Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)

What’s keeping invasive species out of Hawaiʻi? Inspections, programs and plans and finally, you

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Staff from Hawaiʻi receive training on how to handle snakes. It’s part of a larger effort to ensure prevention and response capacity.

On the morning of January 9th, an employee unloading a container at a hardware store on Molokaʻi was startled by the sight of a snake flicking its tongue at him. The store immediately called the Maui Police Department and the Molokaʻi Invasive Species Committee. Within less than an hour of discovery, the snake was caught and dispatched. It was not a normal Monday morning—snakes rarely arrive in Hawaiʻi, and that’s by design. 

Invasive species like snakes and other plants and animals can be drivers of environmental change. They can take over habitat used by native plants and animals, fueling wildfires, and disrupting aquifer recharge. These changes jeopardize agricultural and horticultural industries, tourism, and our quality of life. Preventing new invasive pests from becoming established and managing those that are already here is essential, but it doesn’t happen without vision, planning, and coordination. No single organization or agency can tackle all the invasive species challenges. 

Even before a cargo ship leaves its port of origin, inspectors check for pests. In Oregon, which grows most of the Christmas trees destined for Hawaiʻi, inspectors shake out trees as they’re loaded into the containers, looking for wasps or other insects. On Guam, where brown tree snakes have overrun the island, a team from the U.S. Geological Survey regularly scours the wheel wells of outgoing planes to check for stowaway snakes. Once cargo arrives in the islands, the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture inspects it for hitchhiking pests.  But they can’t check every box, leaf, or plant, and sometimes pests slip past the borders, finding their way into backyards or forests. Sometimes weedy plants are intentionally introduced.  

Although invasive species don’t care who owns the land, agencies have specific mandates that limit where they can work. This gap was highlighted by the discovery of the highly invasive miconia plant in Hāna in the early 1990s. Miconia was on private and public land but hadn’t yet reached higher-elevation areas, where it would threaten the watershed.  Control needed to occur wherever the plant had taken root.


So resource managers found a way to fill the gap. They created an informal committee, sought funding, and hired staff. Work expanded to other pests and the model was adopted by other islands, resulting in the island-based Invasive Species Committees (ISCs) that work on priority pests on private and public property. The ISCs focus on species that pose the greatest risk of harm and are considered feasible to eradicate or contain to limited areas. They work in close collaboration with partners whose work on invaders is more place-based—for example, watershed partnerships, national parks, natural area reserves, and wildlife refuges.  

Addressing invasive species from reaching Hawaii begins outside our borders with inspections. Still some pests slip through the cracks and coordinated plans and response can keep them from becoming established. — Graphic courtesy Hawaii Invasive Species Biosecurity Plan, HISC

When invasive species have spread beyond containment but still pose significant threats, they may be suitable targets for biological control—using natural enemies from their native landscape to reduce their impacts in Hawaiʻi.   

With so many players involved in this gargantuan task of addressing invasive species, it’s essential to plan and coordinate. In 2017, the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council released a Hawaiʻi Interagency Biosecurity Plan, developed with input from stakeholders from various agencies and the public. The plan identifies gaps in the biosecurity system and outlines policies, processes, and resources needed to improve our collective response. The plan offers a framework for agency collaboration, with specific tasks identified for lead and partner agencies.

Are we making progress? Chelsea Arnott, Coordinator for the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council highlighted some accomplishments under the plan since 2017: 

  • The Department of Health’s vector control program was restored, enhancing protection against new species of mosquitoes and the spread of mosquito-vectored human disease. This statewide program lost its funding after the 2008 economic downturn. 
  • Research support has led to remote sensing using drones, helicopters, and computer-aided analysis of images to detect trees infected with rapid ohia death. 
  • Landscape-level efforts are underway to protect native birds from mosquito-borne diseases. 
  • In Kaneohe Bay, lab-reared native sea urchins graze on invasive algae that threaten coral reefs.  
  • On Maui, new methods for treating little fire ants by air are proving successful.  
  • Agency cooperation has helped find and test natural enemies to slow the spread of invasive plants, including tibouchina, devil weed, and miconia. 
  • Interagency coordination on outreach and education has increased community awareness about the importance of invasive species. 

