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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  DAVID Y. IGEGOVERNOR VIRGINIA PRESSLER, MDDIRECTOR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2016                                                                               16-030 JOINT TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED TO COMBAT RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE IN HAWAII HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) and the East Hawaii Liaison to the Office of the Governor announced today the establishment of a Joint Task ...
Read More Release: JOINT TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED TO COMBAT RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE IN HAWAII

The Hawaii Department of Health has produced an informational site for residents and visitors seeking information about the Zika virus. Zika is not currently circulating in Hawaii, but the mosquito species that could potentially carry Zika are found here. Mosquitos in Hawaii can carry a number of diseases of concern, including dengue fever and avian malaria. ...
Read More DOH Provides Information on Zika Risk in Hawaii

From DLNR: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 26, 2016 HEROES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST INVASIVE SPECIES HONORED State Capitol Ceremony Recognizes Extraordinary Efforts  (HONOLULU) – Hawaii’s 4th annual Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week (HISAW) wrapped up today with a ceremony in Governor David Ige’s office to recognize people and organizations who’ve been instrumental in the fight ...
Read More HEROES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST INVASIVE SPECIES HONORED AT CAPITOL

High school students from across Hawaii answered a call for submissions to a video contest from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council and the Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC). The students created public service announcements on the theme: How do invasive species affect you? We received 11 great submissions from aspiring videographers and conservationists, and their videos are ...
Read More Student Videos for Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week!

Little fire ants (LFA, Wasmannia auropunctata) have begun to spread throughout the state. First introduced to Puna in 1999, and shortly thereafter to Kauai, these ants are one of the worst invasive species imaginable in Hawaiʻi. They invade houses, gardens, and forests. The ants are also arboreal; they swarm up plants and trees. When disturbed, they ...
Read More PSA: “Fire! Little Fire Ants in Hawaii”

The Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) has released a report titled Can’t See the Forest for the (Albizia) Trees: An Invasive Species Update. This report, required by legislation passed during the 2015 legislative session, provides an update to the 2002 LRB report Filling the Gaps in the Fight Against Invasive Species. The 2002 report analyzed gaps between agencies ...
Read More Legislative Reference Bureau releases invasive species study

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture has released a Request for Proposals for the production of a comprehensive, multi-agency biosecurity plan for Hawaii. The intended scope of this plan is to address pre-border, border, and post-border biosecurity needs, and to incorporate the needs of multiple state and federal agencies. The intended outcome is a succinct implementation ...
Read More Request for Proposals: Hawaii Biosecurity Plan

A new fungal pathogen known as Rapid Ohia Death (Ceratocystis fimbriata) was identified on Hawaii Island in 2014. The fungus attacks and can quickly kill ohia trees (Metrosideros polymorpha). Ohia is endemic to Hawaii and comprises approximately 80% of Hawaii’s native forests. In 2015, the HISC awarded funds to the University of Hawaii to support a post-doctoral ...
Read More Rapid Ohia Death: A New Threat to Hawaii’s Forests

  The State of Hawaii will be hosting the 4th annual Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week (HISAW) in February 2016. HISAW is organized in coordination with the U.S. National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) and regional Pacific Invasive Species Awareness efforts. HISAW seeks to promote information sharing and public engagement in what the Hawaii State ...
Read More 2016 Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 29, 2015                                                                  DOH INVESTIGATES CASES OF LOCALLY-ACQUIRED DENGUE FEVER ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII HONOLULU – The Hawaii ...
Read More DOH INVESTIGATES CASES OF LOCALLY-ACQUIRED DENGUE FEVER ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII