Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)

Māmalu Poepoe Project traps and monitors invasive pests

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Crews from island-based invasive species committees from across the state receive training on signs of a coconut rhinoceros beetle. The training is done as part of the Mamalu Poepoe project, an interagency working group designed to increase the monitoring capacity at airports statewide. — LEYLA KAUFMAN photo

Since Polynesian times, people have unwittingly carried plants and animals with them as they traveled to Hawaiʻi. Ants and skinks were among the first of these hitchhikers inadvertently brought to the Islands. The natural barriers of isolation that prevented so many plants and animals from reaching the Islands have been wiped out.  

Every day, between 25,000-30,000 people fly to Hawaiʻi from throughout the world: In 2016, 655,000 tons of air cargo and mail arrived through the airports across the state. The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture inspects much of this cargo for hitchhiking pests. But pests could slip through: species that stowaway in cargo holds, or between airline shipping containers—species inadvertently picked up at one destination and carried to another, from international airports to interisland airports.

The Māmalu Poepoe project is designed to address that puka. Māmalu means protected, Poepoe is an acronym for point of entry, point of exit – the name connotates a “lei of protection.” According to Leyla Kaufman, coordinator of the Māmalu Poepoe project, the main goal of the project is to increase monitoring capacity at the airports. “In most instances, the agencies involved have some level of monitoring going at airports, [Māmalu Poepoe] fills in any gaps.”

The seed for the project was planted in 2013: with the Hawaiʻi Department of Health so low on funding they had no capacity to trap and monitor mosquitos around the airports, then-deputy Gary Gill reached out to interagency Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council.  They started planning for the Māmalu Poepoe project.

This coordinated working group leverages the expertise and manpower of multiple state agencies:  primarily the Departments of Health, Transportation, and Agriculture under the umbrella of the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council. The University of Hawaiʻi provides a flexible umbrella for funding between multiple agencies.

Work occurs in the restricted access areas of 6 airports statewide: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Hilo, and Kona. Traps and surveys are designed to target mosquitos, ants, coconut rhinoceros beetle, and honeybees. These insects are selected because they are notorious hitchhikers that have an impact on agriculture and human health. By monitoring, the Māmalu Poepoe project can better address both the interisland spread of pests as well as the introduction of species to the state. “Hawaiʻi has 6 species of mosquitos but there are hundreds out there,” says Kauffman. One of the species found on Big Island but not the rest of the state is Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that is the optimal carrier for dengue and zika, it can also transmit chikungunya and yellow fever.”

Agency specialists from the state agencies design the monitoring and survey methods, but given scarce staffing and travel funds, they rely on a crew from the island-based Invasive Species Committees to do the groundwork of checking traps and surveying for ants. Crew go through species-specific trainings (as well as background checks for security authorization) —then visit the airport every 4-6 weeks to check the swarm traps for honeybees, the lure traps for coconut rhinoceros beetles and mosquitos, or survey for ants.

“Rather than starting from scratch….It (Māmalu Poepoe Project) has allowed us to tap into much more expertise than we would have had otherwise, and is helping support a much larger network of folks working on a piece of the monitoring puzzle.”

Māmalu Poepoe project is flexible enough to fill gaps in the research: “Things have changed quite a bit since the Department of Health was monitoring for mosquitos at airports,” says Kauffman. She started a research project evaluating mosquitos to enhance trapping efforts of vector control.

In the three years from the proposed idea to actual implementation, the landscape around invasive species changed: Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle arrived in the State and the dengue outbreak triggered the legislature to restore funding for vector control. Josh Atwood, Program Supervisor of the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council feels it is a boon for the project:  “Rather than starting from scratch….It has allowed us to tap into much more expertise than we would have had otherwise, and is helping support a much larger network of folks working on a piece of the monitoring puzzle.” Learn more about the project online: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/mp/

This article was originally published in the Maui News on November 12th, 2017, as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles.

