Featured Update
HDOA proposes a statewide system to help protect the islands from invasive species. Photo courtesy HDOA
"Protect Hawai'i" is the goal at the heart of efforts to lower the impact of invasive species introduced through cargo goods arriving from U.S. and foreign ports, as well as those moved between the islands.
Almost 90% of Hawai'i consumer goods are imported. Add to this the impending military expansion on Guam, where the brown tree snake causes hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, which will increase air and ship traffic and cargo by 600%.
Already, 20 new insects get established each year with two to three becoming significant pests to public health, agriculture and the environment. The red imported fire ant and the varroa mite are invasive species risks. Reptiles and amphibians, such as the brown tree snake and coqui frog, also pose major threats. Even non-native plants, such as miconia, kahili ginger or Australian tree fern, can negatively impact the environment and become invasive species. Estimated minimum impacts, in terms of annual costs to Hawai'i, are hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
The Hawai'i Dept. of Agriculture's biosecurity program is proposing interim and permanent inspection facilities at airports and harbors throughout the state.
The HDOA works with the DOT and industry to seek collaborative and integrated systems between state and federal quarantine programs that build on core prevention, or pre-entry, capabilities. Biosecurity would expand its program to also include enhanced pre-entry, as well as port-of-entry, post entry and growth of agriculture program segments. The main focus is to implement the statewide system of interdiction efforts.
HDOA's proposed biosecurity program will secure a protective net around O'ahu first since 95% of all imports passes through Honolulu's various ports. HDOA is also meeting with counties to start up facilities on the neighbor islands.
Interdiction of invasive pests into Maui is already being enhanced with new facilities constructed at the Kahului Airport. Three enclosed inspection areas, lab, hold rooms, kennels and office spaces are included in the final plan.
Maritime inspection facilities are part of HDOA's biosecurity program. Inspections off the port should reduce harbor congestion. Structural improvements would enhance food safety and treatment capability for import and export items. These improvements will also help increase agricultural exports.
The HDOA supports the growth of local agriculture by planning for better climate control within inspection facilities, consolidating cargo to expedite agricultural inspections, and providing quarantine treatments to increase access to mainland and foreign markets.
