Invasive Species Profiles
The federal and state definitions for “invasive species” are broad, non-regulatory terms that describe any non-native species that causes or could cause harm to agriculture, natural resources, economy, or human health. In Hawaii, there are thousands of species that fit this broad definition of “invasive species.”
There is currently no regulatory list of “invasive species” in Hawaii. The HISC is in the process of developing administrative rules that would describe a small subset of species for which control and eradication over a large geographic area are still possible. This will include species like miconia, or little fire ants, which have substantial negative impacts but can still be managed at island-wide scales or on large geographic areas within islands.
The species below are not meant to represent a regulatory intent, nor is this a comprehensive list of species fitting the state “invasive species” definition. The species below are those for which the HISC has directed funding for research, and/or prevention and control actions.
Name |
Regulatory Status |
Prevention / Control Category |
Plants |
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MoMISC Target Species BIISC Target Species |
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MoMISC Target Species |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List | ||
KISC Target Species MoMISC Target Species BIISC Target Species |
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KISC Target Species |
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Bishop Wood (Bischofia javanica) |
KISC EDRR Species |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List | ||
Blessed Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) |
MISC Target Species |
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Bodhi Tree (Ficus religiosa) |
MoMISC Target Species |
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Bronze-Leaved Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum quadriloculare) |
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Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
OISC Target Species |
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Cape Ivy (Delaria odorata) |
OISC Target Species |
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KISC Target Species |
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Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata) |
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Chinese Tallow Tree (Sapium sebiferum) |
BIISC EDRR Species |
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Cissus (Cissus repens) |
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Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica) |
Hawaii Noxious Weed List Federal Noxious Weed List |
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Common Rush (Juncus effusus) |
KISC EDRR Species |
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BIISC Target Species |
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Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine) |
BIISC Target Species |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
OISC Target Species |
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KISC Target Species |
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Feathertop Grass (Pennisetum villosum) |
KISC EDRR Species |
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Feathery Senna (Senna artemisioides) |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
KISC Target Species OISC Target Species MoMISC Target Species |
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Flame Vine (Pyrostegia venusta) |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
KISC EDRR Species OISC Target Species MISC Target Species BIISC Target Species |
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French Broom (Genista monspessulana) |
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KISC Target Species |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
OISC Target Species |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
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OISC Target Species |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
KISC Target Species MISC Target Species |
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Jerusalem thorn (Parkinsonia aculeata) |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
KISC Target Species |
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Maile pilau (Paederia foetida) |
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Mangrove, Red (Rhizophora mangle) |
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Medinilla Genus (Medinilla sp.) |
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Melastoma Genus (Melastoma sp.) |
Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
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Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) |
Federal Noxious Weed |
OISC EDRR Species |
Mexican Flame Vine (Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides) |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
KISC Target Species OISC Target Species MISC Target Species BIISC Target Species |
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Molucca Raspberry (Rubus sieboldii) |
Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
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Mule’s Foot Fern (Angiopteris evecta) |
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Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) |
Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
MISC Target Species |
Mysore Raspberry (Rubus niveus) |
Hawaii Noxious Weed List | |
MoMISC Target Species |
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Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum sp.) |
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Nile Tulip (Markhamia lutea) |
BIISC EDRR Species |
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Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
KISC Target Species OISC Target Species MISC Target Species BIISC Target Species |
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Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
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Poison Devil’s Pepper (Rauvolfia vomitoria) |
BIISC Target Species |
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Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) |
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Purple Toadflax (Linaria purpurea) |
BIISC EDRR Species |
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KISC EDRR Species OISC EDRR Species MoMISC Target Species BIISC Target Species |
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Ruby grass (Melinis nerviglumis) |
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Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) |
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Season Vine (Cissus verticillata) |
KISC EDRR Species |
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Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) |
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Spiked Pepper (Piper aduncum) |
Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
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Stranvaesia Photinia (Photinia davidiana) |
BIISC Target Species |
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Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleianum) |
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Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) |
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Tibouchina Genus (Tibouchina sp.) |
Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
BIISC EDRR Species |
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) |
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Tumbleweed/ Russian thistle (Salsola kali) |
Hawaii Noxious Weed List |
MoMISC Target Species |
Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) |
BIISC Target Species |
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Vertebrates |
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Axis Deer (Axis axis) |
BIISC Target Species |
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Barn Owl (Tyto alba) |
Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife Federal Injurious Wildlife |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
KISC Target Species OISC Target Species MoMISC EDRR Species MISC Target Species
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
KISC EDRR Species |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife Federal Injurious Wildlife |
KISC Target Species |
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Red-masked Parakeet (Aratinga erythrogenys) |
Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife Federal Injurious Wildlife |
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Rodents |
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Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Snakes |
Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Ungulates |
Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Invertebrates |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile) |
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Big-headed Ant (Pheidole megacephala) |
HDOA Pest for Control |
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Black Twig Borer (Xylosandrus compactus) |
HDOA Pest for Control |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife HDOA Pest for Control |
OISC Target Species |
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Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei) |
Hawaii Injurious Wildlife HDOA Pest for Control |
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Erythrina Gall Wasp (Quadrastichus erythrinae) |
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Fruit Flies |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife HDOA Pest for Control |
KISC Target Species OISC Target Species MoMISC EDRR Species MISC Target Species |
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Hawaii Department of Health – Vector Control Branch | ||
HDOA Pest Advisory | ||
Hawaii Injurious Wildlife HDOA Pest for Control |
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HDOA Pest Advisory |
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Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis – parasitic nematode (roundworm parasite)) |
Hawaii Department of Health |
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Hawaii Injurious Wildlife HDOA Pest for Control |
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Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida) |
Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Snowflake Coral (Carijoa riisei) |
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Tropical Fire Ant (Solenopsis geminata) |
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BIISC Invasive Insect | ||
Varroa Mite (Varroa destructor) |
Hawaii Injurious Wildlife |
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Pathogens and Diseases |
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Banana bunchy top virus (Babuvirus banana bunchy top virus) |
HDOA Pest for Control |
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Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, ROD (Ceratocystis huliohia, Ceratocystis lukuohia) |
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