Yellow-faced bees defenseless and vulnerable to predatory ants

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Female bees lack the yellow faces that lead to the common name of the yellow-faced bees. Once common, many of these bees are now on the endangered species list. — JASON GRAHAM photo.

Somewhere between 400,000 and 700,000 thousand years ago–about the time Haleakalā was forming–a tiny bee arrived in the Hawaiian Islands.

This bee was about the size of a grain of rice and prepared for a life of self-sufficiency. Though we think of bees as living together, working together, and providing honey, approximately 75% of the bee species in the world lead a solitary life. Simply pollinating flowers – an essential ecosystem service— they are often overlooked by people.

Little is known about the first bee to reach Hawaiʻi, but in a remarkably short amount of time, her descendants evolved into 63 unique species found only in Hawaiʻi. They were successful, living from the coastline to the mountain top, pollinating everything from naupaka to silverswords. They were so common in 1913 that entomologist R.C.L. Perkins called them “almost the most ubiquitous of any Hawaiian insects.”

The last hundred years have brought dramatic changes to Hawaiʻi and seven species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bees have since landed on the federal endangered species list. According to Dr. Jason Graham, a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researcher, the other Hawaiian bees may not fare much better. “There is the potential that others are endangered or extinct,” he says, “there hasn’t been much work on them.” Habitat loss and invasive species are the unique bees’ primary threats.

With few exceptions, Hawaiian bees rely on native plants for food. They are not found in areas dominated by non-native plants. The decline in food sources has led to a decline in population.  Introduced bees and wasps compete with the native bees for food and nesting sites. Exotic ants also take a toll.

An endangered yellow-faced bee visits a native beach naupaka. Endemic yellow-faced bees rely mostly on native plants for food and nesting sites. — JASON GRAHAM photo.

Yellow-faced bees don’t sting, which often leads to the death of a bee. “If a honeybee worker dies, the hive continues,” explains Graham. But a solitary bee isn’t expendable – she wonʻt pass along her genetic material.  “She’s the single mom of the insect world,” says Graham.

It’s up to her to find a nest, typically a hollow stem or hole in a rock or coral. She builds a little apartment for each egg, stocking the cupboards with pollen, food for when the larvae emerge. She seals the opening with a waterproof coating to protect her young from the elements and off she goes – her caregiving role complete.

But the neighborhood has changed in 200 years; now her unattended young are vulnerable to multitudes of invasive ants that easily pierce the cellophane-like barrier to the nest. Years of evolution in isolation have left the yellow-faced bees defenseless and vulnerable to non-native predatory ants that crawl inside the nest and devour the young.

“Years of evolution in isolation have left the yellow-faced bees defenseless and vulnerable to non-native predatory ants that crawl inside the nest and devour the young.”

Some Hawaiian bees, such as the highly endangered Hylaeus anthracinus, are limited to small populations along the coastline. “Climate change and rising sea levels are a definite threat to the future survival of this species,” says Graham who is investigating artificial nesting sites for the bees. Since yellow-faced bees rely on existing holes for nests, Graham drills into blocks of wood and line them with plastic tubing so he can pull the nest out and monitor success. He can use an insect barrier to keep ants out.

Understanding Hawaiian bee biology is essential to protecting them. You can help:

  • Use native plants in your landscaping.
  •  Bring your own kindling: For some of the most endangered coastal species, nest sites can be destroyed when people collect wood for bonfires. What looks like a dried naupaka twig may actually contain a tiny bee’s nest.  
  • Entomologists are in the beginning stages of research but they will eventually need assistance – if you want to help monitor nests and find native bees, follow the Hawaiian Yellow-Faced Bees page on Facebook and check the discoverbees.com website.

Lissa Strohecker is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a biological sciences degree from Montana State University. Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy, and quality of life.

This article was originally published in the Maui News on July 9th, 2017, as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles.

