VOTING MEMBERSDAVID IGE

SUZANNE CASE
DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURALRESOURCES

GOVERNOR OF HAWAIʻIJOSH GREEN

PHYLLIS SHIMABUKURO-GEISER
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

LIEUTENANT GOVERNORKEITH KAWAOKA D.Env
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHNICHOLAS COMERFORD, Ph.D.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻIHAWAIʻI INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL
1151 PUNCHBOWL ST, #325
HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI 96813

MARY ALICE EVANSDEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT & TOURISMDAVID RODRIGUEZ
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONPUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council
January 27, 2021, 10:00 AM
Considering the evolving COVID-19 situation, protecting the health and welfare of thecommunity is of utmost concern. As such, the meeting will be held remotely, with Council
members, legislative participants, and staff participating via online meeting software. We willattempt to livestream the meeting at:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT6SAASZIUxd_XgZMCjGsQ
For individuals or entities wishing to provide written, oral, or video testimony during themeeting, please refer to the “Protocol for providing testimony for remote meetings of the
Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council” below this agenda.
AGENDA
Call to order
Introductions
Approval of minutes from August 27, 2020 meeting
Submittal: Requesting Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) approval for potential
activities as part of a 2021 Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Month (HISAM) anddelegating to the HISC Support Program staff the annual coordination of activities andthe selection of awardees for HISAM to be recognized in the Council’s name
5. Submittal: Requesting Council approval to delegate to Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council(HISC) Support Program staff the authority to track legislative measures, provide in theCouncil’s name written and/or oral testimony, and provide comments in legislative
hearings, and requesting that the Council delegates to the HISC Program Support Staff
the authority to draft and provide in the Council’s name written and/or oral comments on
documents relevant to invasive species and released by other entities for input
6. Public Comments
7. Adjournment
1.
2.
3.
4.

The Council may go into Executive Session pursuant to Section 92-5(a) (4), Hawaiʻi Revised
Statutes, in order to consult with its attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the Council’s
powers, duties, privileges, immunities and liabilities.
Individuals requesting special accommodations (e.g., large print materials, sign-language
interpreters) are asked to contact the staff below at least three days prior to the meeting.

Protocol for providing testimony for remote meetings of the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species
Council
Testimony may be provided in person or in writing, submitted electronically to
Randal.T.Bartlett@hawaii.gov. To give Board members sufficient time to consider written
testimony, please submit the testimony no later than 24 hours prior to the Board Meeting. Anylate written testimony will be retained as a part of the record, but we cannot assure that Board
members will receive it with sufficient time for review prior to decision-making. Written
testimony will be acknowledged at the meeting.
To provide live oral/video testimony during the online meeting, email your request to
Randal.T.Bartlett@hawaii.gov at least 24 hours in advance, with your name, phone number,email address, computer identification name (check your device settings), and the agenda item
you would like to testify on live during the meeting. Once your request has been received, youwill receive a Zoom link via which to testify. You will need a computer with internet access,video camera and microphone to participate. If you require access by phone only, please indicatethat in your email request.
Public testimony will be taken when each agenda item is discussed. You can monitor meeting
progress via YouTube livestream at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT6SAASZIUxd_XgZMCjGsQ
Testifiers will be called on by a co-Chair to offer testimony. Until that time, you will be placed ina “Waiting Room”. While waiting to provide testimony, you will need to mute your microphone
and turn off your video. When it is your turn to speak, you will be given full access to themeeting. At that time, if you are watching the YouTube livestream, you will need to mute theYouTube livestream to avoid feedback.
When testifying, please state your first and last name for the record. If you are testifying on
behalf of an organization, please include the name of the organization as well.
Testimony will be limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes. You will be given notice when 30
seconds remain. If you continue to testify beyond your allotted time, a co-Chair will kindly ask
you to complete your testimony.
If you have submitted written testimony and have also signed up to deliver it orally, the Chair
will ask you to kindly summarize your points.
When you have finished testifying, you will be put back in the “Waiting Room”. Please staythere until your agenda item is complete in case Council Members have questions.
Staff will be monitoring people joining the Board meeting by video and will do their best to takeeach person in an orderly fashion. Please be patient as we continue to navigate this new platform.
For information, contact:
HISC Support staff: 1151 Punchbowl St, #325, Honolulu, HI 96813; Fax: 587-0160
Josh Atwood, Acting Program Supervisor: 587-4154, Joshua.P.Atwood [at] hawaii.gov
Randy Bartlett, Interagency Coordinator: 870-6443, Randal.T.Bartlett [at] hawaii.gov
Leyla Kaufman, Māmalu Poepoe Project Coordinator: leyla [at] hawaii.edu
Chelsea Arnott, Planner: Chelsea.L.Arnott [at] hawaii.gov

