Lindsay and Kely Rodrigues clear out overgrown weeds on their family land in Waiheʻe Valley with the intention of growing native species once found in their area. For them, planting native goes deeper than just putting a plant in the soil. “I feel proud to live in Hawaiʻi, to be Hawaiian, and to plant native plants.” Lindsay explains. “Planting native is like a time capsule and helps me understand the connection between ourselves, my nāʻau, my kūpuna, and this ʻāina. Being in Hawaiʻi and being Hawaiian, it just makes sense to do this.”

“Planting native is like a time capsule and helps me understand the connection between ourselves, my nāʻau, my kūpuna, and this ʻāina. Being in Hawaiʻi and being Hawaiian, it just makes sense to do this.”

Hawaiʻi is home to some of the most unique plant species in the world. Continental plant species arrived to the islands without the aid of humans. They arrived via one of the three M’s- makani (wind), moana (ocean), and manu (birds). Seeds would blow over in air currents, plants or seeds would float to our shores, and hitchhiking seeds would cling to bird’s feathers- or in their digestive tracts. Millions of years of evolution resulted in new species of plants found nowhere else in the world, with plants adapting to every ecological niche in our islands. These ecosystems contribute to water collection and recharge of freshwater aquifers, provide habitat for native birds and insects, and are interwoven into the foundation and practice of Hawaiian culture.

After human arrival, native plant communities quickly declined. Alteration of landscapes, the arrival of hoofed grazing animals, and invasive plant introductions all contributed. Today, Hawaiʻi has gained the unfortunate moniker of being the extinction capital of the world. After millions of years of evolution, Hawaiʻi lost over 100 species in only a few hundred years. Seventy-five percent of the landscape is now non-native introductions. If you look outside of your window right now, chances are that none of the plants you see are originally from Hawaii.

This is changing though. With increasing awareness of how important native plants are to Hawaiʻi, residents are taking up their shovels to incorporate more native species into our modern landscapes. Tamara Sherrill, Executive Director of the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, is helping them. “Residential areas are some of the most important places to plant native. Ninety percent of our native plants are only found in Hawaiʻi, so planting a landscape that looks like no other place in the world not only helps the environment but shows our pride in what makes Hawaiʻi special.” Sherril explains. “Native plants have hundreds of Hawaiian cultural uses and growing them helps save them from overharvesting in forests. They require less water (saving on your water bill) and can also supply your home for lei making, traditional medicine and tea, and as a source of craft materials. Depending on where you live, they can also provide food and habitat for native birds and insects.”

April is Native Hawaiian Plant Month and a great time to start planting! Incorporating native plants into your yard doesn’t need to feel daunting. Sherill offers advice on getting started, “Before choosing your plants, find out your average rainfall and elevation. Learn your general soil type by calling the Maui Master Gardeners or by taking a sample to the UH Maui Cooperative Extension Office.” She adds, “Some native plants tolerate a wide range of environments, but most only do well in the zones that they evolved in. For sea level and other warm areas of Maui, come take a look at what is growing at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens.” If you live upcountry or in wetter areas, Garden staff can help you find plants in the nursery that would be best suited for your area.

The Maui Nui Botanical Gardens also host weekly native plant sales and giveaways, monthly workshops, workdays every Wednesday, and more. Visit and follow the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens to learn more (Instagram: @mauinuibg, website: mauinuibg.org).

Back in Waiheʻe, the Rodrigues’ are planning their next phase of planting and Lindsay explains her motivations, “I plant because I’m scared about losing our diversity of native plants. I want our next generation to experience what a truly Hawaiian landscape looks like. Planting native makes me think about the future and how one day this small plant will become a tree that my grandchildren will be sitting under. I plant Hawaiian plants for the connection and the future- for our ʻāina, and for our keiki.”

Serena Fukushima is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a graduate degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Kia’i Moku, Guarding the Island” is written by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that threaten our islands’ environment, economy and quality of life.

This article was originally published in the Maui News on April 9, 2022 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles

Knowing what to plant and where can be tricky. Planting guides from the Hawaiian moon calendar to publications from the University of Hawaiʻi’s Cooperative Extension Service all help. They offer information and guidance on proper soil conditions and sun requirements, but did you know that along with these great resources, there are also tools and guides to help ensure that the plants themselves are pono?
Programs offered for growers and nurseries through Plant Pono can do just that. Plant Pono is a partnership between the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council, and the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaiʻi.

