Hawaii residents are urged to use the Pest Hotline to promptly report sightings of invasive pests such as snakes, unusually aggressive stinging ants, and illegal or unknown animals. Call 643-PEST (643-7378).

KISC's Weed of the Week (WOW)

See this week's featured weed: Lantana

The Weed of the Week Program is brought to you by Kauai Community Radio and the Kauai Invasive Species Committee. Each week on the "Back to the Garden" show, hosts will feature a different weed. Learn more about what to look out for in your own garden and on the Garden Island. Nearly 75% of Hawaii's invasive species have been introduced for ornamental and horticultural purposes. Beautiful plants can become beasts in the forest if they "jump the fence". By selecting native and/or non-invasive plants for your garden and getting rid of priority weeds, you can protect the forest from your own backyard! Listen Live for the Weed of the Week every Wednesday from 12-1pm at http://www.kkcr.org/.

What can you do to help?

Your decisions make a difference! Here are actions that help our island.

Plant native! Or choose non-invasive alternatives. See these publications (pdfs): Best Native Plants for Landscapes and Native Hawaiian Plants for Landscaping, Conservation, and Reforestation.
Learn which species are invasive. Check out www.hear.org, Hawaii's Most Invasive Horticultural Plants and Hawaii's noxious weeds list.
Listen for coqui frogs and look for insects. Many pests, such as coqui frogs and little fire ants, like to hitchhike on plants. Hear the coqui's call.
Ask your landscaper or nursery to sign the Voluntary Codes of Conduct. See the national program and our local program endorsed by Kauai Landscaping Industry Council.
Report target species to 643-PEST. The list of KISC target species is on the right column of this page, and other high profile pests are listed by the Hawaii Invasive Species Council. If you see something new or strange, call immediately.
Always have your plants inspected by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture if you are transporting them inter-island. See HDOA's quarantine policy.
Use the Hawaii Weed Risk Assessment before importing or selecting new seeds or plants for your garden. Direct inquiries to chimera@hawaii.edu.
Control established weeds in your yard. For assistance on the best methods, contact our local extension office of UH's College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources.
Ask a botanist or the Plant Doctor. Use National Tropical Botanical Garden's free program to have your plant disease or weed identified. For more info, email outreach@ntbg.org or call NTBG at 808-332-7324 ext. 215.
Clean all of your hiking and hunting gear...don't spread the seeds! Check out the new boot scrubbing station at Moalepe Trailhead in Wailua.
VOLUNTEER. See what damage occurs in our native forest when weeds jump the fence. Become a weed warrior! Check out volunteer opportunities with KRCP.
Educate your friends and ohana. Share this page with someone else.
Allow KISC to survey your property. If you think you may have a target invasive species on your property, we can help! Call 808-246-0684.
Become a "Kia'i Moku" (Guardian of the Island) by attending an Early Detection workshop. Please contact Jacqueline Kozak at jkozak@hawaii.edu for more information. See how Maui's "Report a Pest" program works.