Elizabeth Speith, 643pest.org Report Facilitator: speith [at] hawaii.edu

VOTING MEMBERSDAVID IGE

SUZANNE CASE
DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURALRESOURCES

GOVERNOR OF HAWAIIJOSH GREEN

PHYLLIS SHIMABUKURO-GEISER
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

LIEUTENANT GOVERNORKEITH KAWAOKA D.Env
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHNICHOLAS COMERFORD, Ph.D.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIIHAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL
1151 PUNCHBOWL ST, #325
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813

MARY ALICE EVANSDEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT & TOURISMDAVID RODRIGUEZ
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONPUBLIC MEETINGMINUTES

Hawaii Invasive Species Council
August 27, 2020, 1:00 PM
Considering the evolving COVID-19 situation, protecting the health and welfare of thecommunity is of utmost concern. As such, the meeting was held remotely, with Council
members, legislative participants, and staff participating via online meeting software. The
meeting was livestreamed at:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT6SAASZIUxd_XgZMCjGsQ
AGENDA
1. Call to order by Chair Case:a. 1:07 PM
2. Introductions:a. Council: Suzanne Case (Chair-DLNR), Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser (Chair HDOA), Jeff Goodwin (UH-CTAHR), Walter Bowin (UH-CTAHR), David
Rodriguez (HDOT), Mary Alice Evans (DBEDT), Keith Kawaoka (HDOH)
b. Legislators: Representative Wildberger, Representative Nakamura,
Representative Lowen, staff from the office of Senate President Ron Kouchi, RockRiggs (Senator Gabbard’s office)c. Guests: Justine Nihipali (Chair of RWG -DBEDT), Congressman Ed Case, Mitch
Heindrich (Congressman Case office),
d. HISC staff: Leyla Kaufman, Josh Atwood, Chelsea Arnott, Randy Bartlett
3. Approval of minutes from May 20, 2020 meeting:a. Co-chair Shimabukuro-Geiser moves to approve the minutes, member Rodriguez
seconds. Council approves.
4. Discussion: Congressman Ed Case on COVID19 relief funding, Forest bill and othernatural resources updatesa. Mitch is the legislative coordinator for environmental issues so continue to workwith him.
b. COVID-19: CARES Act passed with $3 trillion in relief funding, but the fundingis almost dry. Need another emergency assistance bill which passed congress but
is stuck in Senate and still in the middle of an intense negotiation. Going to be atrue compromise where not everyone is getting what they want and trying to getthat passed soon. There is a need for assistance in natural resources where someof those funding streams will be drying up. Some funding related to agriculture.
Please reach out if there are any barriers to getting funding.
c. Hawaii Invasive Species Act: Bill for pre-clearance for materials coming into
Hawaii via barges and air. Would instill a better biosecurity system similar to
New Zealand but needs a lot of socializing within Congress.
d. National Forest: no national forest in Hawaii and there’s no reason we don’t
have one. Introduced a bill to creating a national forest in Hawaii which is thefirst step in the process. It got passed out of the Nat Res and Appr. Committee.
Hopefully that moves out of the House.
e. Kaʻena Point National Heritage Bill: Better coordination amongst agencies.
More funding to leverage and more protection. Didn’t get this out of congress but
will do it again next year and made a lot of good progress.
f. Able to get more agricultural quarantine funding. Able to get educational
assistance in the agriculture area and also more money for ranching. Hoping
these funds will be available in the next fiscal years.
g. Open the conversation to look at areas that we are not currently addressing.
