Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity

Hawaiʻi Agriculture and Biosecurity officials discuss the challenges the department faces and the criticisms it's received over handling of invasive species infestations.

The state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity deferred a request to allow gravel to be shipped to Molokaʻi, reinforcing an import ban on the island meant to keep out the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle.

A bill at the state Legislature would create a program supporting the production of virus- and pest-free plants to potentially reduce the spread of invasive species and diseases.

The Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity plans to move ahead with new measures to limit the spread of invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles on Hawaiʻi Island. The current infestation on the Kona coast started in March 2025.

The Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and Pōhaku Pelemaka submitted a joint petition earlier this month asking for officials to regulate the movement of CRB host materials around the island.

The declaration forms are meant to identify unwanted plant or animal material brought into Hawaiʻi — an effort to reduce the likelihood of invasive species arriving and establishing on the islands.

The website features interactive dashboards that provide information on pests like the coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant, and coqui frog.

Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity officials are going door to door in Kona Palisades on Hawaiʻi Island to ask for consent from residents to treat palms on their properties.

Commercial businesses are invited to dispose of unused pesticide products through a resumed state program. The last drop-off events brought in nearly 40,000 lbs. of pesticides.

A new one-year rule went into effect Wednesday to help protect Molokaʻi from the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle by restricting the import of soil and landscaping materials known to harbor the insect. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol has more.