Examples of Invasive Species in Hawaii

The species below are those for which the HISC has directed funding for prevention, control, and/or research. Though the HISC is still in the process of creating administrative rules to officially designate species as invasive, the species below are well-described by the federal definition of invasive species: alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health (E.O. 13112).

  • Africanized Honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata)
  • Albizia (Falcataria moluccana)
  • Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile)
  • Australian Tree Fern (Cyathea cooperi)
  • Axis Deer (Axis axis)
  • Barbados Gooseberry (Pereskia aculeata)
  • Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
  • Big-headed Ant (Pheidole megacephala)
  • Black Twig Borer (Xylosandrus compactus)
  • Bocconia (Plume Poppy, Bocconia frutescens)
  • Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis)
  • Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)
  • Cane Tibouchina (Tibouchina herbaceae)
  • Cape Ivy (Delaria odorata)
  • Cattail (Typha latifolia)
  • Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata)
  • Christmas Berry (Schinus terebinthifolius)
  • Cissus (Cisses repens)
  • Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros)
  • Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei)
  • Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica)
  • Coqui (Eleutherodactylus coqui)
  • Devil Weed (Chromolaena odorata)
  • Erythrina Gall Wasp (Quadrastichus erythrinae)
  • False Kava (Piper auritum)
  • Feather Top Fountain Grass (Pennisetum villosum)
  • Feathery Senna (Senna artemisioides)
  • Feral cats (Felis catus)
  • Fire Tree (Myrica faya)
  • Fireweed (Senecio madagasariensis)
  • Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum)
  • Fruit Flies
  • Giant Reed (Arundo donax)
  • Glory Bush (Tibouchina urvilleana)
  • Gorilla Ogo (Gracilaria salicornia)
  • Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
  • Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus discolor)
  • Himalayan Ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum)
  • Himalayan Raspberry (Rubus ellipticus)
  • Hiptage (Hiptage benghalensis)
  • Hookweed (Hypnea musciformis)
  • Ivy Gourd (Coccina grandis)
  • Jackson’s Chameleon (Chameleo jacksonii)
  • Jerusalem thorn (Parkinsonia aculeata)
  • Kappaphycus Algae (Kappaphycus spp.)
  • Little Fire Ant (Wasmannia auropunctata)
  • Long-thorn Kiawe (Prosopis julifloria)
  • Maile pilau (Paederia foetida)
  • Mangrove, Red (Rhizophora mangle)
  • Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima)
  • Miconia (Miconia calvescens)
  • Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus)
  • Mule’s Foot Fern (Angiopterus evecta)
  • Naio Thrips (Klambothrips myopori)
  • Nettle Caterpillar (Darna pallivitta)
  • New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax)
  • Ohia rust (Puccinia psidii)
  • Pampas Grass (Cortaderia jubata, selloana)
  • Photinia (Photinia davidiana)
  • Rapid Ohia Death (Ceratocystis fimbriata)
  • Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis – parasitic nematode (roundworm parasite))
  • Red Imported Fire Ant
  • Red-masked Parakeet (Aratinga erythrogenys)
  • Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
  • Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
  • Rodents
  • Rubbervine (Cryptostegia spp.)
  • Ruby grass (Melinis nerviglumis)
  • Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida)
  • Smoke Bush (Buddleja madagascariensis)
  • Snowflake Coral (Carijoa riisei)
  • Spiked Pepper (Piper aduncum)
  • Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleianum)
  • Tropical Fire Ant (Solenopsis geminata)
  • Ungulates
  • Varroa Mite (Varroa destructor)
  • Veiled Chameleon (Chameleo calyptratus)
  • West Nile Virus