Hiring for Public Relations Specialist — Apply by 8/12

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Do you enjoy sharing your love of Hawaiʻi and inspiring others? Do you have a passion for learning and creative talent? Do you have experience with public relations, marketing, or outreach? Consider applying for the position of Public Relations and Education Specialist at the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC).

The MISC Public Relations and Education Specialist builds support for controlling invasive species throughout Maui County and Hawaiʻi. By working with insightful leaders within MISC and the state – in conservation, agriculture, education, and culture to name a few – the individual selected for this position will both contribute to and participate in developing strategy, messaging, and implementation of awareness and engagement campaigns for diverse audiences.  Clear communication skills are essential as responsibilities include dealing with media, tabling community events, maintaining an online presence through social media and websites, conducting presentations, writing articles and press releases, negotiating access to private property, facilitating meetings, and more. This is an excellent opportunity for a visionary person to help conservation initiatives succeed.

Find the full application below and apply online through the RCUH website.

  • Teachers at Hoike workshop

MISC PUBLIC RELATIONS & EDUCATION SPECIALIST – ID# 220352.  Maui Invasive Species Committee.  Regular, Full-Time RCUH Non-Civil Service position with the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU), Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) in Maui, Hawai‘i.  Continuation of employment is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work performance, availability of funds, and compliance with applicable Federal/State laws. 

MONTHLY SALARY:  Salary commensurate with qualifications. 

DUTIES:  Develops and maintains a positive public image for MISC operations. Develops and implements public relations (PR) and education program to raise public awareness about and generate support for MISC’s efforts to control invasive plants and animals. Coordinates and directs the MISC PR and Outreach team. Manages personnel on the outreach team and supervises Education/Outreach Program Associate, including scheduling and timekeeping, personnel evaluations, and making hiring decisions. Assumes responsibility for communicating MISC’s work and the importance of invasive species management to the community and partners. Negotiates access to public and private property for survey and control operations. Uses graphic design programs, creative writing, and artistic abilities to design original educational and public relations materials. Acts as primary contact for media inquiries and on social media. Maintains MISC websites and develops community engagement programs. Represents MISC at appropriate venues.  Creates and conducts presentations to community and school groups. Develops and maintains positive relationships with members of the local media, with MISC’s partners, and the public. Prepares reports on public relations activities and accomplishments. Plans outreach strategies and implements initiatives. Identifies funding opportunities as they arise through networking and participation in statewide working groups.   Drives project vehicles to access work sites and attend PR events. Must work on weekends, holidays, and occasionally evenings to attend community events. 

PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION/TRAINING:  Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university. 

EXPERIENCE:  Three to five (3-5) years of experience in public relations or education related to natural resource management.  Experience must include at least one (1) year of experience producing public messages using different forms of media, including print, radio, video, website, and television. 

ABIL/KNOW/SKILLS:  Knowledgeable about Hawaiian biota and threats from incipient alien plant and animal invasions in Hawai‘i. Knowledge of identification and detection techniques for invasive species and familiarity with common native and introduced Hawaiian plants and animal species. Familiarity with community-based social marketing concepts and social media presence. Knowledge of website design and maintenance. Must possess excellent public speaking and interpersonal skills.  Strong writing and editing ability. Demonstrated ability to produce creative original content and outreach products. Excellent computer skills. Proficient in the use of basic computer programs, including word processing, desktop publishing, and web design software.  Ability to negotiate effectively with reluctant landowners.  Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide variety of publics. Ability to present information to individuals or groups.  Ability to think and act independently in the public eye while striving to present a positive public image for controversial activities.  Must possess a valid driver’s license (and if use of personal vehicle on the job is required, must also have valid personal driver’s insurance equivalent to Hawai‘i’s No-Fault Driver’s Insurance) and maintain throughout the duration of employment. 

PHYSICAL/MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Ability to lift and carry at least 20 pounds. Ability to set-up exhibits/displays.