Ultimately, an alert and aware community is one of the most important layers of protection against the spread of invasive species. Thanks, Molokaʻi, for helping to ensure there are still no snakes in Hawaiʻi. 

Learn more about the priorities for action and the agencies working  to keep invasive species out of Hawaiʻi; visit https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/plans/hibp/

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 January 13, 2024, as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

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Fencing for frogs; the effort to build a barrier to slow down coqui in Ha‘ikū is underway

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After the brush is cleared, contractors build the barrier fence. This section is one of the first completed on what will eventually become three miles of barrier built along the eastern side of Māliko Gulch.

In the summer of 2023, Ha‘ikū homeowner Carole Harris decided she’d had enough.  For two years she had spent almost every night catching coqui in her yard. It was only two or three butcher knew what would happen if she wasn’t vigilant.  Her neighbor didn’t control coqui and Harris, like many others, found the piercing call intolerable. “I had to be out there as soon as I heard them,” she said. She decided to invest in a barrier to keep coqui out of her yard.

Coqui barriers were first developed and tested by the University of Hawai‘i – College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources on Hawai‘i Island to help nursery owners keep coqui frogs from getting into their greenhouses. Coqui frogs can’t hold on upside down; so faced with a fence that had an overhang of 90 degrees, even the Alex Honnold of coqui couldn’t climb over.

Harris ordered some landscape fabric and got to work. She’s happy with the outcome; “I haven’t had a frog in my yard for months,” she said. A handful of other Ha‘ikū residents have built barriers around their properties and they’re a common feature of Hawai‘i Island greenhouses. 

The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DoFAW) and the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) are hoping these successes translate to a landscape scale. In October, contractors begin building a barrier along the eastern sections of Māliko Gulch. DoFAW funded the project, MISC is working with the community on placement.  “Our goal is that it will provide ongoing passive suppression, limiting the movement of coqui into neighborhoods,” explains Matt Cook of MISC. He’s responsible for coordinating access with property owners for barrier construction. 

Once completed, the barrier will limit the spread of frogs along three miles of the gulch.  Cook has been working with nearly 50 property owners. Like any landscape-level fencing effort, terrain is the most significant factor influencing where the fencing will go. Small but steep “finger” gulches can’t be efficiently fenced. Priority areas for fencing are those sections where coqui are known to enter neighborhoods. 

Barrier construction will take several years. Before the barrier can go up, any existing brush has to be removed on 20 feet of either side of the fence line so it doesn’t provide a springboard for coqui or fall on the barrier and destroy it. Once the barrier is built, MISC will be working with the property owners to maintain both the vegetation buffer and the fencing material going forward. 

Like sandbags along an overflowing river, the final barrier will limit where coqui can spill out of Māliko Gulch. Megan Archibald, Coqui Coordinator, sees how the barrier will complement coqui control in the rest of Ha‘ikū.  “We’ll be better able to anticipate where coqui is moving and focus the crews’ effort on those gulches and steep terrain,” she says. But the greatest impact will be on the neighbors who’ve been working together to control coqui in their backyards. “Hopefully, the neighborhood spray programs will have a greater impact if coqui can’t reinvade as quickly,” Fewer coqui in neighborhoods means a lower risk of coqui hitchhiking to the rest of Maui. 

To learn more about the efforts to control coqui frogs on Maui, visit mauiinvasive.org

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 December 9, 2023, as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles

Coconut palms are woven into the culture of the islands; a beetle threatens that connection

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Baskets woven from coconut leaves. Photo from Maui Nui Botanical Garden
Baskets woven from coconut leaves. Photo from Maui Nui Botanical Garden

Would-be weavers spilled out of the shade under an open-sided tent at the Arbor Day event at Maui Nui Botanical Garden. Holding coconut leaves, they patiently worked the material back and forth in intricate patterns. At times, chatter came from the tent; other times, it was silent, brows furrowed in concentration. The kumu, master weaver Pōhaku Kaho’ohanohano, moved among the weavers, getting some started while trimming up and tying off the finished creations of others. Novice weavers hugged the kumu, beaming as they walked away with a new hat, bag, bowl, toy, or ornament created from a diminishing pile of leaves.

