AMENDED
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICELINDA LINGLE
Governor

Tuesday, September 21, 2004
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Plant Quarantine Branch1849 Auiki Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96819

JAMES R. AIONA
Lieutenant Governor

HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCILA G E N D A

Hawaii
Invasive
SpeciesCouncil
Co-Chairs:
PETER T. YOUNGSANDRA LEE KUNIMOTO
MEMBERS:Theodore E. Liu
Chiyome L. Fukino M. D.
Rodney Haraga
Evan S. Dobelle, Ph. D.

1. Call to Order - Introductions
2. Approval of minutes from March 1 and March 31.
3. Informational briefing on the status of Brown Tree Snake interdiction
efforts on Guam.
Mike Pitzler (USDA – Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service – Wildlife Services)
4. Updates and summary of Working Group meetings
5. Approval of Invasive Species Budget for Fiscal Year 2005-2006
6. Approval of a plan for Removal of Invasive Species from State lands
7. Adjournment

PARTICIPANTS:
Micah A. Kane
Major General Robert G.F. LeeMark E. Recktenwald

Persons requiring special assistance or services such as sign language interpreter should
call (808) 587-0164 at least three business days before the meeting.

COUNTIES:
Mayor Alan Arakawa
Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste
Mayor Jeremy Harris
Mayor Harry Kim
FEDERAL:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Defense

1151 Punchbowl St. #325, Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 587-0164 Fax: (808) 587-0160

Hawaii Invasive Species Council - 09/21/04
Budget Request Action Item

September 21, 2004
Chairpersons and Members
Hawaii Invasive Species Council
State of Hawaii
Council Members:
SUBJECT:

Approval of Budget Request for the Hawaii Invasive Species
Council (HISC)

The Administration’s invasive species budget initiative calls for the expenditure of$3,000,000 in state funds for a one year pilot project to provide support for both theoperations of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC) and its cooperating partners todevelop, and implement a partnership of Federal, State, County, and private entities for acomprehensive state-wide invasive species prevention, detection and control program.
State dollars will be matched (1:1) by non-state dollars or equivalent in-kind services
making this an overall effort of $6 million. Redistributing the percentages allocated toeach budget area as compared to the previous budget proposal will take advantage of theexisting infrastructure of the island invasive species committees, provide jobs and involve
the public with visible accomplishments on every island, and provide a stronger
justification to support sustained funding for the 2005-2007 administration's invasive
species budget request.
Although this budget request is under the Department of Land and Natural Resources, it
includes and involves programs and projects through nine different departments, the four
counties and federal and private partners. The funding will not replace any of the existingstate, private, or federal funding, but will complement and expand on existing programs.
A preliminary detailed budget request is attached.
The overall goals of the
Administration’s budget request for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council are to:•

Coordinate invasive species management and control programs for County, State,Federal and private sector entities by developing a structure for cooperators towork together to share resources and responsibilities to address specific invasive
species issues;•

Increase inspection and other “prevention” capabilities to prevent high-risk
invasive species and diseases (e.g. brown tree snake, West Nile Virus, etc.) fromentry into the State, or to specific islands where they are not currently found;•

Accelerate the control of priority invasive species already present in the state (e.g.
Miconia, coqui frogs, marine algae, etc.) by developing a more effective statewide early detection and rapid response capability with the Island Invasive
Species Committee and other response and control efforts;

1

Hawaii Invasive Species Council - 09/21/04
Budget Request Action Item•

Leverage increased involvement and expertise from private and academic sectors
to assure that Hawaii has access to the most up-to-date, effective and efficientresearch and technology tools to combat invasive species; and•Implement a coordinated statewide invasive species public outreach program withshared resources and responsibilities among cooperating entities.

The state funding is broken into four integrated components:
1) Building up Prevention capabilities (33% of total funding) such as; 1) increased
numbers of and training for quarantine inspectors; 2) specialists to identify new
insects, plants and diseases and 3) technicians/supervisors and needed
infrastructure to lead invasive species control efforts on the ground;2) Establishing Response and Control programs (40% of total funding) to conduct
invasive species detection, response and control actions on the ground;3) Enhance Research and Applied Technology funding (20% of total funding) for
critical projects such as biological control, more effective increased survey anddetection efforts, taxonomic identification, master geographical information
system and associated database management as well as a matching grants
program to the private and university sector for developing and applying
technology for improved efficiencies in invasive species prevention and control
efforts; and
4) Developing a Public Outreach Program (7% of total funding) in cooperation
with the public and private sector for visitors and residents to increase voluntarycompliance of quarantine laws, avoid accidental introductions of invasive species,and establishing an effective pest hotline that delivers timely information to
managers on the ground.
This budget request has been aligned with both the Hawaii Invasive Species Council
Strategic Plan and the HISC working group structures to assure not only compatibility
with existing efforts but also accountability with specific measures of effectiveness. Lead
HISC members will administer specific program components and HISC working groups
will assure funding specifications address priority statewide issues and fit into HISC
members’ and cooperating partners’ operational programs.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Hawaii Invasive Species Council support the Administration budget request as
part of the State of Hawaii’s Strategic Plan for Invasive Species Prevention, Control,
Research, and Public Outreach.

