THEY CAN BE AS TINY AS A LITTLE FIRE ANT, OR AS LARGE AS AN ALBIZIA TREE.

INVASIVE SPECIES ARE HAVING A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS BY ALTERING OUR ECOSYSTEM, AND IN SOME CASES, LEADING TO EXTINCTION.

EACH YEAR, THE THREAT CONTINUES TO GROW AS THESE INVASIVE SPECIES SPREAD FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE TO GET CONTROL OF THIS CRISIS.

TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

INVASIVE SPECIES ARE ANIMALS OR PLANTS FROM ANOTHER REGION IN THE WORLD THAT DO NOT BELONG IN THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENT, AND ONCE INTRODUCED, THEY REPRODUCE QUICKLY, CAUSING HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY AND HUMAN HEALTH.

AS THE MOST ISOLATED POPULATED LAND MASS IN THE WORLD, HAWAII IS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE.

OUTSIDE SPECIES WERE INTRODUCED TO THE ISLANDS CENTURIES AGO, TRIGGERING THE CONTINUOUS DESTRUCTION, AND EVEN EXTINCTION, OF OUR INDIGENOUS WILDLIFE.

WITH THE ENDLESS CYCLE OF OLD AND NEW THREATS, OUR PANEL TONIGHT WILL DISCUSS WHAT INITIATIVES ARE BEING TAKEN TO ROOT OUT INVASIVE SPECIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS, AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

SHARON HURD IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

SHE FIRST JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN 2007.

SHE IS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII WITH A DEGREE IN ZOOLOGY AND ALSO HAS NEARLY 30‑YEARS OF SALES AND MARKETING EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY.

KEITH WEISER HAS HAD A LIFELONG FASCINATION WITH INSECTS AND THAT’S WHAT DREW HIM TO THE GRANT‑FUNDED COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE RESPONSE PROJECT.

IN HIS ROLE AS DEPUTY INCIDENT COMMANDER, KEITH PLANS AND COORDINATES EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE INVASIVE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE.

INDRAJIT GUNASEKARA IS WITH THE GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT NIU NOW.

THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO RESTORE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COCONUT TREE AS BOTH A CULTURAL AND FOOD RESOURCE.

BY DAY, HE’S A FINANCIAL AID OFFICER AT UH WEST OAHU.

AND MICHELLE MONTGOMERY IS A RESEARCH MANAGER WITH THE HILO BASED HAWAII ANT LAB.

THEY WORK WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO THE IMPACTS CAUSED BY INVASIVE ANTS.

MICHELLE HAS A DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE CROP PROTECTION FROM UH HILO.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

I WILL START WITH YOU.

DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

CAN YOU FIRST TELL US HOW MANY INVASIVE SPECIES ARE THERE HERE IN HAWAII OR GIVE US A BALLPARK IDEA.

>> IF I SAID A MILLION, I WOULDN'T BE TOO FAR OFF REALLY.

BUT THEY HAVE A LIST, PUBLISHED A LIST OF INVASIVE SPECIES THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND THAT WAS MAYBE 40 THAT OFFICIALLY NOTED AS INVASIVE SPECIES.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT IS WHEN WE DETECT IT, WE CAN OFFICIALLY GO OUT AND TREAT IT WITH STATE FUNDING.

BECAUSE IT'S BEEN OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS INVASIVE.

YEAH, EVERY FARM, EVERY RANCH HAS INVASIVE.

MAYBE 2, MAYBE 3.

IT'S, YEAH, QUITE A FEW OF THEM.

IF YOU ASK ANOTHER MAYBE A CULTURAL PRACTITIONER, EVERY INSECT ON THIS ISLAND PRACTICALLY IS INVASIVE.

BECAUSE IT WASN'T HERE.

>>Lauren: THAT'S A LOT OF INVASIVE SPECIES.

DEPARTMENT AG HAS THEIR EYE ON.

I WANT TO HEAR EVERYONE ON THE PANEL BEFORE WE DIVE INTO INVASIVE SPECIES.

HEAR ABOUT BOTH OF YOUR SPECIALTIES, YOU SAID LOT OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE ISLANDS, CAN YOU NAME OUR TOP OR TOP THREE INVASIVE SPECIES THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE CONTROLLED RIGHT NOW OR FIRST?

>> BECAUSE IT'S TOP OF MIND FOR SO MANY RESIDENTS, CERTAINLY LITTLE FIRE ANT.

LITTLE FIRE ANT IS TOP OF MIND BECAUSE IT AFFECTS PLANTS, DOGS AND CATS.

LIFESTYLE OF WHAT WE ENJOY, LIVES IN TREES.

YOU HAVE YOUR LIFESTYLE HAS BEEN IMPACT WITH THE LITTLE FIRE ANT.

THE SECOND ONE ONLY BECAUSE TOP OF MIND.

CRB HAD IT ON OAHU, YEARS.

KEPT IT ON OAHU.

NOW FOUND ON KAUAI.

KEEP IT AWAY, IT'S ON MAUI.

KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE OTHER ISLANDS.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH CRB, CALL IT CRB, WE HAVE TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE MAINLAND.

IT WILL BE, JUST EAT, CALIFORNIA WOULD BE REALLY BAD SHAPE IF WE EVER, EVER GOT THERE.

AND THE WAYS GOING TO GET TO CALIFORNIA, NOT GOING TO FLY THERE.

TOO LONG.

IT'S GOING TO BE BROUGHT IN.

REALLY IMPORTANT TO CHECK EVERYTHING THAT LEAVES THIS ISLAND DON'T WANT IT TO GET TO THE COAST.

>>Lauren: WE'LL DIVE IN FURTHER BOTH OF THOSE SPECIES.

EXPERTS ON THOSE.

FOR YOU, YOU REALLY FOCUS ON THE COCONUT TREES.

WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE INVASIVE SPECIES YOU WOULD WANT TO BE ERADICATED OR CONTROLLED FIRST?

>> MAINLY COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE HAS DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE COCONUT AND EVEN GENETIC EROSION SOME OF KNOWN VARIETIES IN HAWAII.

ALSO COCONUT MITE HAS EFFECT ON THE COCONUT.

WE'VE SEEN THAT THEY ARE EFFECT THE YOUNG NUT, NOT ALLOWING THE NUT, USE SEED MATERIAL TO PERPETUATE VARIETIES AND CARRY THROUGH THOSE VARIETIES.

LITTLE FIRE ANT DAMAGE TO THE TREE AS WELL AS THE GROWING MATERIAL.

>>Lauren: I'M GUESSING YOUR ANSWER IS GOING TO BE CRB EA COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE DID YOU WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT?

>> YEAH.

SORT OF SPECIALIST.

MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT INVASIVES.

100% FOCUS ON COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE.

IMPACTS ALL OF US.

I DON'T GROW OR EAT COCONUTS EVEN AS FAR AS TOURISM IS AFFECTED, THE AESTHETIC OF TREES ALL ENJOY PALMS AND THERE'S A VARIETY OF OTHER SPECIES OF PLANTS THAT CAN BE AFFECTED BY THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE.

INCLUDING PINEAPPLE, HALA, SUGAR CANE, AND BANANA.

SO IT AFFECTS ALL OF US.

ISSUE FOR FOOD SECURITY AND GENETICS OF NATIVE PLANTS, NATIVE PALMS, LOLU, IMPERILLED BY THE EXISTENCE OF COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE.

>>Lauren: YOU AND THE SPECIALIST ON THE PANEL TONIGHT.