POLICY AND/OR REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:  As a condition of employment, employee will be subject to all applicable RCUH policies and procedures and, as applicable, subject to University of Hawai‘i’s and/or business entity’s policies and procedures.  Violation of RCUH’s, UH’s, or business entity’s policies and/or procedures or applicable State or Federal laws and/or regulations may lead to disciplinary action (including, but not limited to possible termination of employment, personal fines, civil and/or criminal penalties, etc.).  

SECONDARY QUALIFICATIONS:  Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university or experience in Education, Journalism, Marketing, or related field.  Education in a natural resources management field or prior experience working in natural resources management.  Experience with outreach program(s) development. Knowledgeable about natural and cultural history in Hawai‘i. INQUIRIES: Adam Radford 264-9496 (Maui).

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Please go to www.rcuh.com and click on “Job Postings.” You must submit the following documents online to be considered for the position:
1) Cover Letter,
2) Resume,
3) Supervisory References,
4) Copy of Degree(s)/Transcript(s)/Certificate(s).

All online applications must be submitted/received by the closing date (11:59 P.M. Hawai‘i Standard Time/RCUH receipt time) as stated on the job posting. If you do not have access to our system and the closing date is imminent, you may send additional documents to rcuh_employment@rcuh.com. If you have questions on the application process and/or need assistance, please call (808) 956-7262 or (808) 956-0872. 

CLOSING DATE:  August 12, 2020. 

RCUH’s mission is to support and enhance research, development and training in Hawai‘i, with a focus on the University of Hawai‘i.

Equal Opportunities Employer – Minorities/Women/Disability/Veteran.

Removing invaders can help decrease damage from hurricanes

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Floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey spread living rafts of red imported fire ants in Texas. While Hawaiʻi does not have red imported fire ants, storms and floods can help to spread other species that are present such as the little fire ant. — BRAND KELLY / Wikimedia Commons photo.

Hurricane Harvey didn’t just bring floodwaters to Texas; it also spread a plague of stinging ants.

Red imported fire ants are highly aggressive pests that have invaded the southern United States. These ants are particularly adept at surviving floods – a strategy they developed in the wetlands of their native Brazil. When their nests become waterlogged they form rafts, clinging to each other to stay afloat as floodwaters carry them elsewhere. When they make landfall they set up a new home – but landfall for a floating anthill could be a paddle or a rescue skiff leaving the passengers battling swarms of stinging ants. After Hurricane Harvey, pictures of the rafting ants filled the news. Twice Hawaiʻi inspectors have intercepted these ants in shipments bound for the Aloha State, but as far as we know this painful plague has not yet established itself in the Islands.

Fire ants aren’t the only nuisance species spread by hurricane winds and associated flooding.

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit Homestead, Florida. The intense winds flattened a reptile collector’s greenhouse, sending baby Burmese pythons flying through the air. Homestead borders Everglades National Park. While most of these airborne serpents probably died, scientists suspect some survived and likely reinforced the existing population of escaped reptiles. Pythons are now one of Floridaʻs biggest pests, both in size and impact. A full-grown python can be 20’ in length and these giants threaten the survival of the endangered Florida panther and other unique wildlife.

Resource managers in Hawaii are worried about a much smaller pest traveling on the winds of hurricanes and storms. Spores from the fungus responsible for Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, the disease that has killed ʻōhiʻa trees across 75,000 acres of forest on Hawaiʻi Island, is wind-dispersed. High winds can knock off branches and wound a ʻōhiʻa tree, opening up a site that’s vulnerable to infection—similar to how a wound on your skin exposes you to infection. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death was recently discovered in Kohala in September of 2017, only 40 miles from Maui – easily within the distance of a windstorm. Resource managers are increasingly worried that Maui’s native forests could be next.

Albizia trees took a hit in 2014 when Tropical Storm Iselle made landfall on Hawaii island. The damage from these invasive trees falling on power lines and roads took weeks to clean up. — U.S. National Guard / Wikimedia Commons photo.