Coconut weaving is a tradition that dates back thousands of years throughout Polynesia. Coconut palms were first brought to Hawai‘i with the Polynesians. The coconut plant is akin to a pre-contact department store; it can meet needs and wants. Food (coconut meat) and drink (coconut water), material for building shelters, making rope, and weaving mats, bowls, and storage containers all come from the coconut. It’s even used for games and in ceremonial practice; the nut is used in ‘awa ceremony.

But the future of coconuts in Hawai‘i is at risk from a pest accidentally introduced to Hawai‘i. The coconut rhinoceros beetle is spreading on O‘ahu and has begun to reach other islands.

The adult coconut rhinoceros beetle is nearly two inches in length, but because it’s nocturnal, it’s rarely seen. Photo courtesy Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response.

At two inches long, the CRB is a beefy beetle, but it isn’t going to fly interisland on its own. Knowing what you are moving and where it comes from is the first step in preventing the coconut rhinoceros beetle from reaching Maui. By being alert to signs of CRB damage, a vigilant community can help find the pest early and keep it from becoming established.

Bore holes made as the beetle eats through the crown indicate the beetle’s presence. Photo courtesy Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response.
V-shaped cuts made as the adult chews through a frond before it unfurls are another symptom. Photo courtesy of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response

There are prevention measures in place. In October of 2023, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) instituted a temporary, one-year rule prohibiting the movement of high-risk material from O‘ahu to the rest of the state to reduce the risk of spreading coconut rhinoceros beetle. As of October, the following items cannot be moved without a permit: palm plants; decomposing plant material, such as compost, wood, or tree chips; mulch; potting soil; and other landscaping products that may harbor CRB.

These safeguards reduce but do not entirely eliminate the risk of spreading CRB. Here are steps you can take to keep the beetle at bay.

For Maui County, soil, compost, and mulch are the greatest risk. Contractors and landscapers bringing in container loads are doing so by permit, but careful sourcing – checking with the vendor if material came from infested areas – can prevent contamination. Homeowners purchasing bagged landscaping products are advised to be alert as well.

Why? It turns out that bags aren’t much of a barrier to a beetle that can chew through coconut trees. Even if the compost, mulch, or soil wasn’t sourced from an infested area, if bagged soil sits in an infested area, an adult beetle lay eggs in it. The first detection of CRB on Maui was a dead adult found in bagged soil; this was also the suspected vector of CRB found recently on Hawai‘i Island.

CRB larvae are found in soil, compost, and muclh. Larvae crawl on their side and if you suspect you have found one in Maui County, take a video and submit a report to 643PEST.org. Photo courtesy of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response.

Know where your soil and compost are coming from and check for boring holes in bags and larvae. Storing material in closed containers will prevent beetles from laying eggs in them.

The quarantine rule also prohibits shipping coconut plants from O‘ahu that are taller than 4 feet to allow thorough inspection, but the soil in these and all potted plants could be a vector. CRB eggs are only about the size of 1/3 of a tic tac.

As CRB populations on O‘ahu continue to grow, the risk of accidentally transporting the beetle interisland will increase. Visit crbhawaii.org to learn more about distinguishing the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle from similar-looking species and to see photos of palm damage that can indicate an infestation. Contractors and landscapers can find best management practices to reduce the risk of introducing CRB on the MISC website.

Find details about the interim rule on HDOA’s website.  Report suspicious larvae and palm damage through the 643PEST.org reporting system. We need everyone’s kōkua to help protect Maui Countyʻs coconuts, from the royal grove in Kapuāiwa on Molokai to the palms that shade the beaches of Hāna.

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 November 10, 2023, as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles

MISC is Hiring Field Crew

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MISC is hiring field crew for both plant and coqui control teams. These positions are temporary ( up to 5-months) full-time jobs surveying for and removing invasive plants and animals. Work occurs in urban, rural, and sometimes backcountry locations. Crews talk with homeowners and residents to access property. Work can be physically-demanding including hiking off-trail, carrying up to 50lbs, and being outside in inclement weather (hot and cold temperatures, sun exposure, heavy rainfall, and biting insects).

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or GED equivalent
  • Familiarity with Hawaiian plants and animals, natural history, and threats from invasive species
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Willingness to handle pesticides and herbicides
  • Ability to contribute to a positive working environment
  • A desire to contribute to protecting the environment and community in Maui County

Locations: Work occurs throughout Maui and positions are available with crews based in Pā‘ia. There are times crew will be expected to travel to and stay in field stations.

Shifts: Plant crew works Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Coqui crew works Monday – Thursday, 1:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. during the winter months).

Pay rate: $3,000/month

Application process: If you are interested in a field crew position with MISC, please send a resume including supervisory references to Rebecca Creighton, rmcreigh@hawaii.edu. If you have any questions about the position, call 808-633-6646.

Detection of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle on Maui Highlights Importance of Community Involvement in Pest Prevention

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An abbreviated list of best management practices for Maui.

The Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS), program staff from the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC), and the five Invasive Species Committees (ISCs) in Hawaiʻi are urging vigilance by contractors and landowners to prevent the accidental spread of invasive species.

To support these efforts, CGAPS, HISC support staff, and the ISCs have compiled a list of best management practices (BMPs) for coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), little fire ants, and other species.

This appeal comes at a time when the urgent need to address impacts from the Maui fires may increase the introduction of infested materials from off-island, and CRB has been detected on both Maui and Kauaʻi.

The proposed reissuance of an emergency quarantine measure, Plant Quarantine Interim Rule 22-1, which restricts the movement of mulch and other potential CRB host materials from Oʻahu, is an important step, but by itself will not be adequate to the spread of this harmful pest. Contractors and individuals need to be sure that pests are not unwittingly moved in palm trees, green waste, mulch, loose or bagged compost, bagged soils, and similar items.

Throughout the state, the continued spread of pests poses significant risks:

  • Kauaʻi: The recent arrival of the coconut rhinoceros beetle pest to Kaua’i (detected May 31, 2023) highlights the threat posed by the movement of infested material. A decade of research on controlling the pest could lead to eradication on Kaua’i, but limiting the human-vectored spread is critical to achieving this goal.  
  • O’ahu: Continued human-vectored spread will exacerbate the challenges in addressing this pest.
  • Maui County: with the increased volume of material moved to and around Maui to help with fire recovery efforts (including mulch and imported coconut coir, mulch, or greenwaste for use in erosion control sock filler), mulch and compost for restoring burn scars, and plants for restoration, there’s an increased risk of introducing invasive species.
  • Hawai’i Island: To date, CRB have not been detected on Hawai’i Island. Should they arrive, they would likely spread quickly, given the low population density and plentiful habitat that could lead to challenges in detecting and eradicating the pest.

The BMPs highlight practices to prevent the spread of coconut rhinoceros beetles, but also provide general guidelines for little fire ants, coqui frogs, two-lined spittle bug, and other invasive species.

For restoration projects, the BMPs provide guidance on fire risk assessments and non-invasive characteristics for selecting plants.  

For more information:

Nominations for 20th Annual Mālama i ka ‘Āina Award due 9/15/2023

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Kevin Gavagan, 2022 Mālama i ka ‘Āina Award Winner

Nominations are now being accepted to honor invasive species prevention efforts within Maui County.  The Mālama i ka ‘Āina Award is presented annually to a landscaper, plant provider (retail and wholesale nurseries and garden shops), or commercial/agricultural property owner/manager to recognize their efforts to protect Maui County from invasive species.

The award is a cooperative effort of the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, the Maui Invasive Species Committee, and the County of Maui.