ARE THERE SEVERAL ANT SPECIES WOULD BE TOP OF YOUR LIST?

>>WELL, RIGHT NOW FOR THE ONES THAT ARE ESTABLISHED IN HAWAII, IT WOULD BE LITTLE FIRE ANT.

RIGHT NOW, THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM AND WE SEE THIS AS ISSUE ON THE BIG ISLAND.

IS WE'VE REALIZED THIS AS THE ISSUE ON THE BIG ISLAND FOR MANY YEARS.

AND HOW IT BASICALLY, ELIMINATES THE BIODIVERSITY AND OTHER ANT SPECIES WHERE IT IS ESTABLISHED AND IT INVADES.

WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR OTHER ANT SPECIES.

IMPORT THE FIRE ANTS AND TANI CRAZY ANT WREAKING HAVOC THROUGHOUT THE MAINLAND UNITED STATES.

IF AND WHEN THOSE SHOW UP, WE WANT TO BE PREPARED TO ATTACK THEM AND GET RID OF THEM BEFORE THEY CAN ESTABLISH.

>>Lauren: WHAT DO THE LITTLE FIRE ANTS LOOK LIKE?

HOW CAN THE AVERAGE PERSON SPOT THEM?

>> UNLIKE OTHER ANT, RED ANT SPECIES, THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USED TO FOR GROWING UP, MANY, MANY DECADES, LITTLE FIRE ANT IS SO TINY, IT'S ALMOST LIKE DUST.

SO YOU DON'T REALLY SEE IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD, THAT'S ALMOST LIKE A MOVING GROUND.

>> THE GROUND IS ALMOST MOVING.

THERE'S SO MANY ANTS THERE.

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE FIRE ANT PROBLEM.

WHAT WOULD POP UP AS SOMETHING THAT, HEY, I'VE GOT LITTLE FIRE ANTS HERE?

>> MAIN THING THAT ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY BEFORE THEY REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEM WITH LITTLE FIRE ANTS, IS THEY'RE GETTING BIT BY SOMETHING AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

SO THEY CALL IT LIKE THE INVISIBLE IKUS.

THEY WILL BE STUNG IN THEIR BEDS.

>> STUNG IN THE BATHROOM.

DRYING THEMSELVES OFF WITH A TOWEL AND BE STUNG BY SOMETHING AND DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BECAUSE THE ANT IS SO SMALL, THEY CAN'T SEE IT.

THAT IS A PRIMARY THING THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEY REALIZE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

WHAT WE ASK EVERYBODY TO DO BEFORE IT GET DOES THAT POINT IS DO A SURVEY IN THEIR YARD WITH LITTLE BIT OF PEANUT BUTTER ON A CHOPPED STICK, PUT CHOPPED STICK THROUGHOUT YOUR YARD AS MANY AS YOU LIKE, AND SEE WHAT COMES TO IT.

THEN HAVE THOSE ANTS IDENTIFIED.

BECAUSE MOST TIMES, ANTS HAVE BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS AND YOU DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

WHEN THE PROBLEM GETS ABOVE A THRESHOLD LIKE POPULATION HAS GROWN TO A POINT WHERE IT'S OUT OF CONTROL, THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE START BEING IMPACT BY IT.

>>Lauren: JUST YOU TALKING ABOUT THE INVISIBLE UKUS MAKES ME ITCHY.

THEY'RE NOT HERE IN THE STUDIO.

KIND OF MAKES ME ITCHY.

ARE THEY EATING IN PARTICULAR THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR ANT YOU SEE IN YOUR KITCHEN?

>> THESE ARE I CALL THEM OPPORTUNIVORES, PRETTY MUCH EAT ANYTHING.

MAIN DIET IS SUGARS.

SO THEY WILL FARM APHIDS, MEALY BUGS.

PLANT PETS EXUDE SWEET HONEYDEW.

EAT NECTAR FROM FLOWERS.

WHEN THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE GO AFTER OTHER INSECTS PREY ON OTHER INSECTS AND EAT DOG AND CAT FOOD.

A LOT OF TIMES, HOW OUR PETS INTERACT WITH THEM.

FOOD DISHES.

GET ON THE FUR, STING THE EYES, PETS CAN GO BLIND.

>> PRETTY MUCH EAT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT'S AVAILABLE TO MEET EVERY RESOURCE OR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS COLONY IS LACKING.

>>Lauren: CAN MAKE PETS GO MIND.

>> THEY CAN.

>>Lauren: LITTLE FIRE ANTS AFFECT EVERYBODY.

PROBABLY COME BACK TO THE LITTLE FIRE ANTS SHORTLY.

BUT I WANT TO GET TO KEITH.

YOU HAVE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT A COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE IS IN STUDIO.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> RIGHT HERE, I HAVE SOME BEETLES.

SOME EXAMPLE OF THIS IS A PRETTY LARGE BLACK BEAT WITH A DISTINCTIVE HORN.

NAME RHINO COMES FROM THE RHINOCEROS LIKE HORN.

YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE THOSE IN MOST AREAS OF OAHU BECAUSE THESE ARE NOCTURNAL INSECTS.

ADULTS FEEDING ON PALMS.

BUT THEY HAVE LAVA PHASES EXIST IN COMPOST AND MULCH.

GET REPORTS FROM PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THOSE MATERIALS OFTEN FARMERS HAVE MULCH COMPOST OR SOIL.

AND NOW, MORE RESIDENTS WHO MIGHT BUY SOIL BAGS, THAT BEETLES HAVE BURROWED INTO AND THAT IS POTENTIAL VECTOR AS WELL.

I'VE GOT EXAMPLE HERE OF BAG THAT HAS SOME BORING DAMAGE IN IT.

BEETLE HAS BORED INTO THIS BAG AN SO THERE IS THIS DISTINCTIVE HOLE.

>>Lauren: FIND THEIR WAY TO THE SOIL INSIDE.

>> IT CAN BE BOTH.

>> SOIL INSIDE IS GOOD BREEDING MATERIAL FOR THEM.

SO ABLE TO BURROW IN, LAY EGGS, IF THOSE EGGS DEVELOP FAR ENOUGH, THEY'LL TURN INTO ADULTS THAT WILL BORE BACK OUT OF THE BAG AND FIND NEW PLACES TO BREED AND FIND PALMS OR OTHER HOST PLANTS TO FEED ON.

>>Lauren: I HAVE A QUESTION FROM ERIC IN KAILUA THAT I'LL DIRECT TO YOU, MIGHT BE SOMETHING THE REST OF YOU ON THE PANEL WANT TO CHIME IN ON.

HOW DO THE INVASIVE SPECIES WIPE OUT NATIVE SPECIES?

WHAT HAPPENS AND WHY CAN'T NATIVE SPECIES FIGHT BACK AND WIN?

>> THEY'RE ALL COMPETING FOR THE SAME FOOD SOURCE USUALLY.

AND REASON INVASIVE THRIVES PARTICULAR NATIVE SPECIES THEY'RE PREYING ON DOESN'T HAVE A PREDATOR.

I'LL USE EXAMPLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

MAYBE YEARS AGO, INVASIVE SPECIES WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE.

THINK OF NATIVE BIRDS WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, WEATHER WARMING.

SO MOSQUITOES CAN GO HIGHER AND HIGHER WHERE THE NATIVE BIRDS ARE.

DON'T HAVE IMMUNITY TO THE MOSQUITO, FORGET THE NAME.

AVIAN BIRD FLU.

MALARIA.

