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)
Evergreen shrub or small tree up to 8 m tall (26 ft)
Fruit are pink to red or blackish when mature, and appear bumpy
Native to the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands, introduced to Hawaii as an ornamental and backyard food crop (berry wine) by Portuguese laborers in the 1800's and spread as a reforestation tree in the 1920's.
Harm:
Out-competes native plant species and capable of forming dense, single-species stands, devoid of other plant life
Modifies forest habitat by significantly increasing nitrogen levels in the soil, which makes the area inhospitable to native plants, but more suitable for other invasive species
Seeds spread by animals.
Able to colonize a wide range of habitats due to its ability to alter soil chemistry
In Hawaii:
Kauai: Present in Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park. Landowners are encouraged to control where possible.
Oahu: Established in the Waianae range over approximately 100 acres within The Nature Conservancy's Honouliuli Preserve and adjacent lands. There are no known mature trees in the Koolau range. OISC is working to ensure its eradication from the Koolau range. OISC also supports the control efforts in the Waianae range.
Maui: Present in large numbers on the slopes of Haleakala. Not considered eradicable by MISC. Landowners are encouraged to control where possible. The only known plants on West Maui have been controlled.
Molokai: Presence/absence unknown.
Lanai: Presence/absence unknown.
Kahoolawe: None known.
Big Island: Widespread on the Big Island where hundreds of acres are already infested. Not considered eradicable by BIISC. However, landowners are encouraged to control wherever possible.