2

Hawaii Invasive Species Council
Spending Plan Fiscal Year 2005-2006

September 21, 2004

Hawaii Invasive Species Council
Budget and Spending plan
Fiscal year 2004-2005
Prevention
33% of total funding, $990,000
Actions identified in the Hawaii Invasive Species Council Plan: 1) increased numbersof and training for quarantine staff; 2) specialists to identify new insects, plants anddiseases and 3) technicians/supervisors and needed infrastructure to lead invasive species
control efforts on the ground;
Proposed spending plan: This will be accomplished through a transfer of $990,000 fromthe Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Hawaii Department ofAgriculture in the first quarter of the 2005 fiscal year ($800,000 S 314 and $190,000 G
042).
Requires a letter or other agreement between the Hawaii Department of Land andNatural Resources and the Director of Finance (currently being reviewed by DLNR –Fiscal).

Response and Control
40% of total funding, $1,200,000
Actions identified in the Hawaii Invasive Species Council Plan: to conduct invasive
species detection, response and control actions on the ground.
Proposed spending plan: The work of the island Invasive Species Committees onpriority pests in each county will be supported along with a pilot marine response
program being developed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources – Divisionof Aquatic resources in cooperation with Federal, private and county resources. The
funds will be obligated in the first quarter ($700,000 -G 042), second quarter ($200,000 –S 314), third quarter ($100,000 S 314) and fourth quarter ($200,000 S 314) pending
approval of project descriptions and purchase orders.

Page 1 of 3

Hawaii Invasive Species Council
Spending Plan Fiscal Year 2005-2006

September 21, 2004

Response and Control
Invasive Species
Committee Support$1,000,000
Hawaii
Maui
Oahu
Kauai

$320,000$240,000$220,000$220,000

Hawaii Department $200,000of Land and Natural
Resources –Division of Aquatic
Resources marine
response team
Total $1,200,000

Research and Applied Technology
20% of total funding, $600,000
Actions identified in the Hawaii Invasive Species Council Plan: for critical projects
such as biological control, more effective increased survey and detection efforts,taxonomic identification, master geographical information system and associateddatabase management as well as a matching grants program to the private and university
sector for developing and applying technology for improved efficiencies in invasive
species prevention and control efforts;
Proposed spending plan: timely information about invasive species is a necessarycomponent of successfully carrying out this program. A request for research andtechnology proposals focusing on invasive species will be sent out three times over the
first three quarters of the fiscal year. Applicants will be asked to identify new matchingfunds for their proposed projects and grantees will be asked to report on their results for
the Hawaii Invasive Species Council. The awards will be distributed over three grant
opportunities obligated in the second, third, and fourth quarters (October, January, andApril from S 314). The Request for Proposals and proposal review will be developed andoverseen by Hawaii Invasive Species Council agency staff assigned by the council
members, county representatives, and representatives of key federal and private agencies.
Funding obligated
Quarter 1
2
3
4
Total
Page 2 of 3$200,000$200,000$200,000$600,000

Hawaii Invasive Species Council
Spending Plan Fiscal Year 2005-2006

September 21, 2004

Public Outreach
7% of total funding, $210,000
Actions identified in the Hawaii Invasive Species Council Plan: in cooperation withthe public and private sector for visitors and residents to increase voluntary complianceof quarantine laws, avoid accidental introductions of invasive species, and establishing aneffective pest hotline that delivers timely information to managers on the ground.
Proposed spending plan: The Public Outreach Working group has met and recommends
that the staff and support strategy submitted in the strategic plan be followed. This
includes hiring three additional outreach staff that will work with HISC agencies as wellas the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest species to coordinate, support and develop
information materials relating to invasive species. Funds will be obligated from G 042($110,000) in the second quarter of fiscal year 2004 and $100,000 from S 314 in the third
quarter.
Hawaii Invasive$72,500
Species Council
outreach staff
Operating funds$137,500
Total $210,000
Total $233,000

