#invasive species

Nēnē, Hawaiʻi’s state bird, face a growing threat not just from predators—but from disease. Feral and free-roaming cats are transmitting toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that is increasingly killing these endangered geese, according to conservationists at Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture.

Surveys conducted last week located two breeding sites of coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) in Kona, on the west side of Hawaiʻi Island. The detection triggered the launch of a state and county interagency response effort to manage and eradicate the invasive species.

Gov. Josh Green has signed several bills to strengthen the state’s resilience against biosecurity threats and protect against invasive species, pests and diseases, and that support Hawai‘i agriculture. The governor signed into law Act 236 on June 27, which among other provisions, renames the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture as the Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity […]

The Kula Community Watershed Alliance invites residents and stakeholders to its next Community Conversation, a virtual event focused on wildfire behavior in invasive tree-dominated forests. The event takes place on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Nā Koa Manu Conservation announced a new strategic partnership with the Maui Invasive Species Committee, a respected leader in the protection of native Hawaiian ecosystems from the devastating impacts of invasive species.

Since becoming director in 2015, Opgenorth and his team have built a new visitor and education center that welcomes over 7,000 guests, education groups, and volunteers each year. He’s expanded efforts to restore the coastal hala forest and protect it from invasive species.

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.

Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke announced today that the pilot phase of Hawaiʻi’s new Akamai Arrival digital agriculture form has shown strong results, with an average 74% compliance rate for the state’s mandatory Plants and Animals Declaration—compared to 60% under the previous paper-only system.

Mālama Hāmākua Maui, in collaboration with the Maui Invasive Species Committee, is seeking volunteers to help with coqui frog control efforts this Tuesday and Wednesday, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Removing black wattle is important to fire mitigation in Kula because the invasive species burns fast and it chokes out more fire-resistant native species.

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 Hawaiʻi State Senate and House of Representatives today announced the passage of House Bill 427, aimed at strengthening the state’s biosecurity system to combat invasive species and protect the islands’ environment and agriculture.

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.

US Rep. Ed Case reintroduces legislation aimed at protecting the world’s coral reef ecosystems by restricting the import of protected ornamental reef fish and coral species collected through destructive practices.

US Rep. Jill Tokuda has requested the USDA to urgently re-hire animal and plan inspection and quarantine workers, after about 200 were terminated last month.

Agriculture and wildlife officials are raising concerns after a red-vented bulbul was spotted near Kāʻanapali, Maui. This high-priority invasive pest appears on the Hawaiʻi Injurious Species list and the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Top 100 Invasive Species list. The bird poses a serious threat to Maui’s agriculture as well as native ecosystems, according to the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

The Friends of Haleakalā National Park seeks volunteers who are enthusiastic and fit for a strenuous overnight service trip from Sunday to Tuesday, March 16 to 18, 2025.  These National Park Service volunteers will tent camp in the Hōlua Wilderness Area camping area in Haleakalā Crater.

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.

Plant quarantine inspectors with the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture trapped an opossum overnight at a big-box store in Iwilei. This marks the third opossum that has been captured on Oʻahu this year. The storage container where the opossum was trapped was not used for shipping.