VOTING MEMBERSDAVID IGESUZANNE CASE
DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURALRESOURCESGOVERNOR OF HAWAIIJOSH GREEN

PHYLLIS SHIMABUKURO-GEISERDEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

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

MARY ALICE EVANSDEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT & TOURISMDAVID RODRIGUEZ
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONMEETING NOTESforHawaiʻi Invasive Species Council
October 20, 2022; 9:00 AM
Hawaiʻi 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 ordera. 9:05 am call to order in person and Zoom by Chair Phyllis Shimaburkuro-Geiser.
b. Online live streaming on Youtube was not possible due to technical difficulties.
This meeting was recorded and posted online: https://youtu.be/GRHWCuOAxgM
2. Introductions
In person attendees: Council Members: Suzanne Case (Co-chair), Phyllis ShimabukuroGeiser (Co-chair); HISC Support Staff: Chelsea Arnott (HISC); Attendees: Stephanie
Easley (CGAPS), Andrew Porter (CGAPS), Erin Conway, Lizzy Monaghan (DAR),Christy Martin (CGAPS), Sara Tom (DAR), Dave Smith (DOFAW)
Zoom attendees: Council Members: Kathleen Ho (HDOH), David Rodriguez (HDOT),
Mary Alice Evans (DBEDT); Leg Members: Jhanavi Pomerantz (Senator Gabbardʻsoffice), Erin Conway (Rep. Wildbergerʻs office), Rep. Lisa Marten, Sen Ronald Kouchi,
Rep Nadine Nakamura; Attendees: Helmuth Rogg (HDOA), Jeomhee Hasty (DOH),David Davis, Brian Neilson (DAR), Darcy Oishi (HDOA); HISC Support: Leyla
Kaufman, Elizabeth Speith, Chuck Chimera
3. Approval of minutes from August 17, 2022 meeting was deferred to the next meeting due
to the technical difficulties with live streaming to YoutUBE. Minutes will be shared andapproved at the next meeting.

4. Presentation: Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and the possible risks to Hawaiʻi from thisdeadly coral disease affecting the Caribbean. (Lizzie Monaghan,elizabeth.a.monaghan[at]hawaii.gov)
a. Overview presentation on SCTLD(Note: Recording of meeting was pauses due to technical issues with zoom and inperson equipment, 9:18-9:35)
b. DAR and collaborators are making preparedness action plans and collaboratingwith Pacific Partners. Emergency rules may be explored. Prevention is the current
focus, including outreach to boaters and dive shops.
c. Question about status of VIDA (Andrew Porter, CGAPS legal fellow). VIDA
regualtions are not finalized until 2023 and then Coast Guard has several years toreview. The state has at least 3 years before VIDA prempts state rules.
d. Question about the impact of emergency rules on economy. (Andrew Porter,
CGAPS legal fellow) The emergency rules are very narrowly focused on ships
coming in from the Caribbean through the Panama Canal. This averages 10 boats
a year.
e. Question about discrecionary DAR funding for response to SCTLD. Currently
focus is on the creation of the response plan.
5. Presentation: Update on the 2017-2027 Hawaiʻi Interagency Biosecurity Plan –Accomplishments to date & challenges to implementation (Chelsea Arnott)
a. Presentation on the need for the HIMP; overview of the 2016 planning process for
the HIMP and 2017 baseline study of gaps in staffing, facilities, and policy.
b. Implementation started on 65% of the 147 actions in HIMP. Implementation ofthe actions have slowed a bit since 2019, likely due to COVID pandemic
slowdowns and the complicated nature of the remaining actions.
c. Preborder accomplishments include risk assessments for AIS; cooperative
agreements between HDOA and other agencies; policy analysis with CGAPS
legal fellows. Comment from Chair Shimabukuro-Geiser: HDOA has a marketingplan to awards for speciality crops, such as Christmas trees, to encourage local
sources for high risk import commodities.
d. Border Biosecurity highlights include DOH Vector Control branch had staffing
and funding restored; HDOA avian influenza review and discuss response plansfor AI; the multi-agency ports of entry/exit pest monitoring program, formerly
known as Mamalu Poepoe has received funding in FY23 to expand from airports
to port monitoring.
e. Post-border monitoring accomplishments include funding research anddevelopment of new tools to control invasive species; increased funding forwatershed partnerships and HISC project; Legislation approved for 10 CTAHR
extenstion agent positions; hiring specialist positions with HDOA; implemetationof algal AIS control strategies.
f. Public Awareness & Support highlights include coordinating with congressionaldelegates; implement pest notification and reporting system; creation of products
like the Saving Ohia movie and biocontrol animated videos; and hiring
economisst to analyze impacts of IS
g. HISC & CGAPS 2025 Joint Straegy2

h. Building Biocontrol Capacity in Hawaii and the Pacific with Pacific Regional
Biocontrol Facilities and buidling the biocontrol program.
i. Ballast water and vesel biofouling are the two main vectors for AIS to enter
Hawaiiʻs waters. HIMP focus on SCTLD and VIDA.
j. Increase funding for invasive species work across the state. HISC has received$5.3 mil for invasive species work, but this does not adequately cover the costs.
k. Continued investment for interagency pest surveillance at ports of entry/exit andsupporting HDOA biosecurity capacity.
l. Annual progress reports: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/plans/hibp/
6. Public Comments
a. Christy Martin (CGAPS): Mahalo to Chelsea Arnott for her work in her newposition.
b. Written and oral testimony, Dr. David Davis: Seeking assistance with HDOA andPlanning and Research Department for facilitation of a field study on a productfor the purpose of eradicating coqui and nematodes and development of thisproduct. This prodcut is not EPA registered prodcut, but it may qualify as an EPA
25 a or b minimum risk pesticide. Estimated $50,000 needed for a field study.
Chair Shimabukuro-Geiser will intiate contact with HDOA pesticides branch andDr. Davis about the product.
c. Rep. Lisa Marten: Question about hala scale on Oahu. Chair ShimabukuroGeiser- HDOA PPC staff regularly survey for hala scale across Oahu. She canprovide information on current status of control and surveys. Darcy Oishi (HDOAPPC acting manager) has limited distribution on Oahu at the UH, Waikiki,
Haleiwa and a few other areas. On Hawaii Island there is a rapid response
program where any detections are destroyed and there are no known locations.
Biocontrol agents are being explored, in the early stages of the process. Treamentis only happening in areas where hala scale has not become established. Pesticides
can be used, but because hala is used by weavers there is reluctance to use
pesticides.
7. Adjournmenta. Move to adjourn by Chair Shimabukuro-Geiser at 10:48 a.m.
For information, contact:
HISC Support staff: 1151 Punchbowl St, #325, Honolulu, HI 96813; Fax: 587-0160
Chelsea Arnott, Coordinator: Chelsea.L.Arnott [at] hawaii.gov

3