VOTING MEMBERSJOSH GREENDAWN CHANG
DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURALRESOURCESGOVERNOR OF HAWAIISYLVIA LUKESHARON HURDHAWAII DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

LIEUTENANT GOVERNORKATHLEEN HO, D.Env
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHANIA WIECZOREK, Ph.D.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘IHAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL
1151 PUNCHBOWL ST, #325
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813

MARY ALICE EVANS
BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT &TOURISM
EDWIN SNIFFENDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council
August 23, 2023; 1:00 PMHawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board Room (Rm 132) 1151
Punchbowl St, Honolulu, HI, 96813
Per Hawaii Sunshine Law guidelines, this meeting was hybrid with attendees participating
virtually through a Zoom link provided by HISC Support Staff or through the HISC YouTube
channel or in-person at the DLNR Board Room in the Kalanimoku Building in Honolulu, HI.
Council members, legislative representatives, and HISC Resources Working Group members
were provided with a Zoom link. Members of the public were able to view the meeting throughthe HISC YouTube Channel. A recording of the meeting can be found here:
https://youtu.be/AznHvYVS6K0
1. Call to order• Opening comments for the hybrid committee were made by Chair Hurd at
1:02pm.
2. Introductions
List of Attendees:• Council Voting Members:o Dawn Chang, Co-Chair (Department of Land and Natural Resources);
Sharon Hurd, Co-Chair [Hawai'i Department of Agriculture (HDOA)];
Tammy Lee on behalf of Ed Sniffen (Department of Transportation);
Mary Alice Evans (Department of Business, Economic Development andTourism); Ania Wieczorek (University of Hawaii)• Legislative Non-Voting Members:o Representative Kirstin Kahaloa (District 6). Malie Thoemmes Adams onbehalf of Representative Luke Evslin (District 16)• Support staff:
o Chelsea Arnott (HISC), Darcy Oishi (HDOA); Rob Hauff (Forestry andWildlife); Elizabeth Speith (HISC), Jack Reef (HISC), Ellie Montgomery(HISC)• Other Participants:
o Christy Martin (CGAPS); Franny Brewer (Hawai’i Invasive SpeciesCommittee), Nate Dube (O’ahu Invasive Species Committee): Laurie
Buchanan (Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee); Tiffani Keanini(Kauai Invasive Species Committee).
• Other Attendees:o Tom Hallwalk and his wife.

3. Approval of minutes from June 13, 2023 meeting
HISC approved the minutes from June 13, 2023.
A motion of approval was made by Member Evans and seconded by Co-Chair Chang.
4. Presentations: FY24 HISC Recommended Budget
Item 4 involved two presentations by staff. The first presentation was from Rob Hauff(Forestry and Wildlife) and Chelsea Arnott (Forestry and Wildlife and HISC) regarding
HISC funding recommendations as recommended by HISC’s Working ResourcesGroup (RWG).
The second presentation was from Franny Brewer (Big Island Invasive Species
Committee) regarding the operations and funding of the Island Invasive Species
Committees that oprtsyr on Kauai, O’ahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawai’i islands.
A summary of these presentations and the discussion with HISC members is set forthbelow.
HISC Funding Recommendations
Rob Hauff (DLNR and the RWG Chair) provided background regarding the HISC
funding applications and recommended funding actions of RWG.
o HISC funding awards followed its scoring process to recommend fundingallocations;o There were 10 members of RWG evaluating applications;o RWG funding priorities were based on the Hawaii interagency BiosecurityPlan;o There were 28 funding application submitted this year;o Total funding requested was $8.494M; ando HISC 2024 available funding was $4.1M.
Questions and Discussion from the Council Members and StaffBiocontrol▪ Rob Hauff provided a description of “biocontrol” and the process
to implement biocontrol in the field in response to Member Evans’question;▪ Chair Hurd added that the process to implement biocontrol is anextremely lengthy process; and▪ Rob Hauff advised that the HISC website has a great detailed
description of Biocontrol.

Application Procedures▪
▪

In response to a question from Chair Hurd, Chelsea Arnott
provided details regarding the RFP process to solicit HISC funding
applicants; andMember Evans asked about the challenges with State procurement
requirements, and staff stated that not all of the State’s restrictive
procurement requirements applied to HISC because HISC fundingis only open to other State agencies.

