As Rhinoceros Beetles Spread, State Board Bolsters Pest Control Powers

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The Hawaii Board of Agriculture has approved rule changes to help control the spread of invasive species following about a 20-month delay. 

The holdup caused a public outcry because the rule changes are intended to help the Agriculture Department stem the movement of commodities infested by pests, including coconut rhinoceros beetles that have spread statewide since May 2023. 

Once finalized, the rules wil prohibit the movement of infested materials like soils and compost between islands and increase inspection requirements. They also will include specific examples of invasive species to help guide the department and industry.

Neither proponents nor opponents of the rule changes seemed fully satisfied following a Tuesday board meeting. Agriculture industry representatives called them confusing, while some proponents said they don’t go far enough.

The board members, who approved the changes unanimously, agreed that invasive species need to be better addressed, and quickly. 

“This is about an all-hands-on-deck approach to managing, preventing — and hopefully eradicating — the ongoing cycle of invasive species,” Big Island board member Dianne Ley said. 

That sentiment echoed messages from federal invasive species experts touring Oahu this week to research the effects of invasive species on island communities. They will produce a report to advise the U.S. government how it can help Hawaii and island territories, as well as associated Micronesian nations.

Local advocates of taking action against invasive species addressed the federal advisers Monday, pointing out the gaps in Hawaii’s response and regulations addressing the problem.

Beetles And Fire Ants On The Move

The agriculture board’s action on Tuesday was a significant step following 20 months of waiting since board chairperson Sharon Hurd pulled the proposed rule changes in the face of industry concerns.

Coconut rhinoceros beetles were detected for the first time on islands statewide in subsequent months, while little fire ants caused serious concern on Oahu’s windward coast.

Compost, soil and green waste, as well as the nursery trade, have been been blamed for the movement of those pests.

The board had approved interim rules in the meantime aimed at restricting the movement of host material for the beetles and ants.

On Tuesday, Hurd voted in favor of the permanent changes.

The newly approved rules have buoyed the hopes of environmental advocates, including Joseph Watt of the KEY Project, a Kualoa-Heeia community organization.

“I’m in strong support of these amendments; we need much stronger regulatory oversight of the movement of these materials,” Watt said.

Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association President Eric Tanouye on Tuesday said his membership would be more open to the rule changes as long as the agriculture department provides better guidance on how to comply. About 11 months ago, Tanouye said the revised rules would “kill agriculture.”

The rule changes, while welcome, should be the benchmark for further work to increase the department’s regulatory powers, said Stephanie Easley of the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, which is affiliated with the University of Hawaii.

Additional rule changes are needed to prohibit the sale of infested plant materials, Easley told the board on Tuesday.

Questions were raised about how the department would implement the rules, considering its history of struggling to find staff and funding. The signing of Act 231 this year put about $10 million aside for the department to bolster its invasive species work and biosecurity, after lawmakers pressured the DOA to do a better job.

Ten pest control positions were created with that funding, and Plant Quarantine Branch Manager Jonathan Ho said they are in the process of being filled.

On Tuesday, board members requested that staff give monthly updates on progress in pest control, particularly as the agency works through finalizing the rules and implementing the programs under Act 231.

The rule changes will go before the Small Business Regulatory Review Board before reaching the governor’s office for a final sign-off.

Invasive Issues Throughout Pacific Islands

Federal government officials and invasive species experts, meanwhile, are finalizing a report that will be delivered to the National Invasive Species Council, which oversees the expansion of pest management efforts nationwide and across several national agencies.

The three-day meeting in Honolulu of the federally appointed Invasive Species Advisory Committee, which includes two members from Hawaii, concludes Wednesday.

On Monday, Hawaii officials and invasive species workers and academics shared their views on Hawaii’s invasive species problems.

“We need resources, we need people and we need capacity,” said Chelsea Arnott, Hawaii Invasive Species Council program supervisor.

Representatives of the U.S. departments of Agriculture, Interior, Defense, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services were among the attendees.

The committee’s draft recommendations cover seven major areas, such as expanding federal support for island-based invasive species efforts, increasing island-specific research and infrastructure needs and addressing shortcomings in rapid response to species detections.

“Ultimately, islands are a bellwether for invasive species impacts, both nationally and globally,
and are indicative of what continental communities and ecosystems may experience in the future,” the draft report states. “Accordingly, science, systems, and solutions developed to address invasive species on islands may be widely applicable across the United States.”

“Hawaii Grown” is funded in part by grants from the Stupski Foundation, Ulupono Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation and the Frost Family Foundation.