The winner will be announced on Saturday, November 4, at the Arbor Day Garden Expo and Hawaiian Tree Giveaway at the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens.  The winner will receive a plaque, a glass sculpture by artist Jupiter Nielsen, a one-year free membership with the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, and local media recognition.

Nominators are requested to explain how the nominee’s activities or decisions have addressed the threat of pests on Maui through their industry. Past Mālama i ka ‘Āina Award recipients were recognized for meaningful efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species, including incorporating codes of conduct in business practices, educating the public and clients about invasive species, and encouraging the use of native species in landscape design. 

Nominations are due by Friday, September 15, 2023.

Self-nominations are welcome.  There is no fee associated with the award.  For more information, call 573-6472, or e-mail miscpr@hawaii.edu.

For more information about the Arbor Day Garden Expo, visit www.arbordayexpo.com.

Past Award Winners:

  • 2022: Kevin Gavagan, Four Seasons Resort at Wailea
  • 2021: Duane Sparkman, Westin Maui
  • 2020: Mark Blietz, Northshore Tropicals
  • 2019: Mikala Minn, Mahale Farms in Hana
  • 2018: Anna Palomino, Hoʻolawa Farms & Horticulturalist with Plant Extinction Prevention Program
  • 2017: Sara Tekula and Joseph Imhoff, Plant a Wish
  • 2016: Tamara Sherrill, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
  • 2015: Angela Kepler, Author of Bananas of the World, 
  • 2014: Masako Cordray, Flower grower, vidoeographer
  • 2013: Christina Chang, Lokelani Ohana
  • 2012: Doug MacCleur, MacCleurʻs Tree Farm, Hailiimaile Pineapple Company
  • 2011:Elaine Malina and Sarge McBride, Outdoor Circle, Landscapers
  • 2010: Mach Fukada, Hawaii Department of Agriculture
  • 2009: Ann Emmsley, University of Hawaii Maui College
  • 2008: Native Nursery owners Jonathan Keyser and Ethan Romanchak 
  • 2007: David and Martha Vockrodt Moran and the Friends of D.T. Fleming Arboretum
  • 2006: William Jacintho
  • 2005:  Nancy Snow, Nursery Manager of Kula Hardware and Nursery
  • 2004: Arlene Taus 
  • 2003: The Maui Tropical Plantation
2023 MIKA Nomination Form

Protecting ‘Ōhi‘a: Fencing for the Trees

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Ungulate rubbings or browsing on Haleakalā sandalwood tree are seen in Polipoli. — FOREST AND KIM STARR photo

“The fungus needs an entry point,” says Marc Hughes, a research plant pathologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Hilo. He’s talking about the disease that is decimating ‘ōhi‘a lehua in parts of Hawai‘i. An untreated scrape on a person’s skin can lead to a staph infection; a similar but more drastic result is true for ‘ōhi‘a. When some external force breaks through a tree’s bark, invading pathogens can gain access to exposed tissues, and damage or kill the tree.

Ceratocystis lukuohia and Ceratocystis huliohia are fungal pathogens that cause the disease called rapid ‘ōhi‘a death, or ROD, so named because the trees appear to die within days or weeks. Both pathogens will kill ‘ōhi‘a trees, but lukuohia is more aggressive. Once infected, the tree responds, trying to slow the disease.

“It’s like a speed race,” explains Hughes, “but the fungus is faster.”

The crowns turn yellowish, then brown. The tree looks frozen, dead leaves still attached. By the time an ‘ōhi‘a tree shows symptoms, its days are numbered. Since it was first identified in 2014, rapid ‘ōhi‘a death has killed over a million trees, mostly on Hawai‘i Island, but trees on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i have also succumbed. A single infected tree was discovered and removed in East Maui in 2019 and, to date, is the only known occurrence in Maui Nui.

