, Feb. 15 to 17.

To bring back the cloud bridge requires restoring the forests that disappeared due to wild animals, ranching and the U.S. military’s bombing of Kaho’olawe.

Another live skunk was captured Thursday, this time at Honolulu Harbor. The previous skunk was captured at Hilo Harbor on Nov. 7.

A live skunk was captured at Hilo Harbor last Friday, Nov. 7, after two separate people from a shipping company reported seeing a skunk around Pier 1 early Thursday morning.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means received an update from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity on efforts to bolster Hawaiʻi’s biosecurity network to protect local agriculture, people and natural resources from pests and invasive species.

On Maui, 75% of LFA detections come from community reports, proving that the watchfulness of residents is paying off. As LFA populations continue to grow across the state, the attentiveness of residents remains a critical component in preventing the establishment of little fire ants on Maui.

Two live opossums were captured on Tuesday at two separate locations at Honolulu Harbor. Another opossum was also captured in Hilo last month.

Since 2003, this collaborative partnership has presented the annual Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award to landscapers, plant providers (including retail and wholesale nurseries and garden shops), or commercial/agricultural property owners and managers who demonstrate dedication to keeping invasive species out of Maui County.

A new study co-authored by a UH professor found that invasive animal species impact island seed dispersal even more than the loss of native animals.

A successful coordinated animal control operation in Kalalau Valley earlier this month has removed 10 pigs and 12 goats from the rugged, heavily impacted area. The hunt was conducted Sept. 9–10 by a team of permitted hunters working with staff from DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and the Division of State Parks.

The fields were first closed Sept. 10 following reports of red ants in the area. DPR continues to consult with pest control professionals as treatments and assessments are carried out.