Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee

This detection is significant, because it means the disease is moving into pristine areas of Kauai that are critical to our watersheds and provide habitat for rare plants and animals, said Sheri S. Mann, Kauai District Manager for DOFAW, in a statement. Now more than ever, especially as we move into the holiday season when more people may be exploring our forests, we need everyone’s help in following bio-sanitation protocols.

The State Department of Agriculture and Plant Quarantine Branch has banned the movement of coffee from Maui and the Big Island due to an infestation of a devastating coffee pathogen known as the coffee leaf rust (CLR). This means the transport of any coffee plants, unroasted beans or equipment that could be infested is not allowed, but the ruling doesn’t impact roasted beans. CLR can be devastating to Hawaii’s coffee industry as it can cause severe defoliation of plants. It w...as recently discovered in samples collected on Maui and Hawaii Island in October. The rule change from the DOA doesn’t impact exports out of the islands. Those who believe they’ve spotted an infestation are advised to contact the department of agriculture.

From HDOA: A small snake was found in a shipping container of Christmas trees that was being inspected at the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) Plant Quarantine Branch (PQB) in Honolulu on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. The shipment was being held for secondary inspection due to a slug interception when workers found the 9-inch snake which was alive, but injured. The snake was immediately captured by PQB inspectors, but subsequently died shortly after. A reptile expert at the Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo identified it as a garter snake. A Pacific tree frog was among the other pests also found in the same container.