First, there’s the Plant Pono Endorsement Program. The program relies on the Hawaiʻi Pacific Weed Risk Assessment (HPWRA). HPWRA is an evaluation of a plant’s potential to become invasive and cause harm in Hawaiʻi. An assessor with the HPWRA looks at the characteristics of a plant – from growing requirements to the number of seeds it produces – and takes into consideration the conditions present in Hawaiʻi -from pollinators to potential predators–to predict the plant’s potential to be invasive. The final result is a guideline for growers and gardeners indicating whether the plant has a low, moderate, or high risk of causing harm.

Businesses endorsed through the program have pledged to use plants that won’t become invasive. By voluntarily choosing to not sell high-risk plants, these businesses are demonstrating their commitment to Hawaiʻi and providing plants that won’t displace native species. At this time, the Pono Endorsement Program is only located on Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi.

If you are not living on an island with a Pono Endorsement Program, the plantpono.org website is a great resource for both nurseries and consumers to look up if a plant is pono or not. With over a thousand plants listed in its database, it’s easy search tool helps to quickly find the perfect fit for your garden or landscape that will also not pose a threat to our greater environment.

But it’s not just the plants themselves that can pose a threat. Pests and diseases hitchhike in plants and shipping materials and are carried long-distance. Inspectors with the State and Federal Departments of Agriculture check plants for unwanted pests and pathogens before and when they arrive in Hawaiʻi. A new program will help provide the tools for identification in the hands of growers as well as inspectors.
The Plant Pest Prevention Training is advanced training for growers to help them know what and where to look for hitchhiking pests. It also includes the steps they can take to stop these species. Covering everything from murder hornets to coconut pathogens, the goal of the program is to build capacity for detecting these problems early. By increasing the number of trained eyes out there looking, the Plant Pest Prevention Training provides additional layers of protection against hitchhiking pests. Information regarding pest distribution can help with purchasing decisions.

Developed with grant funding through the USDA Plant Protection Act 7721, the training will be launched and offered by staff at the county-based Invasive Species Committees to interested nurseries this year. Just like the Pono Endorsement program, participation is voluntary for this training.

As you make your plant purchasing choices this growing season, ask your vendors if they are aware of Plant Pono and the tools offered to nurseries. Visit plantpono.org to learn more.

Serena Fukushima is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a graduate degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Kia’i Moku, Guarding the Island” is written by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that threaten our islands’ environment, economy and quality of life.

This article was originally published in the Maui News on March 12, 2022 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles

In early January, Richard Smith reached out to the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC), concerned about his avocado tree. “The leaves were turning black and brown, and when I turned them over, I could see these black bug-looking things covering them.”, the Wailea resident explained to staff. “I wasn’t sure what it was- or what I could do to save my tree- so I decided to report it.” Smith sent in photos and the MISC early detection team and entomologists at the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (HDOA) quickly identified the insects as avocado lace bug.

   First discovered in 2019 on central O’ahu, the avocado lace bug (ALB) quickly spread throughout the Gathering Island. Shortly thereafter reports came in from Hawai’i Island, Kaua’i, and Maui.  Known from Central and South America, the Caribbean, Southeastern United States, and California, ALB is presumed to have arrived in Hawai’i on the leaves of an infested host plant.

“Avocado lace bug probably affects almost every tree on O’ahu to some degree and has spread across the entire island. It is also now well established on Hawai’i Island, and is spreading across Kaua’i and Maui,” said Janis Matsunaga, an entomologist with the HDOA Plant Pest Control Branch. “This has been one of the fastest spreading pests to invade Hawai’i in recent years,” Matsunaga added. On Maui, infestations are concentrated at lower elevations, however, they have been detected as high as Copp Road in upper Kula. There have been no reports of ALB on Molokai or Lānaʻi at the time of publication.

 ALB does not directly impact the buttery fruit beloved as a Superbowl Sunday staple or as a topping on trendy millennial toast. Instead, it weakens the plant by sucking the sap from the undersides of avocado leaves, resulting in yellow blotches or browning and leaves falling prematurely. If you have an extensive infestation, the tree can lose so many leaves that it can’t photosynthesize and will put the plant under stress. The lack of shade that the leaves provide can also cause the fruit to sunburn. California farmers report reduced crop yields with large infestations, however, permanent impacts are rare; even trees that sustain severe damage have been able to recover the following fruiting season- a glimmer of hope for Hawaii farmers and backyard growers.