Page 3 of 3

Prevention Working Group

LINDA LINGLE
Governor

Budget Summary for FY04-05

JAMES R. AIONA
Lieutenant Governor

The Prevention Working Group (PWG) met on August 6, 2004 and September
15, 2004 to discuss the status of prevention efforts in Hawaii, review the
proposed Prevention Working Group Task List, and discuss, develop, andrecommend a budget for the funding of invasive species prevention programs.
The lead agency for the PWG is the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
The PWG recommends that HISC fund four prevention initiatives for FY04-05.
These include:

Hawaii
Invasive
SpeciesCouncil
Co-Chairs:
PETER T. YOUNGSANDRA LEE KUNIMOTO
MEMBERS:Theodore E. Liu
Chiyome L. Fukino M. D.
Rodney Haraga
Evan S. Dobelle, Ph. D.
PARTICIPANTS:
Micah A. Kane
Major General Robert G.F. LeeMark E. Recktenwald
COUNTIES:
Mayor Alan Arakawa
Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste
Mayor Jeremy Harris
Mayor Harry Kim
FEDERAL:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Defense

1)
2)
3)
4)

Hawaii Department of Agriculture….…$650,000
USDA/Wildlife Services………………..$90,000
DLNR/Div. Aquatic Resources…………$75,000
Dept. of Health…………………………$175,000

Total…………………….…………………..$990,000
Each of these requests was originally for amounts greater than the allocations
above. The allocations were adjusted to reflect the $990,000 that is being
allotted to the PWG as stated in the HISC spending plan for FY04-05.
1. Hawaii Department of Agriculture: The proposal is to conduct a risk
analysis to determine the risk of entry of invasive species through ports ofentry across the State and determine the effectiveness of current prevention
efforts. HDOA intends to hire 13 research aid positions through RCUH tocollect and analyze the data. The aids will work under the supervision of
Plant Quarantine Inspectors at ports of entry. Data on commodities and pests
entering the State will be collected during intense blitz inspections where
100% of commodities will be inspected, during enhanced inspections where
thorough inspections of high-risk commodities, and during regular day-today inspections. The data will be analyzed concurrently with the inspections
so that monthly reports can be generated. Money will be budgeted asfollows:
Salary and fringe (13 FTE).................................$278,000
Equipment & Supplies ...........................................$1,200
Database development........................................$100,000
Risk Assessments ...............................................$270,800
2. USDA/Wildlife Services: The proposal is to conduct a pilot project using 2
canine handlers to inspect for brown tree snakes on ship containers on Guamthat are destined for Hawaii. They will also place snake traps around theseareas. The data collected will give information on the risk these containers
pose to Hawaii. This is critical considering the recent cutbacks in the1849 Auiki St., Honolulu, HI 96819 Phone: (808) 832-0566 Fax: (808) 832-0584

USDA/WS program on Guam. The data will be important in the discussions on the need for acertification program for ship containers leaving Guam for Hawaii. Funding ($90,000) will be forsalary and fringe benefits.
3. Dept. of Land and Natural Resources/ Div. Aquatic Resources: The proposal is toconduct three integrated projects to increase communication between DAR, otherstate agencies, and the shipping industry to minimize aquatic invasive species introductions.
The projects are:a) Establish a communication link between DAR, the Division of Boating and Ocean
Recreation, and Department of Transportation – Harbors Division. .......$40,000b) Participate in National Ballast Water Information
Clearinghouse pilot project ......................................................................$20,000c) Outreach campaign ..................................................................................$15,000
1.
4. Hawaii Department of Health: Improve surveillance and rapid response capabilities toaddress threat of West Nile Virus importation. This will be accomplished in two areas:a) Computer hardware and software ............................................................$25,000b) Response Equipment and supplies.........................................................$150,000i.

Established Pests Working Group

LINDA LINGLE
Governor
JAMES R. AIONA
Lieutenant Governor

Budget Summary for FY04-05
The Established Pests Working Group (EWG) met on July 27, 2004 to review
efforts in Hawaii to control established pests by the Hawaii Department ofAgriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of
Health, review the proposed Established Pests Working Group Task List, review
the list of invasive species generated by the Hawaii Invasive Species Council anddiscuss invasive species control programs. The lead agency for the EWG is the
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Hawaii
Invasive
SpeciesCouncil
Co-Chairs:
PETER T. YOUNGSANDRA LEE KUNIMOTO
MEMBERS:Theodore E. Liu
Chiyome L. Fukino M. D.
Rodney Haraga
Evan S. Dobelle, Ph. D.