IT'S NEW.

WORLD IS CHANGING.

SO THE INVASIVES COME IN, GET ESTABLISHED BECAUSE CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED.

THEY DON'T HAVE COMPETITION.

AND FRANKLY SOMETIMES WE'LL CALL LET'S SAY CALL TEXAS AND SAY, HEY, WE GOT THIS NEW BIG.

HOW COULD YOU CONTROL IT?

WINTER TAKES CARE OF IT.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A WINTER.

SO THE INVASIVES GET ENTRENCHED.

WHEN THEY'RE COMPETING, NOT EVERY TIME NATIVE SPECIES WILL LOSE.

BUT THEY LOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT USED TO COMPETITION AND FOOD SOURCE SO LIMITED, ECOSYSTEM GETS JOSTLED WE HAVE A NEW DYNAMIC.

>>Lauren: WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT AS WELL WITH THE SPECIES THAT ARE AFFECTING THE COCONUT TREE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR HAWAIIAN CULTURE ALSO IMPORTANT TO YOUR HOME CULTURE.

TELL US LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY IS THE COCONUT TREE SO IMPORTANT TO YOU AND NIU NOW MOVEMENT IS DOING?

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COCONUT IN HAWAII, UNDERSTOOD AS NIU, THROUGHOUT TROPICAL ISLAND.

>> THIS IS THE TREE THAT ANCESTORS USED TO BE THE TREE OF LIFE.

REASON FOR THAT TREE TO BE SPECIAL SPECIFICALLY CHOSEN AS THE TREE OF LIFE, EVERYTHING COME OUT OF THAT TREE HAS FUNCTIONAL USE.

SIMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP.

THAT TREE DID GOOD TO US.

WE DID GOOD TO THE TREE.

WE LOOK AT THE TREE, PERHAPS OVER 80 MILLION YEARS OF IMPROVEMENT AND COMING THROUGH THE COCONUT TREE.

SINCE OUR ANCESTOR TOOK INTEREST IN GROWING COCONUT, THE TREE BECAME USED TO US IN DOMESTICATED FROM.

PRETTY MUCH IF YOU LOOK AT THE COCONUTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THERE IS NO WILD COCONUT VARIETIES LIKE THE WILD RICE, CAN FIND ANCESTOR STILL.

VARIETIES.

BUT COCONUT, GENE FAMILY, THAT GENE POOL, ONLY LIVING SPECIES, ONLY LIVING TREE COCONUT.

THIS SINGLE TREE.

THAT TELLS STORE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP, EMBEDDED VALUE WITH THE COCONUT.

LOOK AT ALL THE CULTURES IN HAWAII, WE UNDERSTAND KUPU KANAKA, WHEN THE COCONUT GROWS HUMANITY FLOURISHES.

MEANS THIS TREE PRODUCE FLOWERS YEAR AROUND.

EVERY MOON CYCLE, THERE'S A NEW INFLUENCE EMERGING.

THAT IS PRODUCED NOT ONLY EFFECT NECTAR OR POLLEN.

INSECT, AN ENTIRE POPULATION TO BE HEALTHY.

LOOK AT HISTORICALLY, CHIEFS AND ROYALTY TOOK INTEREST, ESTABLISHING COCONUT GROVES IN HAWAII.

LOOK TO MOLOKAI TO KAPALUA TO WAIANAE TO POKA'I BAY, THESE ARE HUNDREDS OF WELL‑KNOWN COCONUT GROVES THAT IS IN HAWAII.

IF YOU LOOK DEEPER, COCONUT PLANTATION.

DIFFERENT FORM OF GROWTH.

WHICH MEANS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE DIVERSITY.

COCONUT HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT VARIETIES.

NOT ONE PLACE HAS BEEN UNDERSTOOD COCONUT IN A FAMILY.

SO DIFFERENT VARIETIES MEAN IT THERE ARE ASSOCIATED FUNCTION THAT ALSO GOES WITH THAT VARIETY.

LIKE EXAMPLE, THE NUT STANDING OVER HERE.

THIS VARIETY IS KNOWN IN HAWAII AS THE ONE THAT USED TO STABILIZE FISH NET.

SO DOESN'T HAVE MUCH PRETTY MUCH HUSK THAT CAN HOLD THE NET IN THE CURRENT OR ROUGH CONDITIONS.

IN THE WATER.

ALSO IF YOU LOOK AT CERTAIN NUTS, LIKE DARKER SHELLS, POINT, SPECIAL GENETIC DIVERSITY, SPECIAL VARIETIES, AND FOR US TO KEEP THAT, COCONUT GROVE SYSTEM, IS SUPPORTED.

ALSO, COMMUNITY, PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH THE PACIFIC FUNCTION, HAD THE ROOM, THE NEED, HAD THE SPACE IN THAT GROVE WHICH WORKS AS THE COMMUNITY BASE AND SUPPORTIVE FUNCTION AND THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE WELL‑BEING OF THE COMMUNITY.

>>Lauren: BECAUSE OF INVASIVE SPECIES, ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COCONUT TREES?

>> YES, GREATLY CONCERNED BECAUSE ESPECIALLY IN THE TIME IN HAWAII, TO YET WE DON'T HAVE STUDY DONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT ARE THE DIVERSITY EXISTS IN HAWAII.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE REST OF THE WORLD, PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE HAS SPECIAL ENTITIES AND DEPARTMENT THAT COMMITTED FOR THE COCONUT STUDY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE COCONUT DIVERSITY AND RESEARCH FIELD.

BUT HAWAII, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO THIS DAY.

IN THIS CAPACITY, BY NOT KNOWING WHAT WE HAVE, AND THE WHEN WE HAVE SUCH INVASIVE SPECIES LIKE CRB WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TREES WE ARE LOSING.

WITH EROSION.

>> FOOD SOURCE, WE UNDERSTOOD CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.

VERY SENSITIVE TO THE IMPORTANCE FOR THE KAUAI COMMUNITY.

AND THAT REALLY TEMPERS THE WAY WE TREAT THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE INFESTATION.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO USE ANY SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS BECAUSE WATER IS, WATER LIFE FOR THE POPULATION, AND THEY TREASURE IT SO MUCH.

WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT IT WHO DO TO THE ACTUAL COCONUT TREE IF YOU START USING SYSTEMIC, KILL THE BEETLE, BUT WILL THE FLOWER DROP OFF?

WATER BE TAINTED?

MEAT BE TAINTED?

>> WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT'S SUCH CULTURAL IMPORTANCE.

HE SAID TREE OF LIFE.

HOW DO YOU MESS WITH THAT?

YOU DON'T WANT TO.

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT DANCE TO TREAT A TREE THAT HAS SO MUCH SIGNIFICANCE OR ONE THAT'S IN THE GOLF COURSE.

TREATMENTS HAVE TO BE VERY DIFFERENT.

>>Lauren: HOW QUICKLY WILL A COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE TAKE DOWN A COCONUT TREE OR PALM TREE?

>> DEPENDS HEAVILY ON THE POPULATIONS AND CONDITIONS IN THE AREA.

SO WE'VE SEEN MORE RAPID DECLINE OF COCONUT TREES IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S AMPLE BREEDING MATERIAL.

GIANT MULCH DUMP SITES.

AREAS TREES HEALTHY BECAUSE PRETTY GOOD MANAGEMENT OF THE LAND AROUND.

GONE IN AND DONE TREATMENTS AND LOOK FOR BREEDING POPULATIONS AND BEETLES FROM THE LANDSCAPE.

