Department of Land and Natural Resources

NEW WEBSITE REFLECTS GROWING COMMITMENT
AND COORDINATION TO PROTECT
HAWAII FROM INVASIVE SPECIES

HONOLULU—The interagency Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC), comprised of the directors or designees of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), and the University of Hawaii (UH) has launched a new website highlighting the growing role the council plays in cabinet-level coordination on invasive species issues in Hawaii. The website, accessible directly at https://hisc.hawaii.gov or via the state’s upgraded hawaii.gov Web portal, places new emphasis on the actions of the HISC, including resolutions, funded research reports, and strategic plans.

“Collaboration across state departments has resulted in clear progress toward addressing the impacts of invasive species in the Islands,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. “The new HISC website, which is part of our state’s effort to expand the use of hawaii.gov as a resource for user-friendly information about government programs and services, provides greater opportunity for the public to join in this effort by learning more about what each and every one of us can do to protect Hawaii.”

The HISC was created in 2003, when the Hawaii State Legislature declared invasive species “the single greatest threat to Hawaii’s economy and natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of Hawaii’s people.” The HISC’s statutory authority mandates identification of state funds available for invasive species prevention, control, outreach and research, and requires the HISC to coordinate the state’s position on invasive species issues and provide advice to the Governor and Legislature. Since its inception, the HISC has approved more than $25 million in funding for qualified projects to help keep invasive plants, like miconia, and invasive animals, like the stinging little fire ant, from spreading throughout the state. The HISC’s new website better details how these funds have been spent, making final project reports and research results available for the entire 8-year history of the organization.

The HISC has made progress under the Abercrombie Administration, with the direction of council co-chairs Russell Kokubun (DOA) and William Aila (DLNR) and engagement by Gary Gill (DOH), Jesse Souki (DBEDT), Dr. Maria Gallo (UH), and David Rodriguez (DOT). Since the induction of new council leadership in June 2011, this HISC has:

• produced its first piece of legislation (a 2012 bill allowing state departments to adopt emergency rules in response to imminent threats to natural resources);
• begun drafting administrative rules to fulfill its mandate to officially designate species that are invasive in Hawaii;
• adopted five resolutions identifying priority concerns such as ohia rust, axis deer, albizia, and mosquitoes that carry infectious diseases;
• supported the development of a regional Micronesian Biosecurity Plan that will minimize the risk of introductions of new invasive species from other areas of the Pacific, including the invasive brown tree snake;
• provided funds that supported the first capture of axis deer on Hawaii Island, the first capture of a live mongoose on Kauai, and the first full-time coordinator to examine population management strategies for axis deer on Maui Island;
• held its first neighbor island meeting on Maui in May 2012 to discuss growing populations of axis deer on Maui Island; and
• coordinated the first Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week in March 2013, which included a proclamation from Gov. Abercrombie, business and community leadership awards, and the promotion of 15 volunteer opportunities across the state.

The HISC has committed to providing more public education by utilizing its new website as a one stop shop for information on high-profile invasive species in Hawaii, recent news regarding invasive species, and detailed reports for all projects funded via the HISC. The council is also supporting the development of coordinated interagency response plans to enhance efficacy of statewide detection and response capabilities. Other priorities for the council include better state and federal coordination on invasive species issues, support for biocontrol research, and response to invasive species on marine debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami.

“Because invasive species have such a detrimental effect on critical things like our water and food security, we are committed to working across departments on this important issue,” said HISC Co-Chair William J. Aila, Jr. “But we also need the public’s help, especially in spotting pests like snakes and other plants and animals that don’t belong in Hawaii. The new HISC website provides information on how to report a pest by phone or online.”

Invasive Species Awareness Week Proclamation

Gov. Abercrombie presents a proclamation to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council for the state’s first Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week in March 2013. Left to right: Gary Gill (Department of Health), William J. Aila, Jr. (Department of Land and Natural Resources), Gov. Abercrombie, Dr. Maria Gallo (University of Hawaii), Russell Kokubun (Department of Agriculture), David Rodriguez (Department of Transportation). Not pictured: Jesse Souki, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Photo credit: Julia Parish.

The Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC) is a cabinet-level interagency collaboration mandated by Chapter 194, Hawaii Revised Statutes. It is co-chaired by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture with additional voting members from the Departments of Health; Transportation; and Business, Economic Development and Tourism; as well as the University of Hawaii. The HISC approves an annual budget to support invasive species prevention, control, and public outreach projects across the state.

For more information, media may contact:

Josh Atwood,
DLNR Invasive Species Coordinator,
[email protected],
and (808) 587-4154

Jackie Kozak Thiel,
HISC Communications Coordinator
[email protected], (808) 346-5390

Deborah Ward,
DLNR PIO,
[email protected], (808) 587-0320,
Janelle Saneishi,
DOA PIO,
[email protected], (808) 973-9560

https://hisc.hawaii.gov

hdoa.hawaii.gov/ 

https://www.hisaw2013.blogspot.com/

dlnr.hawaii.gov/