Wounding is a prerequisite. Plants with intact bark don’t become infected, even when directly exposed to the fungi. How does wounding happen? Wind is one way, says Hughes, who describes Tropical Storm Iselle as a “mass wounding event.” The 2014 storm battered portions of Hawai‘i island, breaking ‘ōhi‘a branches and toppling trees. Researchers observed a spike in ‘ōhi‘a mortality after the storm and linked the spread to increased windborne spores and tree damage. Ambrosia beetles, which may burrow into trees killed by rapid ‘ōhi‘a death, also play a role. Fungus-contaminated frass — the sawdust produced when beetles bore into wood — gets picked up by wind, animals and hikers’ boots, or falls into the soil. Studies indicate a strong tie between the presence of ungulates, such as pigs, cattle and goats, and rapid ‘ōhi‘a death. The large numbers of axis deer on Maui, Molokai and Lāna‘i likely mean ‘ōhi‘a trees in Maui Nui could be especially vulnerable if rapid ‘ōhi‘a death were to become established here.

The study on Hawai‘i island found that unfenced areas, where ungulates were present, had two to 69 times more evidence of rapid ‘ōhi‘a death-impacted ‘ōhi‘a than neighboring, fenced areas that were ungulate-free. Researchers are also looking into the relationship between ungulates and the presence of the fungi in soil samples. Initial results indicate a similar link: the presence of ungulates means a higher likelihood the destructive fungus will be detected. Flint Hughes, a research ecologist also with the U.S. Forest Service (and unrelated to Marc), thinks pigs may spread the fungus through ‘ōhi‘a roots when they dig up the ground searching for food.

While the potential scale of impacts to ‘ōhi‘a might seem overwhelming, there is hope. In 2022, students on Oahu helped convinced the Legislature to designate ‘ōhi‘a lehua as the Hawai‘i State Endemic Tree, honoring its importance to the ‘āina and Hawaiian culture. Protecting forests through fencing, ungulate removal and ongoing maintenance, is a straightforward strategy, and one that watershed partnerships across the state are already working to implement.

This strategy has public support. A recent survey conducted for the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species found that 89 percent of respondents know about ‘ōhi‘a and 80 percent had heard of rapid ‘ōhi‘a death. An impressive 93 percent supported fencing of high-value forests and removing ungulates to protect ‘ōhi‘a from rapid ‘ōhi‘a death. Support may also be coming from federal coffers. This March, the Hawai‘i congressional delegation announced efforts to secure $55 million over a 10-year period for rapid ‘ōhi‘a death-related research and management.

In closing comments during a 2022 presentation, Flint Hughes offered a reminder: “We tend to think of ‘ōhi‘a as forests. Every ‘ōhi‘a tree is an important individual. Some of these trees are 300 or 400 years old. We should respect that and them, and do what we can to protect them.”

To learn more about how to support efforts to protect ‘ōhi‘a, visit www.rapidohia death.org.

* Teya Penniman is the interim manager with the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She has 30 years’ experience in natural resource management and advanced degrees in law and management. “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.

UPDATE November 2023: Learn more about the correlation between tree damage and Rapid Ohia Death in the interactive storymap from the ROD Working Group

This article was originally published in the Maui News on April 8, 2023 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles

MISC is Hiring!

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Join the Coqui Crew

Now accepting resumes for full-time & part–time temporary (5-month) field positions with the potential for longer-term employment. Positions start July/August

Shifts: 10-hour shifts, Monday – Thursday (1:00 p.m. -11:30 p.m. during the summer, 12:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. during the winter) starting at the MISC Paia baseyard.

  • Salary: Starting salary is $17.30/hour. 
  • Experience: Introductory level. Training will be provided; no experience is necessary.
  • Crew-Specific Responsibilities: Work involves lifting heavy materials, hiking in rough terrain, carrying and using firehose, installing PVC pipelines, vegetation management, interacting with community members, and maintaining detailed records, including GPS.
  • Location: Field work is typically performed in gulches or other wildland areas around Haʻikū, as well as residential areas as needed. 
  • Basic Qualifications: Must have a current driver’s license, reliable personal transportation, and a high school diploma or GED equivalent. 
  • Application Requirements: 1) Cover Letter, 2) Resume, 3) Three professional supervisory references

Contact Megan Archibald, Coqui Coordinator, meganpa@hawaii.edu with questions. Click here to submit application materials.

