Hawaii Invasive Species Council

Hawaii Invasive Species Council
Name	Hawaii Invasive Species Council
Formation	2001
Type	State advisory council
Headquarters	Honolulu, Hawaii
Region served	Hawaii
Leader title	Chair
Parent organization	State of Hawaii

Hawaii Invasive Species Council

The Hawaii Invasive Species Council is a state-level advisory body established to coordinate biosecurity and invasive species prevention across Hawaii. It convenes representatives from state agencies, federal partners, tribal entities, and academic institutions to address threats posed by nonnative plants, animals, pathogens, and pests to Hawaii Island, Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and other islands. The council works with policy makers, conservationists, and industry stakeholders to align programs with laws and funding from local and national sources.

History

The council was created following statewide concern about incursions documented in incidents such as the Coqui frog expansion on Hawaiian Islands and outbreaks like the Citrus greening detections affecting orchards, with early impetus from environmental advocacy groups and researchers at institutions including University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and Bishop Museum. Legislative action mirrored precedents set by mainland bodies such as the National Invasive Species Council and state initiatives in California, leading to formal establishment by the Hawaii State Legislature in the early 2000s. Over time the council’s scope expanded to integrate lessons from responses to introductions such as Miconia calvescens invasions, Little Fire Ant detections, and marine bioinvasions linked to ballast water and Aquarium trade pathways. Key milestones involved coordination with federal programs at United States Department of Agriculture and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Mission and Responsibilities

The council’s mission aligns with statutory directives from the State of Hawaii to reduce ecological, agricultural, cultural, and economic impacts of invasive species. Core responsibilities include developing statewide strategic plans informed by science from Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, risk assessments by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and quarantine protocols modeled after Department of Homeland Security-aligned cargo inspection practices. It sets priorities for surveillance, rapid response, eradication targets (e.g., for Miconia and invasive rodents), and biosecurity measures at points of entry such as Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Harbors in Hawaii. The council advises the Governor of Hawaii and state departments including Department of Land and Natural Resources (Hawaii), Department of Agriculture (Hawaii), and Department of Transportation (Hawaii).

Organizational Structure and Membership

Membership comprises appointed representatives from state agencies, federal partners, county officials, and designated seats for academic stakeholders including University of Hawaiʻi System researchers. Federal participants often include delegates from USDA, NOAA Fisheries, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Department of Defense installations in Hawaii such as Pearl Harbor. Ex officio and voting membership balance conservation NGOs like The Nature Conservancy and cultural stewardship organizations such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The council convenes working groups and technical committees drawing on specialists affiliated with Hawaii Conservation Alliance, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and county invasive species committees on Maui County and Kauai County.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs coordinated by the council span early detection networks, rapid response protocols, public outreach campaigns, and research support. Initiatives include statewide biosecurity plans, community-based removal projects targeting species like Albizia (tree), and islands-specific eradication campaigns modeled after successful efforts on Laysan Island and Nihoa Island. The council advances partnerships for screening agricultural imports via Hawai‘i Pesticide Information guidance and supports monitoring tools developed by labs at Hawaii Community College and SOEST researchers. Education and outreach programs partner with entities such as Hawaii Invasive Species Prevention Program and community organizations including Hawaii Conservation Alliance Foundation to reduce hitchhiker vectors through campaigns at Hilo International Airport and inter-island ferry terminals.

Policy, Legislation, and Funding

The council operates within statutory frameworks including state invasive species statutes enacted by the Hawaii State Legislature and coordinates with federal statutes like the Lacey Act and Plant Protection Act. Funding mixes state appropriations, federal grants from agencies such as US Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA APHIS, philanthropic support from foundations like Cooke Foundation-type donors, and in-kind contributions from universities including University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. The council advises on budget priorities for agencies such as DLNR and helps guide allocation of emergency funds for eradication responses to detections reported by HDOA and county agriculture divisions.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

The council maintains partnerships with federal agencies, academic institutions, indigenous stewardship groups including Native Hawaiian organizations, industry stakeholders such as Hawaiian Airlines and shipping companies operating at Port of Honolulu, and NGOs like The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii and Hawaiʻi Audubon Society. It engages local communities through collaborative projects with county-supported programs in Kauaʻi County and outreach coordinated with cultural practitioners at Kamehameha Schools and community hubs. Research collaborations include institutes such as Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute and collaborative monitoring with US Geological Survey scientists.

Impact, Challenges, and Controversies

The council has contributed to coordinated responses that reduced spread of species including targeted eradications and improved detection capacity via partnerships with University of Hawaiʻi's labs. Challenges include limited funding compared with scope of introductions, complex jurisdictional overlaps among entities like DLNR and county governments, and contentious decisions over control methods that involve stakeholders such as conservation NGOs, ranchers, and Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners. Controversies occasionally arise around proposals for biological control agents evaluated with input from USDA and academic reviewers, or priorities that pit agricultural interests in Oahu against conservation goals on Molokaʻi. Ongoing debates include balancing trade and transport needs at Honolulu Harbor with stricter quarantine measures and reconciling rapid response timelines with permitting processes involving agencies like Hawaii Department of Health.

Category:Environment of Hawaii