LINDA LINGLEGovernor
JAMES R. AIONA
Lieutenant Governor	  Hawai‘i
Invasive
SpeciesCouncil
MEMBERS
Co-Chairs:
LAURA H THIELENSANDRA LEE KUNIMOTO
Barry Fukunaga
Chiyome L. Fukino M. D.
Theodore E. Liu
David McClain, Ph. D.
PARTICIPANTS
Major General Robert G.F. Lee
Micah A. Kane
Mark E. Recktenwald
SENATORS:
J. Kalani English
Carol Fukunaga
Gary L. Hooser
Russell S. Kokubun
REPRESENTATIVES:
Mele Carroll
Hermina M. Morita
Clift Tsuji
Tommy Waters	  COUNTIES:Mayor Charmaine Tavares
Mayor Mufi Hannemann
Mayor Harry KimFEDERAL:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Defense

HAWAI‘I	  INVASIVE	  SPECIES	  COUNCIL	  	  RESOLUTION	  	  Resolution	  08-­‐2	  July	  9,	  2008	  REGARDING	  CURRENT	  ISSUES	  WITH	  BIOLOGICAL	  CONTROL	  INCLUDING	  PROPOSED	  CONTROL	  OF	  STRAWBERRY	  GUAVA	  	  Biological	  control	  is	  an	  important	  tool	  for	  controlling	  alien	  invasive	  species	  that	  cause	  harm	  to	  Hawaii’s	  economy	  and	  environment.	  	  Effective	  control	  of	  many	  harmful	  pests	  cannot	  be	  achieved	  with	  traditional	  mechanical	  or	  chemical	  tools	  because	  of	  their	  abundance	  and	  large	  extent.	  	  In	  these	  severe	  cases	  biological	  control	  is	  the	  only	  option	  for	  long-­‐term,	  cost-­‐effective	  control.	  	  Biocontrol	  never	  eliminates	  a	  species	  entirely	  but	  reduces	  the	  damage	  caused	  by	  the	  pest.	  	  Classical	  biological	  control	  begins	  with	  exploring	  the	  natural	  enemies	  of	  the	  target	  pest	  in	  its	  native	  range.	  	  Potential	  candidate	  agents	  are	  studied	  for	  host	  range,	  impact	  on	  target	  host,	  and	  amenability	  to	  rearing	  in	  the	  laboratory.	  	  When	  this	  process	  identifies	  a	  promising	  candidate	  it	  is	  studied	  more	  intensely	  in	  local	  containment	  facilities	  to	  document	  host	  specificity	  and	  other	  important	  biological	  characteristics.	  	  	  	  Permitting	  agencies	  (USDA	  APHIS	  and	  HDOA)	  must	  approve	  science-­‐based	  applications	  before	  a	  biocontrol	  agent	  is	  released	  into	  the	  environment.	  	  Since	  this	  regulatory	  process	  was	  put	  into	  place	  in	  the	  1970’s	  no	  harmful	  impacts	  have	  been	  caused	  by	  biocontrol	  introductions,	  while	  successful	  control	  has	  been	  achieved	  for	  many	  targeted	  pests.	  	  The	  above	  process	  takes	  many	  years.	  	  Currently	  a	  lack	  of	  facility	  space	  severely	  limits	  the	  development	  of	  biocontrol	  agents	  in	  Hawaii.	  	  The	  Department	  of	  Agriculture	  and	  the	  USDA	  Forest	  Service	  are	  the	  only	  entities	  possessing	  certified	  containment	  facilities	  to	  conduct	  the	  necessary	  studies,	  and	  these	  facilities	  is	  insufficient	  to	  meet	  the	  current	  demand	  for	  research	  space.	  	  	  The	  introduction	  of	  an	  insect	  to	  control	  waiwi	  or	  strawberry	  guava	  (Psidium	  cattleianum)	  has	  recently	  been	  proposed	  by	  the	  USDA	  Forest	  Service.	  	  Waiwi	  is	  an	  invasive	  tree	  introduced	  in	  1825	  that	  has	  taken	  over	  large	  areas	  of	  Hawaii’s	  watersheds	  and	  threatens	  remaining	  native	  forests.	  	  This	  insect	  shows	  promise	  for	  slowing	  the	  spread	  of	  waiwi	  and	  making	  it	  easier	  to	  control	  using	  chemical	  and	  mechanical	  means.	  	  The	  necessary	  release	  1151 Punchbowl St. #325, Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 587-4154 Fax: (808) 587-0160

LINDA LINGLE
Governor
JAMES R. AIONA
Lieutenant Governor	  Hawai‘i
Invasive
SpeciesCouncilpermits	  have	  been	  issued	  and	  an	  Environmental	  Assessment	  is	  being	  conducted.	  	  Several	  individuals	  and	  groups	  have	  expressed	  concern	  about	  this	  introduction.	  The	  State	  is	  conducting	  additional	  outreach	  to	  improve	  public	  understanding	  of	  this	  important	  project.	  	  	  Recommendation:	  That	  the	  Council	  issue	  a	  statement	  of	  support	  for	  scientifically	  researched	  and	  regulatorily-­‐approved	  biocontrol	  as	  a	  tool	  for	  combating	  invasive	  species.	  	  Action:	  Approved.	  Laura	  Thielen	  (DLNR)	  &	  Laurence	  Lau	  (DOH)	  further	  moved	  that	  the	  Council	  support	  a	  statewide	  outreach	  effort	  to	  give	  information	  and	  address	  community	  concerns	  with	  respect	  to	  the	  Tectococcus	  biocontrol	  Environment	  Assessment	  process.	  This	  additional	  motion	  was	  also	  approved.	  	  MEMBERS
Co-Chairs:
LAURA H THIELENSANDRA LEE KUNIMOTO
Barry Fukunaga
Chiyome L. Fukino M. D.
Theodore E. Liu
David McClain, Ph. D.
PARTICIPANTS
Major General Robert G.F. Lee
Micah A. Kane
Mark E. Recktenwald
SENATORS:
J. Kalani English
Carol Fukunaga
Gary L. Hooser
Russell S. Kokubun
REPRESENTATIVES:
Mele Carroll
Hermina M. Morita
Clift Tsuji
Tommy Waters
COUNTIES:
Mayor Charmaine Tavares
Mayor Mufi Hannemann
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) 587-4154 Fax: (808) 587-0160