#Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture

Another skunk was captured in Hilo by agriculture inspectors from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity on Nov. 27. It was the second captured in Hilo in the month of November.

October is Stop the Ant Month in Hawaiʻi and a multi-agency effort throughout the month will encourage residents to collect and submit ants from their properties to help detect and control the spread of invasive little fire ants (LFA) and other harmful pest ants that may be new to the state.

Stargazer Industries Hawaiʻi recently received the state’s approval to distribute mulch made from invasive eucalyptus trees, aiming to reduce the risk of transporting invasive pests found in Mainland soil products and to establish a new sustainable industry.

A live skunk was captured Wednesday night at Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park by Honolulu police after they responded to a call reporting that a skunk was running around the park near Keawe Street. Inspectors took custody of the skunk and it has been humanely euthanized to test for the rabies virus.

A live snake was captured in the backyard of a Kaimukī residence by agriculture inspectors from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture on Sunday night. The homeowner said he saw the snake in the afternoon and initially thought it was a child’s toy.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture, with the assistance of the County of Hawaiʻi Public Works Department, began another round of treatment of palm trees at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on Tuesday, May 6, in an effort to stop the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) from becoming established on Hawaiʻi Island. This was a follow-up to treatment conducted last month at the airport.

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival next week that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawaiʻi Island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ʻōhiʻa death (ROD), which is devastating to native forests. The Merrie Monarch Festival takes place in Hilo from April 20 to 26.

The HDOA and Hawai‘i County crews completed the latest round of treatments on palm trees last week at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in the continuing effort to protect the island from CRB infestations.

The price of local and mainland eggs in Honolulu rose significantly in the first quarter of this year. However, the price between local and mainland eggs was comparable, according to latest statistics from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Market Analysis and News Branch.

State leaders today announced the launch of “Akamai Arrival,” a pilot program that will digitize Hawaiʻi’s Plants and Animals Declaration Form, streamlining the process for travelers arriving in the islands.

Volunteers gather at sunset every Thursday to search for invasive coqui frogs in Waimānalo on Oʻahu. The frogs, known for their loud chirp, are a major forest and agricultural pest.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health, State Laboratories Division has detected H5 avian influenza (bird flu) at very low levels in wastewater samples collected at the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant on Kauaʻi.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has detected H5 avian influenza for the first time in Hawaiʻi, finding it at a wastewater sampling site on Oʻahu. The department is investigating possible sources of the specimen collected on Nov. 7. Test results were received Tuesday.

With October declared as “Stop the Ant Month” in Hawaiʻi, a multi-agency effort has been launched to collect and control the pesky critters.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimously approved today a proposal for the state to purchase nearly 257 acres at Pōhākea, also known as Māʻalaea Mauka, for $8.22 million.