The based on the discussion at the first EWG meeting the following distributionof HISC – Response and Control FY04-05 funds is recommended:

Support for Kauai Invasive Species Committee
Support for Oahu Invasive Species Committee
Support for Maui Invasive Species Committee
Support for Big Island Invasive Species Committee
DLNR - DAR Marine Invasive Species Response Team

$220,000$220,000$240,000$320,000$200,000

Total$1,200,000

While supporting the existing Invasive Species Committee partnerships and the
new marine invasive species response team are priorities there was discussion on
how to make sure the work done by the partnerships was evaluated by including
long term monitoring for efficacy, that new species were being detected
effectively and that participation by all agencies concerned was encouraged. The
EWG will continue to address these issues as well as evaluating additional
species for inclusion on the HISC list of invasive species and coordinating
response and policy efforts for priority species.

PARTICIPANTS:
Micah A. Kane
Major General Robert G.F. LeeMark E. Recktenwald
COUNTIES:
Mayor Alan Arakawa
Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste
Mayor Jeremy Harris
Mayor Harry Kim
FEDERAL:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Defense

1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone: (808) 587-0164 Fax: (808) 587-0160

Public Outreach Working Group

LINDA LINGLE
Governor
JAMES R. AIONA
Lieutenant Governor

Hawaii
Invasive
SpeciesCouncil
Co-Chairs:
PETER T. YOUNGSANDRA LEE KUNIMOTO
MEMBERS:Theodore E. Liu
Chiyome L. Fukino M. D.
Rodney Haraga
Evan S. Dobelle, Ph. D.
PARTICIPANTS:
Micah A. Kane
Major General Robert G.F. LeeMark E. Recktenwald
COUNTIES:
Mayor Alan Arakawa
Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste
Mayor Jeremy Harris
Mayor Harry Kim
FEDERAL:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Defense

Budget Summary for FY04-05
The Public Outreach Working Group met five times between March and
September. The lead agency for the working group is the Hawaii
Department of Health. This working group has reviewed and updated thelist of goals and tasks in the Interim State of Hawaii Strategic Plan,
reviewed current efforts and developed an agency survey form to trackcurrent invasive species outreach efforts and matching fund needs. The
working group identified priority messages for key species and outreachneeds to be addressed in the coming year including: West Nile Virus,
Coqui frogs, aquatic issues, Weed Risk Assessment, Port of Entry worker
outreach, transport of pests (into the state, between islands, aroundislands), and Red Imported Fire Ant. The working group recognizes that
including the Hawaii Department of Transportation and the Department of
Education is important.
The outreach working group has identified three funding strategies foraddressing the priority messages and needs:
1. Hire additional outreach staff and station them through out the State(Big Island, Oahu, and Kauai). Staff would be supervised by theInvasive Species Committees or other sponsoring agency but be
responsible for carrying out a quarterly work plan determined by theparticipants in the Public Outreach Working Group.
2. Use new staff and funding to support outreach on priority species andmessages including West Nile Virus, the Coordinating Group on Alien
Pest Species “Don’t pack a pest, Don’t plant a pest, and Report a Pest”
public service announcements. The group also decided to support thedevelopment of a website for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council thatwould be integrated with existing online resources.
3. Make grants available for existing programs carrying out invasive
species outreach and provide opportunities to coordinate messages
between groups relating to priority messages. A Request for Proposals
is being developed and will be finalized at the next meeting.
The Public Outreach working group would also like to point out that
outreach is an often under utilized part of the invasive species programs.
While the working group hopes to increase understanding and visibility of
the issue in the coming year, devoting more than 5% of the total budget tothe effort in future requests would be helpful.

1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone: (808) 587-0164 Fax: (808) 587-0160

Hawaii Invasive Species Council - 09/21/04
Budget Request Action Item

September 21, 2004
Chairpersons and Members
Hawaii Invasive Species Council
State of Hawaii
Council Members:
SUBJECT:

Removal of Invasive Species from State lands

The staff of the Department Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife isrequesting the Hawaii Invasive Species Council’s approval to remove invasive tree species fromState lands under the existing permitting systems. State lands contain stands of tree species thatwere planted during the previous century for reforestation and are now spreading into native
forest. Many of these tree species have economic uses and could be removed with minimal
impact in certain areas. Allowing Department personnel and contractors to remove invasive
trees with a special use permit or equivalent as an invasive species control function would
facilitate invasive species control by creating an additional mechanism for the removal of certain
species. Permits issued by the Department would require that tree removal not degrade the areaor lead to invasion of more harmful plant species. Permits would be approved on a case-by-casebasis and would have to be in accordance with current rules and regulations that apply to the area
under consideration.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Hawaii Invasive Species Council support the removal of invasive tree species fromState lands.