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”
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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
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
In preparation for the 2016 Legislature, HISC staff asked invasive species experts in Hawaii to prepare pre-proposals for what could be achieved in FY17. HISC received 48 pre-proposals describing $10M in interagency projects. The projects below are non-binding: actual HISC expenditures in FY17 will depend on the amount of funding provided by the State Legislature ...
Read More HISC Releases FY17 Pre-Proposals: What could we achieve next year?
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
Rat Lungworm Disease (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) is a parasite that primarily impacts rats, but has unfortunate impacts on humans, too. The parasite reproduces in rats, but is excreted in its larval stage and completes its development inside slugs or snails as an intermediate host. If a rat consumes a snail or slug, the parasite completes its lifecycle ...
Read More Rat Lungworm Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention
At a meeting of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council on July 29, 2015, the HISC approved an interagency spending plan totaling $4.75M for state fiscal year 2016, supporting 35 projects that will help fill gaps between and expand beyond the state’s existing civil service programs that address invasive species concerns. The budget was a difficult ...
Read More HISC Approves Funding for FY16 Interagency Projects
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) has released plans to assist in the early detection and rapid response of invasive naio thrips (Klamothrips myopori) for the islands of Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. The plans were produced in collaboration with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, the Oahu Invasive Species ...
Read More Naio Thrips Detection & Response Plans Released for Oahu, Kauai, and Maui
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), Department of the Navy has completed the Regional Biosecurity Plan (RBP) for Micronesia and Hawaii. The RBP is an unprecedented effort to analyze risks and coordinate enhancements in biosecurity. The RBP was initiated as part of the environmental impact analysis for a plan to potentially relocate military personnel from ...
Read More U.S. DOD Releases Regional Biosecurity Plan for Micronesia and Hawaii