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HDOA updates board on biosecurity bills, coconut rhinoceros beetle and little fire ant response
Summary
HDOA staff updated the Board of Agriculture on three pending legislative measures affecting biosecurity, progress on coconut rhinoceros beetle response on Hawaii Island and a wide little fire ant response on Oahu and other islands funded under recent appropriations.
Hawaii Department of Agriculture staff provided the Board of Agriculture with a legislative and operational update on biosecurity and invasive species, reporting on pending bills, coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) activity on Hawaii Island, and progress under contracts for little fire ant (LFA) surveys and treatments.
Jonathan Hough, plant pest control branch manager, told the board three measures were awaiting the governor’s signature: SB 140 (rules for importation of firewood), SB 330 (authorizes the department to enforce federal quarantines) and HB 427 (renames the department to add biosecurity, creates a deputy position focused on biosecurity, authorizes a biosecurity emergency declaration, establishes a dashboard for posting treatment area information and moves some functions and funding timelines including a phased transfer of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council). Hough summarized the bill provisions, saying the package would broaden the department’s biosecurity authorities and require a dashboard for publicly posted treatment area information.
On CRB response efforts, Hough said 11 adult beetles and a single grub had been found in the Kona area; the grub was traced to a shipment of green waste that originated in the Keahole Ag Park, prompting site inspections and mitigation efforts at that facility. Staff reported drone treatments using the insecticide OneGuard and trunk injections for trees that cannot be sprayed; tree‑removal contracts are also underway in affected areas. Waikoloa Village—an early detection site on the island’s west side—has had no detections since October of the prior year.
Hough reported early results from the LFA residential contract on Oahu: the department distributed roughly 1,000 LFA test kits, completed 19 residential operations across nine ZIP codes covering about 85 acres and deployed some 7,400 samples; approximately 1,100 samples returned positive. Staff said 32 properties are in active treatment across two sites, with additional properties queued for treatment. Hough said the department plans to work with the Hawaii Invasive Species Council and county partners to extend treatments in other islands.
Hough also described recent pesticide authorizations: the department obtained a Special Local Need (SLN) registration from EPA for a fumigant product for green‑waste quarantine treatments and said methyl bromide remains an effective but constrained option due to air‑quality and permitting limits. Board members asked about departmental capacity; Hough and chair Hurd said the department has added positions in recent budgets and that implementation of new statutory duties will be phased to align resources with new programs.
No public testimony was recorded on the update; board members thanked staff for outreach and emphasized continued coordination with counties, federal partners and the University of Hawaii on response work and research.
