Hawaii Invasive Species Council

2014 HISC Award Recipients:

2014 Community Hero, presented by Senator Mike Gabbard: Perry Barker, volunteer, has dedicated countless hours in taking care of Honouliuli Preserve on West Oahu, working with his “Senior Day Care” volunteer group. He has spent time not only annihilating invasive plants in the area but has also grown a large amount of native plants and outplanted them there. Honouliuli Preserve would not be the same without him.

 

2014 Hottest Hotline Report to 643-PEST, presented by Senator Mike Gabbard: Grant Merrit has volunteered his time to detecting and reporting giant day geckos in his neighborhood in Mânoa Valley on Oahu. Working with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine Branch, Grant has utilized the 643-PEST hotline to result in the capture of over 50 giant day geckos from his neighborhood.

 

2014 Business Leader, presented by Representative Jessica Wooley: Ulupalakua Ranch In the late 1960’s, Pard Erdman began the tradition partnering with organizations that wanted to help and preserve the native flora on the ranches property. This tradition has grown steadily over the decades and today the ranch is actively partnered with eight different organizations: US FWS, USGS Biological Resource Division, USDA NRCS, DLNR, Ducks Unlimited, TNC, The Native Hawaiian Plant Society, and the Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership in its efforts to protect and enhance the native habitat on Ulupalakua Ranch ( www.ulupalakuaranch.com). They have also committed to and dedicated time and resources to the fight against invasive species. One example is their active engagement in biocontrol efforts and having staff dedicated to this pursuit.

Greatest Hit of 2013, presented by Senator J. Kalani English: Masako Cordray is a farmer and award-winning photographer and filmmaker. She has long been an ardent advocate for improvements to Hawaii’s biosecurity system. When little fire ants were discovered on Maui in 2009, Masako was drawn to work with the Maui Invasive Species Committee to make a compelling video about the ant, calling for action to stop its spread. Her passion for the project and her attention to detail are truly impressive. On December 23, 2013, Masako detected little fire ants on a recent plant material purchase. Confirmation by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture set off a chain of events that resulted in the discovery of little fire ants at other garden shops and nurseries on Maui and Oahu and has sparked a statewide response.

Maui Nui MVP 2014, presented by Senator J. Kalani English: Chevalier Levasa is a US Department of Agriculture APHIS PPQ Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist. She’s responsible for screening luggage for passengers departing for the mainland and working with local farmers and growers to ensure compliance for fruits and vegetables exported to the mainland. Unofficially, Chevy is part outreach specialist, field crew, agricultural inspector, and planter of butterfly gardens. She’s done surveys for the University of Hawaii and Hawaii Department of Agriculture for invasive species, not because it was in her job title, but because she sees protecting Molokai as her kuleana. Levasa has worked with local coffee growers and Young Brothers to develop protocols to prevent the introduction of coffee berry borer. “On Molokai, everyone has to wear more than one hat. The focus is on protecting our island, and its nice when we can call one another or send a text, hop in the car and go do it,” Chevy says. “It’s the pride of taking care of where you live and what it means. I just do it because it’s the right thing to do. I just follow my heart.”