The bugs themselves are tiny. “They are about 1/16 inches long and have black and yellow bodies with a thick horizontal stripe against their lace-patterned wings, where they get the second part of their name. Immature avocado lace bugs are much smaller in size and are black” Matsunaga says. Another clue is black dots amongst the colonies, which are fecal matter and eggs cased in excrement.

The University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) is determining the best treatment methods for avocado lace bug in our islands. They encourage limiting chemical applications to when infestations are high, and timing applications to avoid spraying when trees are flowering to protect beneficial insects like honeybees. Trials are also underway in determining particular avocado varieties that are more resistant to avocado lace bug than others. For backyard gardeners that discover a light infestation of ALB and want to treat it, CTAHR recommends using insecticidal soaps to control this pest. For further information and control, visit CTAHR’s website at ctahr.hawaii.edu.

In reporting this pest, Richard Smith was concerned that his avocado lace bug infestation would lead to him losing his beloved avocado tree, echoing the concern of many Hawaiʻi residents. Being vigilant by observing what’s happening in your backyard, reporting something new (such as to MISC or 643pest.org), and catching infestations early, it is likely that Smithʻs tree- and many others in our islands- will survive and continue to produce this delicious fruit.

Serena Fukushima is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a graduate degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Kia’i Moku, Guarding the Island” is written by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that threaten our islands’ environment, economy and quality of life.

This article was originally published in the Maui News on February 12, 2022 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles

At the start of a new year, many of us are taking time to reflect and set goals. Consider adding to your list a resolution to do small things each month to protect our environment. Here are a few simple actions you can take that will help make a difference on the invasive species front throughout the year.

January– Clean before you go. If exercise is on your list of resolutions, hiking is a great way to crush your step goal! Take a few minutes to clean your boots, gear, and car of mud and dirt before and after going to a new place. This helps prevent seeds and other invasive hitchhikers from spreading into a new area.

February- Learn about statewide invasive species efforts. February is Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Month (HISAM), an initiative to share and bring awareness to statewide invasive species efforts. Join in on this year’s activities by visiting http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc.

March– Report chirping coqui. Hawaii’s wet season (hoʻoilo) is typically November through April. Coqui tend to go out during rainfall or just after it has rained, especially when the temperatures are above 70 degrees, making this month especially good to be alert to coqui calls. If you hear one, report it to mauiinvasive.org.

April– Plant native. April is Native Hawaiian Plant Month. Celebrate by planting native! Native plants use less water, fertilizer, and fewer pesticides, in addition to creating a healthy environment, watershed, and helping native species thrive.

May– Make lei. May day is lei day in Hawaiʻi, and a great time to learn about this important cultural practice. Many lei are made using native plants, some of which you may have planted in April. Some modern lei even include invasive species to highlight environmental issues artistically.

June– Prevent the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). ʻŌhiʻa flowers year-round but bloom heaviest March-June. Although Maui has only had one positive ROD case since 2019, it is important to stay vigilant in protecting this cherished tree from this deadly fungus. Report ʻōhiʻa trees that have browned and died suddenly to 573-MISC.

July– Travel smart. Check twice before you bring something interisland. The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture must inspect plants and plant cuttings before being taken interisland to ensure there are no unwanted pests or diseases riding along. Also, if you traveled to Hawaiʻi Island, make sure to decontaminate boots and gear before returning home to prevent spreading ROD to other islands.

August– Report pampas grass. This highly invasive grass starts to bloom in August, and large clumps have the potential of producing millions of wind-borne seeds in just one year! In forests, pampas compete against native plants in our watershed and can create a fire hazard. It is illegal to propagate or transport pampas into the state. If you see pampas- either planted in the ground or in an arrangement, report it to 573-MISC.

September– Be neighborly.  Some invasive species problems are too big to tackle alone, but left unchecked will become everyone’s problem.  Offer to help out your neighbors with an invasive species in their yard. If you have coqui frogs in your neighborhood, joining the Community Coqui Control Program with MISC is one way to get involved in tackling this invasive pest. Visit mauiinvasive.org to learn more.

October– Survey your yard for little fire ants. October is Stop the Ant Month! Prevent the spread of this painful invasive pest by surveying your yard at least four times a year. Learn more and request a free collection kit at stoptheant.org, and always report stinging ants!

November– Eat an invasive. The season of eating offers plenty of edible invasive species, from axis deer to strawberry guava to pigs. Make a meal, or part of a meal, in the spirit of removing invasive species. Visit chefhui.com to learn more about creative ways to cook invasive species.

