Invasive species in Hawaii
Some species were accidentally introduced to Hawaii like the rat, fire ants, coqui frog, mosquitos, and coconut rhinoceros beetle.
The mongoose was introduced to Hawaii in the late-19th century in an attempt to control the large rat population in the sugar cane fields.
[3] Another example of an invasive species introduced in the 19th century is the fire tree, which is a small shrub that was brought from the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands as an ornamental plant or for firewood.
However, it now poses a major threat to Hawaii's rare endemic flora and fauna by forming shade-casting thickets with dense mats of surface feeder roots.
Chants, ceremonies, hula, and other practices involve the use of plants (both native and Polynesian-introduced), traditional access to places of importance, and other activities that can be directly affected by invasive species.
Hawaii has a growing invasive species crisis affecting the islands' endangered plants and animals, overall environmental and human health, and the viability of its tourism and agriculture-based economy.
The entire island chain of Hawaii has been devastated by invasive insects, plants, hoofed animals such as deer, goats, pigs and other pests.
This large beetle feeds on the growing shoots at the tops of coconut trees damaging the emerging leaves and providing opportunities for infection with plant pathogens.
Invasive predators often move to the top of the food chain and disrupt prey populations, particularly small mammals, birds, insects, and plants.
It makes loud noises, eats native bugs, and is a potential food source for the brown tree snake.
In remote, mountainous areas, they destroy the nests of seabirds including Newell's shearwater (Puffinus newelli) and Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis).
The economic impact of allowing Invasive species to continue to propagate and spread throughout Hawaii poses severe risks for various Hawaiian industries central to the state's economy.
[10] The papaya industry, which comprises the 5th largest commodity in the state and takes in 16 million dollars annually, has also been affected by invasive species.
Rats and rodents have also attacked sugar cane crops throughout the islands causing between 6 and 10 million dollars in damages annually in the 1990s.
In addition, invasive rats and rodents consume approximately 5-10% of the lucrative macadamia nut crop causing "1.8 – 3.6 million dollars of direct agricultural damages" to the industry.
Since then, the mongoose has failed to effectively control rat populations while driving native birds and insects to extinction and preying on local poultry.
Thus, considering the potential economic harm illustrated in the examples above, the problem of combating invasive species is a "recurring legislative concern."
Considering the elevated costs, particularly in the depressed economy, government should focus on ongoing funding from dedicated sources as well as concentrating on prevention.
The HISC is composed of five working groups chaired by member agencies dealing with prevention, established pest management, public awareness, research and technology and natural resources.
The HISC provides "policy level direction, coordination and planning among state departments, federal agencies and international and local initiatives for the control and eradication of invasive species."
The HISC seeks to "maintain a comprehensive overview of issues and supports state wide invasive species prevention, early detection and control programs" in the effort to provide a testing ground for innovation in methods and capacity to address invasive species which can be adopted permanently by other funded agencies.
Each committee (KISC, OISC, MISC, MoMISC, and BIISC Archived 2017-09-26 at the Wayback Machine) focuses on protecting their island from invasive pests by utilizing prevention, early detection, rapid response, and control methodology supported by a paid staff and field crew.
The goal of the ISCs is to protect agriculture, valuable watersheds, human health and quality of life, Hawaiian cultural practices, and Hawaii's unique biodiversity.