Intense storms can also damage an otherwise intact rainforest, rendering the forest ecosystem more vulnerable to invasive plants. Hurricanes and storms can fell big canopy trees, opening up a gap that gives a fast-growing invader the light and space it needs to get a foothold. Many of those invaders are shallow-rooted and conducive to landslides, exacerbating the problems hurricanes cause.

Exotic species and the altered forest that they form may not be able to weather the winds as well as an intact rain forest. Storm impacts are amplified as a result. In 2014, Tropical Storm Iselle struck areas of Hawaiʻi Island where albizia trees dominated the landscape. These invasive giants fell hard, taking down power lines and blocking roads. The clean-up took months; albizia became a poster child for invasive species problems.

The onset of climate change underscores the importance of bolstering the health of our rainforests. Tropical ocean temperatures are expected to increase and with that rise comes more intense storms and hurricanes. Considering widespread invasive plants established at lower elevations, increasing storms could lead to a cycle of increasing forest destruction which will lead to drastic changes in forest canopy structure and composition.

While we can’t control the weather, we do have control over the choices we make in our daily lives and the causes and programs we support. Efforts to eradicate or contain invasive species are important to help the rainforest retain resilience to storms and preserve our quality of life.

You can help by using non-invasive plants in your landscaping, plants that will not exploit the damage caused by tropical storms, and keeping an eye out for invasive species like fire ants. Avoid the temptation to plant fast-growing, exotic trees. Support organizations dedicated to protecting our islands from invasive species. For the long term, support policies and programs that will reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainability. Our individual actions do make a difference—just about any effort is worth the trouble if we can avoid rafting ants and flying snakes.

Lissa Strohecker is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a biological sciences degree from Montana State University. Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy, and quality of life.

This article was originally published in the Maui News on October 8th, 2017, as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles.

Coqui frogs negatively affect the environment in more ways than one

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Coqui have the perfect environment in Hawaiʻi, one that lacks the predators – lizards, tarantulas, and snakes- found in their native Puerto Rico. They reach densities two to three times greater in Hawaiʻi than in Puerto Rico, the densest population of land-living amphibian known anywhere. — Maui Invasive Species Committee photo.

In the dark, Darrel Aquino turns off the pump engine – the silence is a stark contrast to the noise of the gasoline motor, and before that, the piercing calls of the coqui frogs that met Aquino and his crew from the Maui Invasive Species Committee when they arrived hours earlier. They work together to pack up, rolling up fire hose by the light of headlamps before heading back to the baseyard. They’ll be back out tomorrow, and the night after, but in a different area of Haʻikū, as they work to stop the spread of the coqui frog.

From dusk to dawn males call for mates, “Co-qui, co-qui.” The first note, “Co,” lets their competition (other male frogs) know they are there, and the “qui” is for the girls. As loud as a lawnmower or leaf blower, the calls drown out the sounds of a night in Hawaiʻi: crickets, the night breeze rustling leaves, waves breaking along the coast. 

But while the ear-splitting call of this tiny tree frog is what they are famous for, problems with the coqui frog goes beyond noise. Like us, these invasive frogs from Puerto Rico also find our island habitat and climate to be paradise. Coqui in Hawaiʻi reach population densities greater than any terrestrial amphibian species elsewhere in the world. At over 20,000 frogs per acre in an environment that evolved without frogs, there is bound to be an impact.   

“Coqui in Hawaiʻi reach population densities greater than any terrestrial amphibian species elsewhere in the world. At over 20,000 frogs per acre in an environment that evolved without frogs, there is bound to be an impact.”

Dr. Karen Beard, a professor at Utah State University, and her students have studied coqui frogs in the Islands for more than a decade. The interactions between invasive species from different parts of the world coming together in a new environment can be hard to predict, but her research is finding that the presence of coqui in Hawaiʻi tends to benefit other introduced species – from invasive plants to non-native birds to mongoose.