December- Have a local Christmas. Choose a locally grown Christmas tree from the Kula Botanical Garden, or get a permit from DLNR and cut down an invasive pine in Kula Forest Reserve! Native alaheʻe also make a great substitute and grow well in pots to use year after year.

If you want to do more, there are a host of organizations and volunteer activities for any interest. You can find volunteer opportunities on Maui at http://mauimauka.org/volunteer..

Serena Fukushima is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a graduate degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Kia’i Moku, Guarding the Island” is written by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that threaten our islands’ environment, economy and quality of life.

This article was originally published in the Maui News on January 8, 2022 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles

Nothing heralds the holiday season like the Christmas tree, but did you know that most of Hawaiʻiʻs Christmas trees are not from here? This year, over 150 shipping containers are estimated to arrive in our State, equating to over 90,000 trees. About 99% of them are Douglas and Noble Firs, grown and shipped from Oregon. Invasive pests not known in Hawaiʻi may be lurking in their boughs, but the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture inspector elves remain on the frontlines to keep these harmful grinches out.

From field to living room, a Christmas tree goes through quite a journey to deck your halls. State Planned Regulatory Official (SPRO) for Hawai’i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), Helmuth Rogg, knows this all too well. Rogg served for 17 years as the SPRO for the Oregon Department of Agriculture before starting his position with HDOA last year. “Oregon is the number one Christmas tree producer in America and exports to over 36 countries”, Rogg said. “The process begins well before the holidays when Oregon inspectors check fields for infestations of specific pests, such as the Douglas Fir twig beetle. If there is an infestation, nothing in the field will be exported that year.”

After an eight-year growing period, trees are harvested on farms, then airlifted to a staging area to prevent excess amounts of mud from sticking to them. Once they land, they are gathered, cleaned, and baled. Oregon inspectors then check for pests by vigorously shaking trees and tapping their stumps on the ground to dislodge any hitchhikers before loading them into shipping containers. Before the container doors are closed, inspectors take out three random trees and shakes them. If anything falls out, the entire container is unloaded, and the whole process begins again.

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After Christmas trees are loaded into their containers, they are shipped to Hawaiʻi and greeted by HDOA inspectors. Three trees will be pulled out of each container and shaken on a white tarp. If inspectors find any pests, the container is closed, sealed, and put on hold. The store that ordered the trees will either send the container back to its origin or pay HDOA to clean the trees in a sealed quarantine facility. This process can take up to half a day with ten inspectors, where all trees are unloaded, cleaned, and reloaded into a sanitized container before heading to the store.

This year, over 150 shipping containers are estimated to arrive in our State, equating to over 90,000 trees. About 99% of them are Douglas and Noble Firs, grown and shipped from Oregon. Invasive pests not known in Hawaiʻi may be lurking in their boughs.

Even with all of this effort, pests still manage to sneak in. The most common pests on Hawaiʻi Christmas trees are slugs and yellow jackets. In 2020, inspectors captured a live garter snake in a Christmas tree container. As long as trees are imported, the risk of accidental introductions remains. Still, Rogg reassures, “So far this year, only four out of the 150 containers that arrived needed to be cleaned by HDOA inspectors, or about 1% of Christmas tree arrivals.” Rogg does encourage the public to be vigilant, though. “If something hitchhikes on your Christmas tree, safely collect it in a zip-top bag, take a photo of it, place it in the freezer and report it to 643pest.org, where officials can identify it.”

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Want to eliminate the risk of invasive imported hitchhikers altogether? Choose local. Kula Botanical Gardens is one of the largest Christmas tree growers in the State, with an assortment of upcountry grown Monterey Pines. Kula Kelly’s Farm in ʻŌmaʻopio boasts a small selection of Norfolk Pines. If you crave a family adventure and want to cut down your own tree, the Department of Land and Natural Resources issues collection permits for Monterey Pines, 15 feet or under, for a $20 fee. Lance DeSilva, Forest Management Supervisor with the Maui DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, shares, “Kula Forest Reserve is the only State area on Maui allowed for Christmas tree cutting. If you would like to cut down your own Christmas tree, please give our office a call at (808) 984-8100.” Lastly, Alaheʻe is a native option with a similar growth pattern to a Christmas tree and does well in pots, so it can be potted up and used every year before planting in your yard. Another bonus? Itʻs tiny, white flowers are reminiscent of mock orange blossoms, providing good tidings and cheer well beyond the holidays.