SO IT'S EXTREMELY VARIABLE.

BUT FOR OUR COCONUT, FAST DEATH BY COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE WOULD PROBABLY BE COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT'S NOT REALLY FAST PROCESS.

AND FOR US, IT'S BEEN INCREASE IN POPULATION WHEN THE BEETLE FIRST COMES IN.

LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE.

RAMPS UP AS POPULATIONS GROW.

SO THAT COULD BE FASTER IN SOME AREAS WHERE THERE'S INTRODUCTION OF A LOT OF BEETLES INITIALLY AND POPULATION CAN GROW MORE QUICKLY.

>> WAIANAE.

WE WITNESS 13 MONTHS, THE TREES, IN THE 13 MONTHS, SINGLE DAMAGE.

AFTER 13 MONTHS LATER TREES WERE COMPLETELY DEAD.

>>Lauren: 13 MONTHS.

COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE.

>> TIME PERIOD.

>>Lauren: CAN YOU EXPLAIN I'M GETTING BUNCH OF QUESTIONS FROM OUR LOVELY VIEWERS.

>> MARK IN MAKAKILO ASKING, DO WE KNOW WHERE THE RHINOCEROS BEETLES COME FROM AND DOES THAT MATTER IN TERMS OF FIGHTING THEM?

>> IN DOES SOME RANGE.

NATIVE RANGE SOUTHEAST ASIA.

DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND PACIFIC ISLANDS.

SO ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME PLACES HAVE BEEN BATTLING WAGING THIS BATTLE FOR LONGER THAN WE HAVE.

>> WE'VE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE WORKED WITH MANAGING COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLES.

AND TAKEN WHAT KNOWLEDGE WE CAN FROM THEM.

STILL MORE WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM, ALSO GENETICS, BEETLE CAN BE IMPORTANT.

DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AS FAR AS LIKE BIOCONTROLS, MIGHT WORK AGAINST SOME STRAINS AND NOT OTHER STRAINS.

SO IN THAT SENSE, ORIGIN AND BEETLE CAN BE IMPORTANT.

>>Lauren: CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE BEETLE ITSELF?

PERHAPS ONE OF OUR STUDIO CAMERAMEN CAN ZOOM IN ON THE BOX YOU HAVE ON THE TABLE.

KIONI IS ASKING HOW HARD ARE THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE SHELLS CAN YOU CRUSH THEM AND DO THEY BITE.

>> PEOPLE STOMPED ON THEM AND TURN THEM IN.

STILL ALIVE.

CRACKED, BUT BOOT STOMP IS NOT ALWAYS ENOUGH TO KILL THEM.

EXTREMELY HARD AS FAR AS INSECTS GO.

HARD EXOSKELETONS.

>> USUALLY RECOMMEND FREEZING IS A PRETTY GOOD WAY, IF YOU FREEZE THEM FOR A WHILE, PRETTY GOOD WAY TO KILL THEM.

PESTICIDES.

>> TAKE LONG TO DROWN.

DROWING IS NOT A GREAT WAY TO GO.

SMASH THEM HARD ENOUGH.

>>Lauren: VERY RESILIENT.

>> THEY DON'T BITE.

THEY DO HAVE KIND OF SPIKEY ARMS.

SO IF YOU GO TO PICK ONE UP, IT'S BETTER TO CAPTURE AND KILL IT.

DON'T BE AFRAID IT'S GOING TO HARM YOU.

THEY MAY TRY TO DIG OUT OF YOUR HANDS.

>> COULD BE UNCOMFORTABLE.

NOT GOING TO HURT YOU.

>>Lauren: HOW STRONG ARE THEY?

WHAT CAN THEY DIG OUT?

>> THEY CAN DIG THROUGH PRETTY THICK PLASTIC TARPS.

DIG THROUGH ALMOST KIND OF SOIL IF YOU HAVE CINDERS ON THE TOP OF YOUR SOIL.

BREAK THROUGH CINDERS.

THERE'S NOT TOO MANY BARRIERS THAT WE KNOW OF THAT ARE REASONABLE PROTECTIONS FOR PLANTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>>Lauren: I WANT TO GET BACK TO MICHELLE.

>> GETTING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BEETLES.

COME BACK.

BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH.

KEITH, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR TEAM IS DOING TO FIGHT COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE PROBLEM?

>> RIGHT.

WHEN THE BEETLE FIRST ARRIVED, ON OAHU, WE WERE IN ERADICATION MODE.

IT WAS MOSTLY CENTERED AROUND PEARL HARBOR AREA.

GEOGRAPHICALLY FAIRLY ISOLATED EARLY POPULATION OF NANAKULI.

THAT DISAPPEARED.

AND THEN POPULATIONS SLOWLY SPREAD AND THEN QUICKLY SPREAD.

ONCE THEY BEGIN TO QUICKLY SPREAD AND ENDED UP ON MOST PLACES ON OAHU, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR THE TOOLS TO ACHIEVE ERADICATION ON OAHU.

AND THEN WE WORKED ON CONTAINMENT.

OUR PLAN CURRENTLY IS FOCUSED ON CONTAINMENT.

CAN'T DO TREATMENT ACROSS THE WHOLE ISLAND.

SO FOCUSING PRIMARILY ON PORTS TO CREATE ZONES LESS LIKELY THAT THE BEETLE WILL HITCHHIKE ON PLANES OR TRANSIT OUT OF PORTS.

>>Lauren: I HAVE A QUESTION FOUR FROM MARTHA IN NUUANU.

ASKING, WHEN I GET ANTS MY KITCHEN, PUT OUT TARO POISON LIQUID FORM.

ANTS ATTACK IT.

TAKE A POISON TO THE NEST AND ALL DIE.

WILL THAT WORK ON LITTLE FIRE ANT?

>> SORT OF.

EVERY SPECIES OF ANTS HAVE FOOD PREFERENCES.

THESE ARE WHAT WE USE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF BAIT.

SO DIFFERENT TYPES OF BAIT.

FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES OF ANTS IN ORDER TO KNOW WHAT BAIT IS GOING TO WORK FOR THE ANTS YOU HAVE OR ANYONE HAS, WE NEED TO KNOW THE SPECIES.

FOR LITTLE FIRE ANTS WE REFER TO THEM AS LIPID RESPONDING BECAUSE THE BAITS THAT THEY LIKE THE MOST ARE OIL BASED BAITS.

SPECIFIC BAITS OUT THERE MOST OF THEM ARE GRANULAR, THAT ARE MARKETED FOR FIRE ANTS.

TESTED ON DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FIRE ANT.

IMPORTED.

WORK VERY WELL FOR THE LITTLE FIRE ANT WHEN IT'S NESTING ON THE GROUND.

BECAUSE THESE ANTS NEST IN THE TREES ON THE GROUND, PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE, GRANULAR BAITS ARE VERY LIMITED IN THEIR USE.

THEY'LL ONLY TREAT ONCE ON THE GROUND.

ANTS IN THE TREES AREN'T GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL GOOD STUFF THERE.

HAWAII ANT LAB, ONE OF MY JOBS AS RESEARCHER, OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS WAS TO HELP DEVELOP A BAIT THAT PEOPLE COULD MAKE THEMSELVES AT HOME WITH SPECIFIC PESTICIDES THAT WE GET REGISTERED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

AND IT'S MADE OF VEGETABLE OIL, WATER, FOOD THICKENER, A LITTLE BIT OF PEANUT BUTTER AND PESTICIDE.