Coqui frogs alter the way nutrients cycle in the ecosystem. The frogs feed on insects, mainly ants, roly-polies, cockroaches, and earthworms, but not mosquitos. What goes in must come out and hundreds of thousands of invasive frogs contribute additional nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil. Though these additions help plants grow, the increase really only benefits introduced plants. The flora native to the Hawaiian Islands is adapted for nutrient-poor volcanic soils, so by increasing soil nutrients, the coqui frogs modify conditions to favor invasive plants such as strawberry guava (native to Brazil).

Coqui frogs also bolster populations of non-native birds. Beard found that populations of some introduced songbirds, including common myna, Chinese hwamei, and red-billed leiothrix (all from Asia), are higher where coqui frogs are present. This is likely due to changes in the insect community when coqui are present (more excrement and frog bodies means more flies) as well as birds consuming the eggs in addition to juvenile and adult coqui.

Mongoose (from India) may also benefit from coqui. Beard’s graduate student Shane Hill looked at rat and mongoose densities where coqui are present compared to where they are absent and found greater mongoose abundance with coqui present. Mongoose are the main scavengers of coqui frogs, which may provide a novel food source. Hill also concluded that increased numbers of non-native birds or coqui-induced habitat changes could favor mongoose.

An invasive mongoose thriving off the abundance of the coqui frog population while increasing the likelihood of predation to other native Hawaiian species. — photo courtesy of Karen Beard

Hill’s study also showed fewer rats where coqui are present, more so for Pacific rats, which den underground as opposed to the more arboreal black rats. Hill and Beard suggest lower rat abundance could result from competition with coqui for insects or increased predation by mongoose. While the relationships are complex, one thing is clear: more mongoose is not good for ground-nesting birds, such as the ʻuaʻu kani (wedge-tailed shearwater) or endangered ʻuaʻu (Hawaiian petrel), and coqui could indirectly contribute to a decline in these birds.

Humans may adapt to the noise of coqui but the environment may be forever changed by their presence; interactions among these invasive frogs and other introduced pests tend to compound the impacts.  It’s critical to do what is possible to keep these invasive pests out of the native-dominated areas of Hawaiʻi and sensitive bird habitat.

You can help stop the spread of coqui on Maui. If you have coqui, volunteer in your neighborhood to reduce coqui and remove frog-friendly habitat. If you don’t have coqui in your area, stay alert to any nighttime “Co-qui” calls and report it to MISC at 573-6472.

Lissa Strohecker is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a biological sciences degree from Montana State University. Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy, and quality of life.

This article was originally published in the Maui News on February 10th, 2019 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles.

Hiring full-time field crew positions protecting Maui’s quiet nights and the environment from invasive coqui frogs

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Are you ready to give back to your community and help protect our island from invasive species? Here is an opportunity to work outdoors and mālama the ʻāina.

The Maui Invasive Species Committee is hiring 15 full-time 4 to 5 -month temporary field positions for the coqui frog control crew. The typical work shift is from 1 pm to 11:30 pm, Monday through Thursday. Shifts may vary depending on operational needs.

The starting salary is $14.89/hour. Work involves mixing 50 lb bags of citric acid with water into solution, hiking in rough terrain while carrying fire hose to spray coqui frog infested areas, and maintaining detailed records of work including GPS tracks.

MISC will provide all necessary safety equipment and gear. To align with current Covid-19 distancing requirements, applicants may be asked to use their personal transportation to reach field worksites and will be reimbursed.

Applicants must have a current driver’s license, reliable personal transportation, vehicle insurance, and a high school diploma or GED equivalent. 

Applicants selected for the positions must be available on either July 6th or 8th to meet with human resources personnel.

To apply:

To be considered for a position, fill out this online form, and upload a resume with your work history and two professional references as well as a cover letter. Any questions about the application process can be sent to Adam Knox at knoxa@hawaii.edu. Resumes must be received by June 26th. 

