Haʻikū Hill Recognized for Fight Against Coqui on Maui

Coqui frog. Photo credit HISC.

The state honored heroes and volunteers in the fight against invasive species yesterday as it celebrates the 5th annual Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Week.

The event promotes information sharing and public engagement in what the Hawaiʻi State Legislature has declared “the single greatest threat to Hawaii’s economy and natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of Hawaii’s people.”

On Maui, the Community of Haʻikū Hill was recognized as the county MVP for their efforts to control coqui frogs on the island of Maui.

The area of 39 properties along the border of Maliko Gulch worked together in 2016 to cut back vegetation, and spray over 1,600 gallons of citric acid to reduce frog density and prevent the spread of coqui into new areas of the island.

Officials with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources say residents facilitated a neighborhood citric and sprayer distribution center and spent countless hours keeping the coqui from spreading from their neighborhood.