#invasive species

A live opossum has been captured at a freight transporting facility at Honolulu Harbor. Per animal and human health protocol, the opossum was humanely euthanized and submitted for rabies testing.

US Rep. Ed Case (D-HI-01) and US Rep. James Moylan (R-Guam) announced that the US House recently voted 371-33 to approve their National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, which would significantly expand federal efforts to combat invasive species, responsible for severely impacting environments across the country.

Field crew members discovered the Ha‘ikū infestation on May 8, 2026, following a community report of stinging ants. MISC estimates the infestation covers roughly 20 acres, spanning multiple private properties in the Uaoa area. On June 25, 2026, MISC received a report of stinging ants in the Kapalua area. The confirmed infested area currently spans nearly 40 acres, though survey projections estimate the total footprint could ultimately reach up to 125 acres.

At approximately 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, warehouse workers observed an opossum within their container staging area. The workers initially contacted the US Department of Agriculture, which subsequently notified the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Biosecurity, Plant Quarantine Branch in Hilo.

Following two recent detections in Central Maui, the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) is urging the community to remain alert for invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles (CRB).Following two recent detections in Central Maui, the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) is urging the community to remain alert for invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles (CRB).

The US House Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved a bill deploying specialized strike teams to combat invasive species. The legislation authorizes $10 million annually, protecting native ecosystems from severe ecological damage.

The Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity approved Interim Rule 26-2 on Tuesday, restricting the transportation of coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) host materials from any other area in the state to the islands of Maui and Lānaʻi.

Tonight’s meeting (July 29) remains a Mayor’s Candidate Forum, and community advocate Gregg Blue will provide a brief update on recent developments on speed tables.

Two programs are teaching new farmers how to grow and sell their products at a time when local agriculture is sorely needed.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, Office of the Mayor and Department of Agriculture are encouraging community members to attend a free meeting on Monday July 13, 2026, to address the economic, cultural and ecosystem threats stemming from invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (CRB), pests recently detected on Maui. 

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is reminding businesses, organizations and individuals operating in a designated coconut rhinoceros beetle-infested area of West Hawaiʻi Island that they must obtain a compliance agreement before handling host materials for the invasive pest. The requirement stems from Interim Rule 26-1, approved by the state Board of Agriculture and […]

The inaugural 2026 ʻAha Niu: Maui Nui Coconut Celebration Festival showcased the passion the Maui Nui community has for safeguarding and perpetuating niu (coconut) for future generations. In early June, five adult coconut rhinoceros beetles were found in traps in Waikapū. On the heels of that news, the ʻAha Niu festival was held June 13 at Maui Nui […]

Ongoing Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) monitoring efforts on Maui continue to highlight the importance of active green waste management and composting as part of broader strategies to reduce potential breeding habitat for the invasive pest.

Three dead adult coconut rhinoceros beetles (CRB) were collected from two detection traps in Waikapū by staff from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity late Thursday afternoon on June 4, 2026.

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.