Find a list of all current open positions: Careers at MISC

Measuring the impacts of invasive plants in Hawai’i’s watersheds

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University of Hawai’i professor and researcher Tom Giambelluca is looking to better understand how invasive plants, like strawberry guava on the right, disrupt the water collection function of a native rain forest like that on the left.

In Hawaiʻi, the supply of fresh plentiful water depends on the forest capturing moisture from fog drip and rain, and then move it to streams and aquifers. Scientists and resource managers know that invasive plants disrupt the capacity of a native ecosystem to collect water. In Hawaiʻi, invasive species are the greatest threat to the function of native ecosystems.

But there are many unanswered questions about how and to what degree invasive plants affect the water capture in Hawaiʻi. Water capture, depends on both rainfall and cloud or fog drip, water then moves through the forest and soil to streams and underground reservoirs (aquifers). Some water is lost through evaporation and transpiration – the movement of water from roots through the leaves and into the atmosphere.

Like straws, plants pull water out of the ground and release it into the air. Differences in both the physical structure and growth characteristics contribute to different rates of transpiration between native and invasive species. Tom Giambelluca is looking closely at those differences. Giambelluca is the director of the Water Resources Research Center and a Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He has spent much of his career looking at the impacts of invasive species on water resources in Hawaiʻi. His latest research attempts to tease out and quantify how invasive species increase the loss of water back into the atmosphere.

 “One of the reasons invasive plants take over might be that they grow faster,” he says. “Faster growing plants tend to use more water” and over the long run, as invasive plants take over the native dominated forest, these differences in transpiration rates could have significant impacts on the cycle of water through the environment and the availability of water for human use.

To quantify these impacts, Giambelluca has relied on an experimental model of setting up monitoring equipment in paired sites where forest dominated by native species is growing immediately adjacent to stands of invasive plants. This site selection eliminates differences that may be caused by soil types and weather patterns in geographically separate locations. Weather can vary dramatically within small distance in Hawaiʻi. He then looks at the differences in transpiration by setting up tall towers filled with monitoring equipment and using measurements of water flow moving up the stems of sample trees.

But suitable study sites are hard to find – and funding additionally limits the number of sites he can potentially set up. With only a limited number of sites, he can’t accurately predict the impacts of invasive species may have on transpiration rates across the landscape.

So, Giambelluca is developing an experimental model wherein he can evaluate sites based on data that can be collected in a single day, therefore enabling his team to gain a better understanding of how individual differences in plant transpiration rates can impact water capture throughout Hawaiʻi. And he’s focusing primarily on leaves.

“Leaves are where the action is,” explains Giambelluca. “It’s where the plants control the uptake of carbon dioxide and release of water vapor.”


He takes a handful of measurements including the leaf area index (the surface area of all leaves over a given area), and leaf gas exchange rates of different plant species. The more leaves in an area, the higher the transpiration rates. Invasive – dominated forest tends to have a higher leaf area index (i.e,. more leaves). Plant species transpire at different rates.  After he has enough data to be statistically significant, he can then combine that with distribution maps of plant species across Hawaiʻi, and better assess the impacts invasive species have on the amount of water lost through transpiration.

While still in the proposal stage with results a few years in the future, the potential outcomes from this research could help inform the decisions resource managers and funders face in setting priorities both for which species should be controlled as well as which areas are more sensitive to the impacts of invasion. In the meantime, enjoy a fresh glass of water brought to you by a native forest nearby.

For more information on Giambelluca’s research, check out his lab page at https://sites.google.com/a/hawaii.edu/ecohydrology_lab/

Lissa Strohecker is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a biological sciences degree from Montana State University. Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Originally published in the Maui News on November 9th, 2019.

Plant Crew – April/May 2020

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Remote East Maui – where the crew searches for pampas grass while practicing physical distancing. Photo credit Allison Smith.

