The Invasives are Coming - The Department of Agriculture Must Take Action Before it is Too Late

By Wayne Tanaka, Chapter Director | reading time: 3.5 minutes.

Little fire ants, coconut rhinoceros beetles, the hala scale - these invasive pests and others could wreak havoc for our ecosystems and native species, cultural practices, agriculture and food security, and even things like public health, tourism, and our overall economy, if they are allowed to proliferate across our islands.

In response to these threats, in February, the Board of Agriculture rightly approved a public hearing for long-awaited draft rules that would have targeted known vectors contributing to these species' spread. These rules include critical inspection and quarantine requirements and transport prohibitions for infected soil, plants, and other gardening products.

However, eight months later, the Department of Agriculture still has not moved forward with the rule making process.

In a series of correspondences released by Senator Jarrett Keohokālole, Department Director Sharon Hurd revealed that the main holdup was not legal review - as the Department had previously asserted - but “industry” representatives who objected to certain rule provisions in private meetings.

Now, Director Hurd is suggesting that it may take another 10 months for the rules to be changed to the satisfaction of the “industry.”

This elevation of private corporate interests over people and ʻāina is unacceptable.

Every single day risks the further proliferation of invasive species such as the little fire ant (”LFA”), which are known for their incredibly painful sting and resistance to eradication methods. Should LFA continue to spread, children, agricultural workers, and pets as well as native wildlife will all be increasingly threatened by these pervasive pests; residents and visitors alike may lose ever more access to affordable, locally grown food as well as to open spaces, as LFA colonies become established across agricultural fields, public parks, and beaches; and landowners and homeowners may need to rely even more heavily on the use of costly and harmful chemical pesticides, just to control LFA infestations.

Notably, of this is already reality for Hawaiʻi Island residents, who have been dealing with the LFA for many years - throughout which time, the Department of Agriculture refused to act.

The proposed invasive pest rules for HAR Chapter 4-72 must be promulgated as soon as possible. The draft rules can still be refined to meet any legitimate concerns by the “industry” or others - but as part of the rule making and public hearing process (important note: changes that are not “substantial” will not require a new public hearing).

Please take action and contact Governor Josh Green, and demand that his administration move forward with the proposed Department of Agriculture rules before we lose another opportunity to save our islands, our people, and our future generations from egregious harm. A sample message is below.

Mahalo nui.

SAMPLE MESSAGE TO GOVERNOR GREEN:

“Dear Governor Green, despite the economic, ecological, and cultural devastation that could result by the continued proliferation of invasive species like the little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, hala scale, and other serious plant and animal pests, your Department of Agriculture continues to sit on rules to mitigate their spread - rules that were approved for public hearing by the Board of Agriculture eight months ago.

Department Director Sharon Hurd's reasoning - that industry representatives object to the rules' interisland transport prohibitions - and her suggestion that it will take another ten months for a watered down version of these rules to be passed is an unacceptable deference to private corporate interests at the expense of people and ʻāina.

The clock is ticking and the costs of eradicating or controlling these species will only increase exponentially over time. As a doctor, you should also understand the myriad public health impacts that could be caused directly and indirectly by the proliferation of these species - including the harm to children and agricultural workers from little fire ant attacks, the exclusion of people from infested open spaces, the loss of access to locally grown food, the loss of treasured native species and cultural resources, and the increased use of chemical pesticides in the local agricultural industry.

Please ensure that a public hearing is held on the rule proposal for HAR Chapter 4-72 as soon as possible.  Thank you for your consideration of this urgent request."