MIX IT, SPOT IT OVER THE YARD, IN THE TREES.

>> MANAGE IN TREES.

>>Lauren: WHAT ARE THE LITTLE FIRE ANTS ATTACKING HAS YOU MOST CONCERNED?

IT CAN AFFECT PETS DAY‑TO‑DAY LIVES.

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT ALL.

PERSONALLY.

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PETS.

HUGE ANIMAL PERSON.

I HAVE CHICKENS AND DUCKS AND CATS AND DOGS AND GOATS, ALL KIND OF THINGS AT OUR PROPERTY.

AND I SEE THE IMPACTS ON MY ANIMALS.

EVEN THOUGH I TRY TO TREAT FOR THEM, IT'S A CONSTANT BATTLE WHEN YOU HAVE ALL OF INFESTED AREA AROUND YOU AND ANTS CONSTATLY ENCROACHING IN.

AGRICULTURE HUGE PROBLEM.

PLANT VECTORS.

BIG ISLAND, LITTLE FIRE ANTS INCREASED RATES OF BANANA BUNGEE TOP VIRUS.

THAT IS VECTORED BY THE BANANA APHID, LITTLE FIRE ANTS WILL FARM.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED WHEN ANTS ARE ENTERING THEIR HOMES, STINGING THEIR KID IN CRIBS.

SO IT'S REALLY ALL ENCOMPASSING THING.

>>Lauren: CAN YOU TELL US LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW ARE THESE INVASIVE SPECIES LIKE LITTLE FIRE ANTS, COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE, OTHER ANIMALS, OTHER PLANTS, OTHER PROBLEMS HOW ARE THEY GETTING INTO HAWAII AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE.

>>Chair Kia'aina: THIS IS DAVID ONE OF OUR VIEWERS.

>> DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PLANT INDUSTRY, PLANT QUARANTINE BRANCH, THEY DO THEIR BEST TO STOP IT AT THE BORDER.

WE HAVE 90 AGENTS STATEWIDE.

AND I THINK I SAID EARLIER, IN ONE YEAR, INSPECTED OVER 16 MILLION PARCELS AND QUADRUPLED.

HOW MANY AMAZON PACKAGES DID YOU GET?

SO OUT OF THAT 60 MILLION, THEY STOPPED 735 INTERCEPTIONS.

SO HOW ARE WE BATTLING IT?

CHECKING EVERYTHING.

DOING OUR BEST.

OUT OF THAT 735, THERE WERE SOME NOT KNOWN TO HAVE BE HERE.

SO WE TAKE THEM OUT.

EVERY PORT, EVERY AIRPORT, EVERY SHIP, IT'S BIG, BIG TASK.

GIVE YOUR PLANT QUARANTINE INSPECTOR A FIST BUMP.

HE OR SHE LOOKED THROUGH THOUSANDS OF PACKAGES.

MADE SURE IT DIDN'T COME IN.

HOW DOES SOMETHING COME IN?

FIRE ANT COMES IN ON EQUIPMENT, CARS, CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL, BRICKS, AS WELL AT FOOD, PLANTS AND COMPOST.

HOW DO YOU CHECK EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING IN HAWAII?

THESE ARE VERY ADAPTIVE.

COME IN PALLETS.

LIVE IN THE CRACKS OF THE SIDEWALK.

REALLY TOUGH.

DOING OUR BEST.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COME IN.

BUT THEY'RE VERY, VERY CRAFTY.

CAN COME IN ON ANYTHING.

THOUGHTS ON COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE COME IN.

PLANE OR SHIP.

MISSED THAT ONE.

MAYBE WE JUST MISSED IT IN A BAG OF COMPOST OR SOMETHING.

WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO KEEP THEM AT THE ‑‑ THIS IS INSIGHTS.

INSIGHT IS THAT RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT INSECTS, SHIPS, PLANES ARRIVING AND OUR INSPECTORS ARE CHECKING IT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO INVASIVE SPECIES, YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF INVASIVE SPECIES.

YOU HAVE MAMMALS, INSECTS PLANTS ALL KIND OF THINGS COMES TO INSECTS, THEY CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DETECT.

SOMETIMES, DEPENDS ON WHAT IT IS.

FOR EXAMPLE, LITTLE FIRE ANTS.

THEY CAME, INTRODUCED TO HAWAII SOME TIME IN THE MID 90s.

>> DON'T REALLY KNOW.

BELIEVED THEY WERE IMPORTED ACCIDENTALLY THROUGH NURSERY TRADE.

WITH MAINLAND.

SOMEWHERE IN THE MAINLAND.

NOW, YOU CAN HAVE A SHIPMENT OF NURSERY STOCK IN ONLY ONE POT IN THERE MAY HAVE A SINGLE COLONY.

OR EVEN A SINGLE FERTILE QUEEN.

AND THAT IS WHAT STARTED THE WHOLE THING.

WITH YOU'RE LOOKING AT ENTIRE SHIPMENT OF NURSERY STOCK, OR COMMODITY OR WHATEVER, ANYTHING,.

>> NURSERY INDUSTRY HAS BEEN TARGETED AS BEING BAD GUY IN THIS.

REALLY, IT COMES IN ON EVERYTHING.

>> IT CAN.

HITCH A RIDE ON ANYTHING.

HITCHHIKER SPECIES.

WE CALL IT A TRAMP SPECIES MOVED BY PEOPLE.

THIS IS THE COMMON BELIEF OF HOW IT WAS INTRODUCED.

NOT TRYING TO GET ON TO THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY AT ALL.

BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE MOST LIKELY PATHWAY WAS.

IS IMPORTANT.

AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A HUGE SHIPMENT OF SOMETHING, LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SIZE OF PIN HEAD, THAT'S GOING TO SLIP THROUGH.

MATTER OF WHEN IT GETS DETECTED, WHAT IS RESPONSE.

THAT'S THE EQUALLY IMPORTANT AS INTERCEPTING.

GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS SLIPS THROUGH.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE 100%.

>> >> WHEN WE DETECT, FIND INTERCEPTION, DIFFERENT KIND OF RESPONSE, DEPENDS WHAT YOU FIND.

FREEZE IT, QUARANTINE IT.

FURTHER TEST.

IT IS DIFFERENT TREATMENTS AND IT'S FOUND SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

BIG CONCERN NOW IS DISEASES.

SHE SAID MAMMALS.

OUR PLANT INDUSTRY DIVISION IS SO FOCUSED ON AFRICAN SWAG FEVER.

AVIAN FLU.

BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS STAFF IS KEYED TO LOOK FOR INVASIVES ON EVERYTHING.

>> ANIMAL DISEASES.

COME IN ON EVERYTHING.

REALLY HARD TO KEY IN ON ONE THING INTO HOW ARE THEY FINDING THESE INVASIVE SPECIES, LET'S SAY LITTLE FIRE ANT OR COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE ON A CHRISTMAS TREE OR OMG ON A PACKAGE IN A CAR?

DOGS SNIFF IT.

>> WE HAVE DOGS.

INSPECTION.

THEY KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

THEY KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

>> THERE'S ALSO, THERE'S USUALLY LIKE A TRACING.

WHEN YOUR INSPECT, ARE LOOKING AT COMMODITIES, LOOK AT THE SOURCE, ORIGIN.

IS THIS A BAD ACTOR?

SHOULD WE BE MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THESE COMMODITIES AND THIS STUFF FROM THIS PLACE?

WHETHER IT'S STATE, WHETHER IT'S ANOTHER COUNTRY, WHETHER IT'S WITHIN HAWAII.