The Piʻiholo and Hāna based plant crews are prioritizing plant control work in remote locations accessible by ground while remote camping trips accessible only by helicopter remain suspended. Areas that plant control crew are surveying include the upcountry/front country of Haleakalā, Pu’u o Kali, and the Hāna Highway corridor.

The American Conservation Experience (ACE) interns working in Hāna ceased operations as a precaution once national, state, and local shutdowns began. They plan to return to keep working on miconia control in and around the Hāna Highway once it is safe to do so.

MoMISC – April/May 2020

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Among other tasks, the Mo/MISC crew is working on species that can be addressed while maintaining physical distancing like surveying for the invasive Australian Tree Fern, as demonstrated in this photo from 2019.

The crew of the Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee has adjusted fieldwork to reflect the Covid-19 guidelines: starting in April, they check- in on Zoom, rather than in person.  Staff completed online training and learning new skills through webinars from presenters across the state while all the necessary PPE was being obtained. Fast forward to May and things are starting to look a little brighter (and sweatier). Thanks to MISC staff and volunteers, MoMISC was able to get the PPE needed to resume some types of fieldwork. The MoMISC staff have identified several target species that can be worked on while keeping compliant with current safe working guidelines. After updating procedures, the crew is back in the field surveying for coconut rhinoceros beetle (not yet detected outside Oʻahu)  and tracking down infestations of rubber vine and Australian tree ferns, all activities that can be done while maintaining social distancing guidelines.  

On Molokai, one major impact of Covid-19 was that it highlighted the island’s food security vulnerabilities. One outcome is a renewed enthusiasm for home gardening among residents. In recognizing this, MoMISC outreach will be submitting press releases to the local newspaper that highlight invasive species as a major threat to both food security and agriculture and provide helpful tips for home gardeners on making conscientious planting choices, exchanging plants, and suggestions for sourcing material for the home.

Little Fire Ants – April/May 2020

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Since April and through May, the MISC little fire ant crew has been working on the following surveys and treatment: 

  • Nāhiku: helicopter treatments five and six of eight.
  • Twin Falls: treatment three of eight.
  • Waiheʻe Valley:  treatment four of eight.
  • Lahinaluna High School: second treatment out of eight.
  • Huelo/Haʻikū monitoring survey: no ants found
  • Happy Valley: in the first post-treatment survey, no ants were found, though areas immediately adjacent to homes were not surveyed to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. The next survey will happen in mid – August.  If ants are detected, these “hot spots” will be treated.
  • Kaʻelekū: surveys (and ants detected) in small pockets. These hot-spots will be treated. 
  • Waiheʻe Farm: no ants detected at the first known infestation on Maui. 
  • Twin Falls: surveys downstream planned. 
  • Waiheʻe Valley: surveys downstream planned.

Interspersed with many of these treatments and surveys is a hefty amount of trail maintenance.   The upkeep of these trails is labor-intensive but helps ensure the effectiveness of MISC’s surveying and treatment efforts.

MISC has added capacity to the LFA crew. In March, Miki’ala Pua’a-Freitas became full-time and Betsy Black joined the team.  Miki’ala is a farmer and beekeeper, and Betsy was most recently an Interpretive Ranger at Haleakalā National Park. They join Monte Tudor-Long, the crew leader, and Joe Brower based in Hāna to bring the crew size to four. 

You can help! Community surveys and reports are a key step to keep little fire ants from becoming established in Maui County. Protect our community while staying safe at home: survey your yard for little fire ants today

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Contact Us

Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)
Office: (808) 573-6471
Press and Media Inquiries: (808) 344-2756
Mailing Address:
PO Box 983, Makawao, HI 96768

Acting Manager / Public Relations: Lissa Strohecker
E-mail: miscpr@hawaii.edu

Special Projects: Teya Penniman
E-mail: miscmgr@hawaii.edu

Statewide Pest Hotline: 808-643-PEST
Report a Pest Online