The Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) would like to offer their strong support for the agenda item titled “Operational and Budgetary review of the environmental protection grant administered by the office of the Mayor (ADEPT-1(3)) and the request provided by the Maui Invasive Species Committee.
In 2002 the Legislative Reference Bureau released a report that declared invasive species are the biggest threat to Hawaii’s economy, environment, tourism, and health and way-of-life of its residents. Subsequently the HISC was formed in 2003 by Hawaiʻi Revised Statute 194 with the special purpose of providing policy level coordination and planning for the control and eradication of harmful invasive species. Since 2005, the HISC has disbursed funds annually for innovative projects that address and fill gaps in invasive species prevention, control, outreach, and research.
This funding has been essential to support the operations of the five Island Invasive Species Committees that are critical components of the broader invasive species network that exists. Maui has now joined the status of Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island with the detection of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) and the Invasive Species Committees on those islands have already mobilized as part of the response doing what they do best, which is identifying the gaps and filling them.
This is the power of Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) and the other Invasive Species Committees (ISCs), is to mobilize quickly with trained staff on response efforts and work with and inform the community. But unlike the other ISCs, MISC has been able to expand their operations and develop new tools and technology that are benefiting the rest of the State because of the Countyʻs investment in invasive species management.
The Council recognizes the contribution Maui County has made in the advancement of prevention and management of invasive species in Hawaiʻi. MISC developed innovative controls for little fire ant and coqui frogs that other islands are wanting to implement and this could not have been possible without the County funding. Maui County has been a model for the rest of the State and HISC program support staff are highlighting the countyʻs commitment here for invasive species to show our other counties and our State Legislators the importance of investing in this work. The State is at a tipping point with some of these pests like little fire ant and crb where if we donʻt invest and follow the example of Maui County then we will have these pests established statewide.
Mahalo for the opportunity to provide testimony in support of the funding request for the Maui Invasive Species Committee.
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and Committee Members,
The Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) would like to offer their strong support for the agenda item titled “Operational and Budgetary review of the environmental protection grant administered by the office of the Mayor (ADEPT-1(3)) and the request provided by the Maui Invasive Species Committee.
In 2002 the Legislative Reference Bureau released a report that declared invasive species are the biggest threat to Hawaii’s economy, environment, tourism, and health and way-of-life of its residents. Subsequently the HISC was formed in 2003 by Hawaiʻi Revised Statute 194 with the special purpose of providing policy level coordination and planning for the control and eradication of harmful invasive species. Since 2005, the HISC has disbursed funds annually for innovative projects that address and fill gaps in invasive species prevention, control, outreach, and research.
This funding has been essential to support the operations of the five Island Invasive Species Committees that are critical components of the broader invasive species network that exists. Maui has now joined the status of Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island with the detection of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) and the Invasive Species Committees on those islands have already mobilized as part of the response doing what they do best, which is identifying the gaps and filling them.
This is the power of Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) and the other Invasive Species Committees (ISCs), is to mobilize quickly with trained staff on response efforts and work with and inform the community. But unlike the other ISCs, MISC has been able to expand their operations and develop new tools and technology that are benefiting the rest of the State because of the Countyʻs investment in invasive species management.
The Council recognizes the contribution Maui County has made in the advancement of prevention and management of invasive species in Hawaiʻi. MISC developed innovative controls for little fire ant and coqui frogs that other islands are wanting to implement and this could not have been possible without the County funding. Maui County has been a model for the rest of the State and HISC program support staff are highlighting the countyʻs commitment here for invasive species to show our other counties and our State Legislators the importance of investing in this work. The State is at a tipping point with some of these pests like little fire ant and crb where if we donʻt invest and follow the example of Maui County then we will have these pests established statewide.
Mahalo for the opportunity to provide testimony in support of the funding request for the Maui Invasive Species Committee.