HISC Funding Applications• Chair Chang asked why the number of HISC applicants wassmaller this year, and Chelsea Arnott advised that entities whopreviously applied and were not awarded funds, decided against
applying for funds this year. In addition, in response to Member
Wieczorek’s question Chelsea stated that 97% of applicants wererepeat candidates;• Member Wieczorek and Co-Chair Chang asked about “scalability”
of funding proposals. Staff advised that applicants are offered an
opportunity to detail how their projects could be scaled down
based on funding availability, and that applicants can clarify
questions for evaluators if they attend the RWG meeting;• In response to member Evan’s questions, Chelsea Arnott advisedthat HISC does request funding from the legislature to supplement
the HISC awards, but that last year’s request was not approved.
Co-Chairs Chang and Hurd stressed the importance of stakeholders
attending legislative meetings to advocate for funding andlegislative action;• Staff clarified for Co-Chair Hurd that reducing funding for LFA
did not reduce the number of islands served.
• Member Wieczorek stated that the public could falsely perceivethat applicants had inflated their funding needs because awards
were provided at a reduced amount Therefore, the process needed
more clarity that reduced funding directly leads to a reduction inproject scope. Chelsea Arnott said that HISC is always looking forways to improve the process;• Staff advised that payments are reimbursements to applicants in
response to a question from Co-Chair Hurd;• Co-Chair Hurd stressed the importance of the RWG’s
recommendation to provide funding for two-lined spittlebug; and• Co-Chair Chang and Member Evans discussed that UHERO relies
on contracting and grant funding for student projects.

•ISCs
Chelsea stated that last year former Chair Case discussed the topicof setting aside a set-amount of funding for the ISCs; and•

Co-Chair Chang stressed the important of quantifying “In kindservices” or community volunteering in order to demonstrate that“in kind services” double or triple the investments made by thelegislature. Member Wiczoek seconded this point. Co-Chair
Chang said that the private sector is a potential collaborative
partner.

Franny Brewer’s Presentation on ISCs
• Each ISC has its own steering committee;• ISCs are not State employees and therefore can operate with more
flexibility such as accessing private property;• ISC core work is to assess invasive species and work towarderadication;• ISCs work as the glue to help diverse stakeholders work together;• 14k plants have been introduced in state of Hawaii and there are
56 action plans to eradicate invasive species on the Hawaiianislands;• Early detection is not a passive duty;• Eradiation is possible, but easier if caught early;• ISCs leverage government funding with private funding;• In response to Member Evans, Franny Brewer clarified thatadministrative costs can reach 15%;
• Co-Chair Hurd commented that ISCs and HDOA can mutually
benefit from staff recruiting between entities;• Co-Chair Chang said that DLNR has taken steps to expand work
experiences when scoring job applications in order to ensure those
who have experience working on invasive species are eligible forState jobs; and• Co-Chair Chang stated that community outreach is important forLFA.
o Non-voting Member Deputy Lee (DOT) stated that in regards toaddressing Albizia, the State created a temporary exemption to allow for
expanding contracting capabilities.
5. Submittal: Requesting approval of a recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2024
Rob Hauff summarized the actions steps needed to approve RWG’s recommendations.
Member Evans moved that the HISC submittal be approved and Co-Chair Chang
seconded this action.
Co-Chair Hurd acknowledged that the Motion was approved without objection.

6. Public Comments• Tom Hallwalk from a local cat sanctuary discussed that feral cats are a danger toendangered species. Co-Chair Chang expressed willingness to partner with a catsanctuary if DLNR is given priority preference. Mr. Hallwalk requested a briefing
with Chair Hurd to further develop a cat sanctuary.
•••
•

•

Chelsea summarized written public testimony as follows:o David Davis proposed a new tool to combat Coqui Frogs;▪ Chair Hurd asked for more information regarding the Coqui frog
proposal and said that the pesticide branch of HDOA is best suited toaddress this proposal; ando Community members, windward side of Oahu (Waimanalu) expressed
concern for Little Fire Ant, Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle and Coqu frogs andthat they are seeking HISC assistance.
The Maui ISC wanted to inform HISC that they receive funding from the County.
Co-Chair Chang said that the recent Waimanolu community meeting was wellattended;
Co-Chair Chang stated that staff should consider or the next HISC meeting should
address combatting invasive species in order to reduce the risk of wildfires, including
focusing on the areas impacted by the Maui fire. Any review should address how toensure invasive species do not grow back in wildfire impacted areas, and that
underground utilities may be helpful. Co-Chair Hurd said that Hemp wood is termite
resistant and fireproof.`; andCo-Chair Hurd stressed that its important for stakeholders to show up to thelegislature when advocating for funding of legislative action. Members Chang andEvans agreed with Co-Chair’s Hurds comments regarding advocacy to the legislature.

7. Adjournment
2:48pm