Hawaii Invasive Species Council

HISC-funded projects complement existing programs within state agencies and are those that 1) Fill gaps between agency mandates or existing agency programs, and/or 2) Advance our collective knowledge through research and development of new tools.

The legislature appropriated $5,750,000 to the HISC for FY21. Of this total, % ($) was restricted by the Department of Budget and Finance, and % ($) was allocated as overhead to the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife as the administrative host of the HISC. The HISC Support Program budget (including temporary staff positions, supplies, web application development for an online pest reporting system, and other programmatic costs) totaled $439,943.

For the remaining grant funds totaling $4,118,209; HISC received 53 applications totaling $9,058,446. The Resources Working Group evaluated each proposal based on its applicability to the newly released HISC & CGAPS 2025 Joint Strategy: In support of the Hawaiʻi Interagency Biosecurity Plan.

On August 27, 2020, the HISC approved the recommended budget from the Resources Working Group detailing funds for 33 projects addressing interagency prevention, control, outreach, and research needs. 

FY21 HISC Call for Proposals

The Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC) provides interagency coordination and direction on invasive species issues in Hawaiʻi. Each year, the HISC creates an interagency budget to address projects that:

• fill gaps between agency mandates and existing programs, or
• advance our collective knowledge and tools through research and innovation.

The budgeting process for HISC funds includes several steps, including proposal submissions by applicants, evaluation by a committee comprised of HISC working group chairs and staff from the agencies that comprise HISC, preparation of a recommended budget by the HISC Resources Working Group, and review and approval by the voting Council members at a public meeting.

What’s New? HISC has updated the FY21 funding priorities for this proposal based on the HISC & CGAPS 2025 Joint Strategy that was developed in support of the Hawaiʻi Interagency Biosecurity Plan. There are now 6 priorities that incorporate the original HISC categories of prevention, control, research, and outreach. HISC staff provided a webinar on the application process along with an explanation of the new funding priorities. You can view the webinar HERE.

FY21 Funding Priority	Suggested Project Examples
1) Prevention & Early Detection/Rapid Response for New Terrestrial Invasions – to keep top terrestrial invasive threats from arriving and establishing in the state	a. Develop taxa-specific early detection and rapid response strategies that can be implemented immediately in response to an emergency involving multiple agencies.
	b. Conduct quantitative risk analyses and risk assessments to guide management decisions in early detection, rapid response efforts.
	c. Develop Best Management Practices (BMPs) for reducing introduction and movement of invasive species at critical points such as airports, harbors, highways and procurement contracts.
	d. Strengthen early detection and rapid response capacity on each island for regulatory agencies and partnership projects, including mobilizing species-specific teams for high-risk terrestrial incursions.
	e. Conduct a legal review of the policies related to prevention and suggest amendments to improve policies
	f. Identify and implement cost-effective tools, technologies, and strategies that improve early detection and rapid response at ports of entry.
2) Inter/Intra-Island Movement of Terrestrial Invasive Species – to reduce the spread of invasive species between and across islands.	a. Develop and conduct quantitative risk analyses and risk assessments to identify and prioritize pest pathways and high-risk gaps for movement of terrestrial invasive species within Hawaiʻi.
	b. Identify and implement cost-effective tools, technologies, and methods that improve management of interisland ports of entry.
	c.  Utilize interagency partnerships to efficiently conduct early detection surveys on private and public lands and provide rapid response where necessary.
	d. Creation and adoption of BMPs to control invasive species that state government agencies, counties, industry and private individuals can follow or require for actions on their lands.
	e. Conduct a legal review of the policies related to inter/intra island and suggest amendments to improve policies.
3) Aquatic Biosecurity – to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species.	a. Supplement DAR’s ballast water and hull fouling projects that provide reporting, compliance, and data management that can be used to conduct risk analyses.
	b. Develop aquatic rapid response plans to address high-risk vessels.
	c. Identify and implement tools, technologies and methods that improve detection and/or management of priority aquatic invasive species and pathways.
	d. Increase awareness for key stakeholders of their role and opportunities to help address aquatic invasive species introductions and spread.
	e. Develop a list of high-risk aquatic species and prohibit their introduction to Hawaiʻi through petitioning HDOA for prohibited species.
4) Large-Scale Control of High-Impact Invasive Species – to expand management of widespread, high-impact species (e.g. mosquitoes, rats, marine algae).	a. Evaluate and implement technologies for landscape-scale control of mosquitoes, with a particular focus on developing an Incompatible Insect Technique for Culex spp and Aedes spp.
	b. Utilize partnerships to effectively control and eradicate established invasive plants, animals, and microorganisms on private and public lands.
	c. Research and identify tools, technologies, and methods that are proven effective (or have potential) for large-scale control or eradication.
	d. Develop and implement a model community engagement plan for large scale control or eradication projects.
	e. Research on traps and/or toxicants to control invasive species.
5) Pacific Regional Biocontrol (Capacity) – to increase biocontrol work and critical infrastructure in Hawaiʻi.	a. Advance development of biocontrol agents currently being evaluated for release in Hawaiʻi, including biocontrols for melastome spp, albizia, christmasberry, and Himalyan ginger.
	b. Conduct host range testing for biocontrol agents that have been proven effective elsewhere to evaluate potential use in Hawaiʻi.
	c. Build and maintain public support for 21st century biocontrol practices.
	d. Raise support for pacific regional biocontrol capacity.
6) Engaged & Supportive Community – to maintain strong community support and mobilize action on these 2025 Joint Strategies.	a. Development and dissemination of educational products (e.g. videos, brochures, posters, etc…) to communities, decision-makers, and allies.
	b. Coordinate statewide and regional strategies and messages across lead agencies and partners.
	c. Increase knowledge of the use social science and raise capacity for the effective use of social science and social marketing.
	d. Engage educational partners and the medical community to increase public awareness about human health risks associated with invasive species and available mitigating actions, with a particular focus on mosquito-borne illness, rat lungworm disease, and toxoplasmosis.
	e. Increase adoption of specific biosecurity behaviors at ports of entry (e.g. airports).
	f. Provide assistance to community volunteer groups working to control invasive species.

The FY21 Call for Proposals, eligibility guidelines, and online application form for interagency funding from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council are now available at: https://hiscfunding.formstack.com/forms/fy2021.

FY21 Data Reporting Guidelines