Is ant-watching really a thing?

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By Monte Tudor-Long

If you list the different birds in your yard, you might come up with 15 to 20 species: myna, spotted dove, cardinal, perhaps a kolea or occasional nene flying over. It may come as a surprise, but you probably have just as many species of ants near your home.

You might ask, “Who cares? If you’ve seen one ant, you’ve seen ’em all!” But as with bird-watching, there’s a certain aesthetic to ant- watching. Just as birds are diverse and interesting to look at, the same can be true for ants. Check out Maui’s ants up close and you will discover a lot of variety. In addition to knowing more about the curious lives of these tiny cohabitants, what you learn could help stop the next invasion.

Ants are globally widespread and abundant, but all 50-plus species in the Hawaiian Islands were accidentally introduced by humans. Scientists and decision-makers concerned about invasive species look at impacts on residents, and also how invading species alter native ecosystems, and change agriculture, tourism, hunting and more. Different ant species may affect all, some or none of these realms. Our understanding of the problems caused by introduced ants comes from our knowledge of which ants are present, when they got here and where they can be found. Informed decisions require good information, and citizen scientists are a great source of important data on invasive species.

Observing and collecting ants can be easy and fun, and kids seem especially good at it. The first little fire ant ever collected in the United States was found by an 11-year-old girl in Florida; a 12-year-old boy in Alabama discovered the first red imported fire ant in the U.S. For both children and adults, ant-watching can be a gateway into new ways to observe, learn about and care for the ‘aina.

Ants you might find on Maui: graceful twig ant (center) as well as (clockwise from top left) the sickle-toothed ant, black house ant, yellow crazy ant, Emery’s sneaking ant, little yellow ant, African big-headed ant, tropical fire ant and ghost ant. — MELODY EUPARADORN / Hawaii Ant Lab image

One kind of ant can be as different from the next as a parrot is from a duck. You’ve probably encountered a species or two of pest ants inside your home, but most ants on Maui are not interested in your kitchen. Some indoor pests, such as black house ants, African big-headed ants, little yellow ants and ghost ants have a fondness for sweets. Ants in our yards include omnivorous ants, seed-eating ants, predatory-specialist ants, blind ants and others. The sickle-tooth ant specializes in eating pill bugs and sow bugs. The tropical fire ant, a serious outdoor pest, likes to eat grass seeds. Yellow crazy ants practically ignore people but are devastating to native ground-nesting seabirds. Graceful twig ants often nest in dead twigs in kiawe trees. Sneaking ants seem to prefer living in the most marginal, disturbed habitats available, like road medians and other sparsely-vegetated areas.

When you notice how different these ants appear, it might be less surprising that their social structures, where they live and what they eat are very different from each other.

Bird-watching is a popular hobby, and citizen-scientist bird-watchers enter tens of millions of sightings into online databases every year, giving conservation managers a wealth of data to help guide decision-making. The same cannot be said of ants — yet. Because they are tiny, it can be hard to tell one ant from another. But if you overcame that barrier, wouldn’t it be interesting to know all the different ants in your yard, and learn a little bit about their lives and natural histories? Since the year 2000, more than a dozen new introduced ant species have been recorded on Maui, including one last year. By becoming an ant sleuth, you just might be the one to find the next new species.

Spend some time in your yard, collect some ants and send them to the Maui Invasive Species Committee for identification. In return, you’ll receive information about the species of ants you found. You can start building a list of ants on your property. Collecting ants is simple: put a tiny bit of bait (peanut butter or mayo) on several 4-to-5-inch pieces of cardboard, leave them in shady spots around the yard for an hour and then freeze them in a ziptop sandwich bag. Mail your samples to MISC, P.O. Box 983, Makawao 96768. Questions? Contact miscants @hawaii.edu.

* Monte Tudor-Long is an early detection specialist with the Maui Invasive Species Committee, focusing on ant identification, natural history and ecology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz. “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 11, 2023 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Read more Kiaʻi Moku articles

Kevin Gavagan Receives 2022 Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award

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Kevin Gavagan, Assistant Director of Engineering at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, is the 2022 recipient of the Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award. The award is given each year to recognize efforts in the landscape and agricultural community toward stopping the spread of invasive species in Maui County. The award is presented by the Maui Invasive Species Committee, the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, and the County of Maui.

