Pest quarantine rule amendments headed to the governor’s desk

Great news—thanks to your advocacy to Agriculture Department Chair Hurd and the Small Business Regulatory Review Board, the pest quarantine rule amendments are headed to the Governor’s Desk for final adoption! 

Yesterday, the Small Business Regulatory Review Board unanimously approved the Agriculture Department’s rule amendments to establish inter- and intra-island quarantines for pest-infested plants and materials. 

Your efforts have been critical in pushing these rules forward. I know we’ve asked for a lot of action recently, but your voice has truly made a difference. Now, we need one final push. Please take a moment to urge Governor Green to quickly sign these rule amendments into law. These rules will finally give the Agriculture Department the authority it needs to combat the spread of invasive pests like little fire ants and coconut rhinoceros beetles through transported plants and goods.

We don’t have any more time to waste. Since these rules were introduced nearly two years ago, invasive pest infestations have continued to spread. Just this year, Oʻahu has seen 19 new little fire ant infestations, and Maui and Kauaʻi each saw eight—six on Kauaʻi of which were at nurseries. Coconut rhinoceros beetles have reached Waikoloa, are spreading across Kauaʻi, and continue to wreak havoc on Oʻahu.

If we want to stop Kauaʻi’s niu from suffering the same fate as Oʻahu’s, protect Oʻahu and our neighbor islands from the little fire ant devastation Hawaiʻi Island has faced, and keep coconut rhinoceros beetles from spreading further to Hawaiʻi Island and Maui, the Agriculture Department must treat these invasive pests as the serious threat they are. These pests aren’t just an inconvenience—they endanger our food security, natural ecosystems, and the cultural integrity that makes our islands so special. It’s time to take these threats seriously before it’s too late.