THEY TEND TO KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN THINGS ARE COMING FROM CERTAIN AREAS.

SO THEY'LL HAVE DIFFERENT PROCEDURES FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.

>>Lauren: YOU MENTIONED OVER 700 INTERCEPTIONS.

HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS SOMEONE TRYING TO BRING IN SOMETHING ON PURPOSE?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

ASKED THAT QUESTION TODAY.

THEY'RE THINKING MAYBE SIX IN ONE YEAR.

PEOPLE DOING IT INTENTIONALLY, TAKE LEGAL ACTION.

YOU CAN REALLY DEAL WITH THEM.

BUT IF YOU SOMEHOW GET THROUGH AND KNOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT LEGAL, DO NOT RELEASE IT INTO THE WILD.

DO NOT DUMP IT INTO THE OCEAN.

BECAUSE THAT IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO.

BRING IT IN.

WE HAVE AMNESTY PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

>> DON'T CARE HOW YOU GOT IT.

BRING IT OF.

TURN IT IN.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING, WE DON'T KILL ANYTHING.

WE HAVE IGUANAS TURNED IN YEARS AGO.

RECENTLY WE HAD A POWER OUTAGE AT THE FACILITY.

FIRST THING WE THOUGHT ABOUT WAS THOSE FISH.

WE GOT TO KEEP THOSE PUMPS GOING.

SOMEBODY TURNED THEM IN.

IGUANAS, KEEP THE LAMPS GOING ON.

DO WE CARE ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES?

NOT SO MUCH.

KEEP THE INVASIVES GOING, DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK, GIVE IT TO US AND THEY DIE ON OUR WATCH.

>>Lauren: SOMEONE HAS THINGS, LITTLE FIRE ANT PROBLEM, COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE, ON THEIR PROPERTY, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

>> THINK THEY HAVE IT, THEY SHOULD DO THE TEST SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE EXPERTS IDENTIFY THAT IT IS, IN FACT, WHAT THEY THINK IT IS AND WE TASK THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BY STATUTE TO TREAT AT OUR OWN COST.

ONE OF THE REALLY EXPENSIVE TREATMENTS, TANGO, ABOUT $300 A QUARTER.

AT OUR COST, WE TAKE IT OUT.

TREAT IT.

GO FIVE TIMES, SIX TIMES.

TEN TIMES IF WE NEED TO.

CALL US.

THIN IN STAFFING.

WE CERTAINLY, CRB TASK FORCE HAS BEEN THERE.

HAWAII ANT LAB HAS BEEN THERE.

DO YEOMAN'S WORK.

BUT THEY SHOULD CALL AND LET US KNOW.

CERTAINLY, IS IT FREEZING OR PUTTING IN A BAG FOR LITTLE FIRE ANTS?

DEFINITELY FREEZE THEM FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS BECAUSE THEY WILL COME BACK ALIVE IF IT'S LESS THAN THAT.

WE'VE SEEN IT.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIN AT THE FRONT OF OUR OFFICE.

JUST DROP IT IN THERE WITH THEIR NAME AND GUYS WILL POSITIVELY IDENTIFY IT.

OR NOT.

AND THEN THEN WE GO OUT THERE AND TREAT IT.

WE ARE NOT AS, HAVE SO MUCH CRBS.

EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW.

OUR RESPONSE IS A LITTLE BIT SLOW.

YOU DO HAVE OVER‑THE‑COUNTER THINGS THAT YOU CAN BUY.

YOU CAN CHECK WEBSITES.

CALL.

AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO IN AND BUY STUFF THAT ON THE LIST.

TREATABLE.

>>Lauren: ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS RESPONDING TO LITTLE FIRE ANT INFESTATIONS?

>> YES.

>>Lauren: WHICH ONES.

>> WELL, ONES THAT WHICH MADE THE NEWS ON.

BAD ACTORS.

>>Lauren: FOR NURSERIES?

RESPONDING FOR NURSERIES.

>> NOT RESPONDING, ARE YOU RESPONDING FOR RESIDENTS ALSO?

>> YES.

WE HAD CITIZEN THAT IS KIND OF ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SHE WANTED TO DO A HER OWN LITTLE INFORMATIONAL.

WE MADE THESE KITS FOR HER.

REALLY BIG.

WE HAD TO DROP IT OFF BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO MAIL.

KITS, WE SHOWED THEM HOW TO RESPOND AND THEN THEY I THINK HUNDREDS OF THEM.

AND THEN SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND WE'RE HELPING PUBLIC IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.

MILILANI GREAT MODEL.

MILILANI, THEY HAD A LITTLE FIRE ANT INFESTATION.

IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

BUT THEY ALL BONDED TOGETHER AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY LITTLE FIRE ANT ANYWHERE.

OUR GUYS WENT OUT THERE AND HELPED THEM APPLIED IT.

>>Lauren: I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY.

FOR THE LITTLE FIRE ANTS IN MILILANI, IT IS ONGOING.

AND THAT WAS THE ONE OF THE FIRST INFESTATIONS THAT WE FOUND ON OAHU.

2014 I BELIEVE.

AND HAWAII ANT LAB WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DID RESPOND AND DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

>> COMMUNITY WAS SUPERSUPPORTIVE AND GIVING US ACCESS, PROPERTY ACCESS THAT WE NEEDED AND THEY WERE JUST ON BOARD FROM THE START.

AND BUT I THINK THE AFTER ABOUT AROUND 2017, 2018 I BELIEVE, WHEN SOME RETIREMENTS AND STAFFING CHANGES AT DEPARTMENT OF AG AND RESPONSE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SIDE STARTED TO WEIGH, BECAUSE STAFFING ISSUES AND UNDERSTANDABLE.

FUNDING ISSUES.

SINCE THEN, THE HAWAII ANT LAB AND OAHU INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE HAS BEEN TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE DIFFERENT, ALL OF THE INFESTATIONS THAT ARE ONGOING.

REALLY LOOKING FOR BIG, EVERYBODY STRONGER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

>>Lauren: I'LL LET YOU ADD.

I'VE GOT SO MANY VIEWER QUESTIONS.

>> WAY WANTED TO ADD, ALREADY FORGOT.

I DO REMEMBER THAT THE USED THIS BEFORE.

RATS AND ROACHES.

WE ALL HAVE THEM IF YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROACHES HAVE INFESTATION.

WHAT DO WE DO?

WE TRAP THEM.

GET THEM.

KIND OF WHERE THE MILILANI FIRE ANT IS RIGHT NOW.

KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND THEY DO IT.

>>Lauren: I WANT TO GET OUR VIEWER QUESTIONS.

ONE OF THE FIRST INSIGHTS SHOWS I'VE DONE WHERE I'VE HAD KIND OF DROWNING IN VIEWER QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING.

RAPID FIRES, GET TO AS MANY AS THEM AS POSSIBLE.

MARY FROM KAILUA ASKING IF YOU SEE A SICKLY COCONUT, HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE?

>> YEAH.

THERE'S HIGH CHANCE ON OAHU.

ONE THING I WANTED TO CLARIFY, COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE IS SO WIDESPREAD ON OAHU, THAT WE DON'T NEED TO KNOW EVERY CASE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SPOTTING THEM.

JUST KILL THEM IF YOU FIND THEM AND WE ONLY DOING TREATMENTS AND WORK AT THE PORTS.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE EITHER HAS CAPACITY TO DO ANY TREATMENTS ON OAHU FOR RESIDENTS OR BUSINESSES EITHER.

YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THAT.

ALSO FORGOT TO MENTION WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

WORKING WITH BUNCH OF DIFFERENT GROUPS ON THE OTHER ISLANDS FOR ERADICATION AS WELL.

SO BUT WITH RESPECT TO TREE DAMAGE, THERE ARE V SHAPES CUTS THAT ARE SEEN WITH COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE INFESTATION.

>> OTHER THINGS CAN CAUSE THOSE CUTS.

ON OAHU VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT'S CAUSED BY COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE.

AND THEN BORE HOLES, FAIRLY LARGE HOLES AT THE BASE OF FRONDS YOU WILL SEE LATER IN THE LATER STAGES OF INFESTATION.

TWO MAJOR SIGNS IN TREES.

>>Lauren: EARLIER YOU SAID YOU CAN STOMP ON THEM REALLY HARD TO GET RID OF THEM.

ERIC ON BIG ISLAND ASKING IF YOU CAN ELECTROCUTE THEM VIA LIGHTS?

THAT SORT OF THING.

>> IT MIGHT THEORETICALLY BE POSSIBLE.

THINGS LIKE BUG ZAPPERS TESTED THIS IN THE LAB TO SEE WHAT KINDS OF THINGS COULD BE DONE BREEDING SITES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I DON'T THINK ELECTROCUTION IS VERY EFFICIENT WAY.

I'M SURE VOLTAGES THAT WILL DO IT.

VERY SAFE FOR PEOPLE EITHER.

DON'T TRY TO ELECTROCUTE BEETLES.

USE ONE OF THE OTHER METHODS MENTIONED BEFORE.

>>Lauren: SHANNON FROM HAWAII KAI ASKING HOW MANY DOGS DOES THE STATE HAVE TRAINED TO SNIFF OUT INVASIVE SPECIES.

>> WE HAD TWO.

THEN THE MILITARY HELPING US BY PROVIDING I THINK IT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL, PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

WE DID HAVE TWO FOR SURE.

>>Lauren: DOGS THAT ARE TRAINED TO SPECIFICALLY SNIFF OUT COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE.

>> YES.

TEAM OF TREE.

>> ONE SICK NOT WORKING.

>> THREE DOGS OWNED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

TRAINED.

TWO CANINE HANDLERS SNIFFING OUT BREEDING POPULATIONS.

>>Lauren: DOGS ARE SO SPECIAL.

>> LUCKY TO HAVE THEM FROM MOSES, ONE OF OUR VIEWERS.

HOW DO WE GET MORE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TREES THAT ARE BEING THREATENED?

MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED ONCE THEY'RE GONE >> MAHALO FOR THAT QUESTION.

ONE OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IS TO GET THE COCONUT USED AS A CULTURAL RESOURCE.

USED FOR ECOLOGICAL PLANTING SUCH AS PLANTING TREES, EROSION CONTROL AND OTHER FUNCTIONS, AND LACK HERE IS GOOD EDUCATION FUNCTION, EDUCATION PLAN, BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE MUCH OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND MATERIALS PRODUCED TO ENGAGE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO GET WORK WITH THE COCONUT.

AND TO USE THE THAT AS A FOOD SOURCE OR EITHER TO USE IS IT AS A CULTURAL RESOURCE.

SO GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK MORE WITH THE COCONUT, EVEN SUPPORTING THE PRACTITIONERS, IN THE PLACE, WE HAVE MAKE US APU MAKERS, ALSO WEAVERS, OTHER PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH THE PART OF THE COCONUT.

AND WE NEED LITTLE BIT SUPPORT HERE.

STATE WIDE.

>>Lauren: NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU COME ON INSIGHTS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT IMPORTANCE.

FROM MONICA.

>> EITHER KEITH OR MICHELLE.

I'LL LET YOU TAKE THIS ONE.

IS ERADICATION POSSIBLE FOR COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE AND THE LITTLE FIRE ANTS OR DO WE HAVE ADAPT TO LIFE WITH THEM?

THAT IS SCARY.

>> IT IS SCARY THOUGHT.

I GUESS ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION DEPENDS WHICH ISLAND YOU'RE ON.

FOR BIG ISLAND, IT'S NOT FEASIBLE WITHOUT MAYBE A BILLION DOLLARS.

AND EVERYBODY ON ISLAND PARTICIPATING.

WHICH IS UNREALISTIC.

OAHU, IT'S IFFY.

WE KNOW OF WE'VE HAD WE'RE UP TO 54 SITES.

FIVE OF THEM HAVE BEEN ERADICATED.

OF THOSE, THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW OF.

AND SO THERE'S BOUND TO BE QUITE A FEW MORE.

A LOT MORE OUT THERE THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

UNLESS THE PATHWAYS THAT ARE SPREADING THEM AREN'T SHUTDOWN, THAT'S PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT IS BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITY.

EVERYBODY RESPONSIBILITY.

IF THAT DOESN'T GET SHUTDOWN, THEN IT WON'T WORK.

IT WON'T HAPPEN.

IT WILL HAVE TO STAY IN CONTAINMENT AND LESSENING THAT BLOW.

SO WE NEED PUBLIC TO HELP WITH THAT.

MAUI, KAUAI, PROBABLY STILL POSSIBLE TO ERADICATE.

>>Lauren: THIS QUESTION FROM JOHN IN HILO.

FOR BOTH OF YOU.

DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EVEN IN SCHOOLS ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO MAKE MORE PEOPLE AWARE OF INVASIVE SPECIES?

SO THAT PEOPLE CAN REPORT SOMETHING OUT OF ORDINARY OR PERHAPS CREATE A CHANCE FOR ERADICATION?

>> YEAH.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM.

TWO DEDICATED OUTREACH ASSOCIATES GO OUT TO SCHOOLS, THEY GO OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS SO WE'RE OUT THERE TELLING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

GOING ON NEWS PROGRAMS LIKE THIS IS ONE OF BEST WAYS TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE.

SO YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO VERY HARD.

MORE IS ALWAYS BETTER.

>> CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF ALL OF THE ISLAND INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEES IN THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.

>> I MEAN THEY DO SO MUCH.

ON THE GROUND, CONTROL, BUT ALSO, WITH INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITIES.

WE HAWAII ANT LAB OUR EXTENSION IS ON THE BIG ISLAND.

WE FOCUS MORE OF OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS ON THE BIG ISLAND.

AND WE'RE STARTING TO GROW IT MORE HERE ON OAHU.

BUT WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEES TO GO OUT AND GET THE WORD OUT INTO THE SCHOOLS, AND HAVE ACTIVITIES AND BRING THE FAMILIES INVOLVED TO TRY TO BUILD THAT AWARENESS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CULTURE HERE.

>> ADD SOMETHING TO THAT.

ESPECIALLY ABOUT WE LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE COCONUT AND WE'LL DEALING WITH THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE, NOT ONLY LOOK AT THE PROBLEM.

ALSO BIGGER PROBLEMS AND LARGER COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT PLACE THAT DOESN'T HAVE GOOD SECURITY FOR THE FOOD.

NEEDING TO SAFEGUARD WHAT WE HAVE.

NEEDING TO PUT MORE EFFECT TO SAVE AND SUPPORT THE FUNCTION.

AND BRINGING MORE ENTITIES AND GETTING COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND AND TO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

NIU NOW.

WE BELIEVE THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALOHA AINA.

IN ORDER FOR RELATIONSHIP TO FUNCTION.

WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMUNITY.

NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE FUNCTION.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE.

AND BRINGING THOSE COMPONENTS TOGETHER AND DIGGING DEEPER.

THERE'S NOT ONLY ISSUE OF CRB.

ISSUE WITH IT'S NOT BEING TREE OF LIFE.

NOT BEING SUPPORTED, HAVING THE COMPONENT.

KANAKA.

COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP.

ONCE WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT, WHEN THE COMMUNITY STARTING TO UNDERSTAND, WE CAN SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.

LIKE EXAMPLE, LIKE THE WORK THAT WE ROA RECENTLY STARTED WITH THE WAIANAE COMPREHENSIVE CENTER.

WORK OF ALICIA AND JESSE.

STARTING TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND HAVING LOCAL CHALLENGE, EAT LOCAL CHALLENGE AND GETTING COMMUNITY TO MORE UTILIZE THE FOOD THAT LOCALLY AVAILABLE.

AND SEEING TRULY THIS IS THE TREE OF LIFE.

HOW CAN WE BRING MORE PEOPLE TO EAT COCONUT AND TO PLANT MORE COCONUT, CARE FOR THE COCONUT AND UNDERSTAND THE SUBSEQUENT ACTIVITIES THAT NEED TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND SUPPORT.

>>Lauren: REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF COCONUT AND KNOW WHAT YOU'RE PROTECTING.

>> HISTORY.

HISTORIC COMPONENT, WHY IT WAS PLANTED IN HAWAII.

CHIEFLY PRACTICE, COCONUT GROVE IN EACH ISLAND.

GOING BACK TO THE TRULY TO THE ULUNIU AND LOOKING UP WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

WHO IS HERE.

>>Lauren: WHAT IS DONE.

>>Lauren: FEW MINUTES.

WANT TO TRY TO SQUEEZE IN MORE VIEWER QUESTIONS.

SHARON HAVE WE MADE ANY HEADWAY IN ERADICATING ANY PARTICULAR SPECIES?

QUESTION FROM JOHN IN KONA.

>> I'M GOING TO SAY WE HAVE.

BUT THIS IS BANNER YEAR FOR US.

LAST YEARS, LEGISLATURE GAVE US A MILLION DOLLARS FOR CRB RESPONSE AND MILLION DOLLARS FOR GREEN WASTE.

SO THERE YEAR, WE'RE BRINGING TEAM NEW MENTIONED PACIFIC RIM.

COUNTRIES, NATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED SO HEAVILY, BRINGING IN TEAMS, TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE DEALING WITH IT, AND THEN IMPLEMENT THOSE PRACTICES AND COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE, THEY CAN GO OUT 6 FEET UNDER.

THEY'RE DIGGING DOWN.

SO WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT TACTICS TO GET THEM.

WE'RE MAKING HEADWAY.

BUT NUMBER ONE FUNCTION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS CATCH THEM AT THE PORT.

DON'T LET THEM EVEN COME IN.

SO HEADWAY WE'RE MAKING, IS THAT WE'RE INTERCEPTING ALL OF THESE CREATURES COME IN.

WATCHING FOR DISEASES.

YEAH, I THINK WE'RE MAKING HEADWAY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TALKING RIGHT NOW, LITTLE FIRE ANTS ARE WALKING.

COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE DIGGING.

TAKES ALL OF US.

>>Lauren: THAT LAST THOUGHT, TAKES ALL OF US, LEADS ME DO I THINK ONLY GET IN ONE MORE VIEWER QUESTION.

ANDREW FROM HALEIWA ASKING, WHAT CAN WE DO REGULAR PEOPLE TO HELP FIGHT INVASIVE SPECIES IN GENERAL, BUT THEN ALSO IN PARTICULAR LITTLE FIRE ANTS, BIG BEETLES.

SHARON, MAYBE I'LL START WITH YOU.

JUST A QUICK FINAL THOUGHT.

>> SURE.

IT'S LIKE THE ANT BAIT.

OVER THE COUNTER RETAIL PROJECTS YOU CAN BUY.

CAN LOOK IT UP AND IN OUR WEBSITE, I THINK, RETAIL ONES THAT YOU CAN GET.

OUTDOOR USE AND INDOOR USE.

YOU CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

WE HAVE THE STAFF THAT ACTUALLY GOES OUT AND THEY KNOW WHAT TREATMENT TO USE.

EXPENSIVE, TREATMENTS ARE EXPENSIVE.

WOULDN'T USE SOME ON A BEACH.

GIVE US A CALL.

WE ARE TASKED BY STATUTE TO PROVIDE CHEMICAL TREATMENTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>>Lauren: IF I YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, CALL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

>> YES, ONCE IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED.

>>Lauren: I'LL GIVE YOU GUYS THE LAST WORD ON BOTH OF YOUR SPECIALTIES.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW?

>> YEAH, I THINK REDUCING TRANSPORT OF GOODS.

USING AS MANY LOCAL COMMODITY AS POSSIBLE.

>> NOT HAVING TO USE MATERIAL IN.

THAT COULD BE INFESTED, MAKES EASIER JOB FOR THE INSPECTORS GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES IMPORTANT FOR COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE TREATMENT AS WELL.

ALL HAVE TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE AND TOGETHER, GET THAT DONE.

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S SOMETHING IS WEIRD, REPORT IT.

YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NEW.

OR IF IT'S BEEN HERE A WHILE.

THERE'S NO SHAME IF YOU, IF IT'S NEW TO YOU, BUT IT'S BEEN TO THE AREA FOR A WHILE.

ONE, REPORT IT.

TWO, IF YOU'RE FOUND TO HAVE INVASIVE, THAT IS LISTED IN UNDER CONTROL, BY ONE OF THE SPONSORED PROGRAMS, EITHER HAWAII ANT LAB, DEPARTMENT OF AG, CRB PROGRAM OR ANY OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS, COOPERATE.

AND PROVIDE ACCESS, TALK TO US, DON'T JUST IGNORE OUR CALLS.

BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION TO GET ON TO THE PROPERTIES TO HELP.

AND IF WE DON'T, HAVE THAT, OUR PROJECTS WE DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF AUTHORITY TO FORCE THAT.

SO COOPERATE, LET US HELP YOU BECAUSE WE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU GOT GOING ON WE WANT TO KILL ANTS.

HE JUST WANTS TO KILL BEETLES WHAT HE LIKE TO DO.

>>Lauren: GREAT TIPS FROM EVERYONE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, COMMUNITIES GOT TO COME TOGETHER TO TRY AND TACKLE THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US MAHALO TO VIEWERS.

>> TON OF VIEWER QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

SO MUCH BETTER WHEN WE CAN HAVE THIS SORT OF ENGAGEMENT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS, DIRECTOR OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SHARON HURD AND FROM NIU NOW INDRAJIT GUNASEKARA.

KEITH WEISER FROM THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE RESPONSE TEAM AND FROM HAWAII ANT LAB, MICHELLE MONTGOMERY.

NO INSIGHTS NEXT WEEK.

INSTEAD, WE’RE HAVING OUR FIRST TOWN HALL OF THE YEAR AND IT’S ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WITH NEARLY 5 BILLION USERS AROUND THE WORLD, SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A GREAT WAY TO STAY CONNECTED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE A HAVEN FOR SCAMMERS, AS WELL AS A PLATFORM FOR POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH RISKS.

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR KAKOU ‑ SOCIAL MEDIA: THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M LAUREN DAY FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.