Gavagan was raised on a carnation flower farm in Kula. At 12 years old, he was driving a tractor to help the family business. At 13, he obtained his pesticide applicator license, sitting in classes alongside experienced upcountry farmers decades his senior. He joined the Future Farmers of America in high school and studied agriculture at Maui Community College. With help from his parents and the Alu Like Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program, Gavagan earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1986.

After graduation, Gavagan worked on the University’s nitrogen-fixation project, the USDA, and some landscaping businesses. After jobs with a handful of hotels in landscape management, in 2001, he joined the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea managing the grounds and landscaping team.

His combined passion for horticulture and his Hawaiian culture sparked Gavagan to lead cultural garden tours at the resort for over two decades. A quiet and humble man at first introduction, a fire slowly builds, and he becomes animated talking about native plants. He is dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian place names and moʻolelo (stories) of Wailea. Gavagan weaves cultural knowledge into his tour of the native and exotic plants on the resort grounds, and lights a spark in all who join him. He is creating a sense of place for guests and locals alike. “So much of the life of this land is buried in modern-day tourism and real estate activities,” Gavagan says, “When I do my tours, I try to expose people to the beautiful history of this place through the garden. I try to help them acquire a connection and respect for this wahi pana (sacred place)”.

Kevin Gavagan, Assistant Director of Engineering at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, is the 2022 recipient of the Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award. Photo: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

In 2011, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts celebrated its 50-year anniversary. In celebration of the event, the international luxury hotel and resort company pledged to plant 10 million trees around the world. Maui was tasked to plant 10,000 trees. Gavagan reached out to the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC), and in their first year of the initiative, Four Seasons Resort Maui staff planted 2,000 native plants on Kahoʻolawe. Gavagan returns each year with volunteer hotel staff to plant more native plants, and his eyes light up when he talks about these trips. “We have long since eclipsed the original goal of 10,000 plantings and continue to volunteer to go there to help restore the island.” He says, “These trips are not only a way to give back in alignment with the mission of Four Seasons, but greatly enrich us all personally. Kahoʻolawe always gives more than we could ever give it.”

Gavagan’s nomination for the Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award stems from his passion for horticulture, native plants, and Hawaiian culture, his leadership in helping to restore Kahoʻolawe, and the importance of preserving Hawaiian place names in Wailea.  He has affected not only the industry and community he works in but countless malihini (visitors) and kamaʻāina (locals) alike through sharing of his knowledge and skills, advocation for native plants in landscaping practices, perpetuating Hawaiian cultural values, and his commitment to maintaining a Hawaiian sense of place within Maui’s visitor industry.

This year’s commemorative plaque features a sculpture of a wiliwili flower by glass artist Jupiter Nielsen, modeled after Gavagan’s favorite tree on Kahoʻolawe. Photo: MISC

The Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022, as part of the Maui Arbor Day Garden Expo and Tree Giveaway held at the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. The in-person event will feature home garden and tree care demonstrations by the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, cultural demonstrations and workshops, a “Hale ʻŌhiʻa” with games, prizes, and speakers revolving around the native ohia lehua, and a giveaway of more than 1,000 Hawaiian trees.

The award ceremony will feature a short mini-documentary about Kevin, filmed by videographer Spencer Hyde of Dgtl Film. The presenters include Allison Wright, President of the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, Allison Cleghorn, Maui County Environmental Coordinator, and Serena Fukushima, Public Relations and Education Specialist of the Maui Invasive Species Committee. This year’s commemorative plaque features a sculpture of a wiliwili flower by glass artist Jupiter Nielsen, modeled after Gavagan’s favorite tree on Kahoʻolawe.

More information on the Maui Arbor Day Garden Expo and Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award can be found at arbordayexpo.com.

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Contact Us

Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)
Office: (808) 573-6472
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

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