Please reach out. Great American Outdoors Act passed which is a large increasein federal funding. Not sure what the application is but it was just signed 3 weeks
ago. Need to figure out how Hawaii can bebefit from this funding.
h. Mahalo from Suzanne Case and the Council for their work.
i. Shimabukuro-Geiser: HDOA updated their strategic plan based on a session from2019 Legislature. Included biosecurity initiative actions in the plan. Focused on
multi-agency collaboration highlighted in the biosecurity plan. Also focused on
local food production, marketing agricultural production and how to beter
support this. Offering a series of zoom meetings to share srategic plan withstakeholders. Regroup after these meetings and take into account those comments
to provide a final report to the legislature. Appreciate the federal opportunities
including proposals for food insecure areas.
i. Congressman: We are already working on FY22 budget to be preparedand making sure Hawaii isnʻt left out the picture. Hawaii has somespeciality crops that are important that arenʻt necessarily known in DC.
j. Rep Nakamura: CARES Act funding to be extended beyond the end of the year?
i. Congressman: Confusion about what has to happen by the deadline. It
doesnʻt need to be spent by the deadline it just needs to be encumbered.
Mitch will send Rep Nakamura documentation to help explain this. There
are bills to extend some of these federal assistance money beyond the endof the year. Optimistic that these will pass. Disagreement on whether or
not there will be more money.
k. Rep Nakamura: Helicopter Billi. Congressman: Helicoper bill is gaining some traction in congress. Other
states have tis issues of damage from tour operators. Continued
discussions inside the industry and community groups that are interested
in this topic. Now is the time for these tour operators are change the statusquo. Mitch to send some information to Rep Nakamura on this topic.
l. Rep Lowen: Also requests the guidance document from Mitch on the CARES Act.
Kupu Civilian Conservation Corp funding is hung up on an differing intepretation
about whether or not recent grads can apply for these kupu positions.

i. Congressman: There’s language in the current act that doesn’t allow thefunding to be used for “pre-budgeted” items. Interpretation is that if thisis a new position than there shouldn’t be any restrictions on those money
to hire someone into that position. The issue would be if your re-budgetingthe money to support pre-existing positions.
5. Submittal: Requesting approval of a recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2021
a. Overview of FY 21 budget with a PowerPoint presentation. Attachment included
on website. Presented by Justine Nihipali, Josh Atwood, and Chelsea Arnott.
i. Appreciation from co-chairs about balancing such a competitive budget.
ii. Bowen: Wondering if there’s a lot of push-back from applicants with final
awards?
1. Chelsea: Josh has worked really hard at creating a process that is
efficient, fair and transparent. Most applicants have seen thisimprovement over the time Josh has worked on the budget andunderstand the limited funding and the amount requested. A lot of
discussion takes place during the Resources Working Group andapplicant have a chance to comment unlike other grant processes.
iii. Rep Nakamura: Curious about the project that wasn’t funded for the “catcampaign”
1. Josh: This is a social marketing campaign that would be acompromise on messaging between conservationists and cat
advocates to work on a campaign to keep cats indoors. We
proposed this project last year but it was encumbered. Would still
like to see something on this but with the limited funding this is not
the year to support this project.
2. Motion to approve the budget submittal. Shimabukuro-Geiser
moves to approve. Evans seconds. Motion approved unanimously.
6. Public Comments
a. No submitted testimonyb. Comments on YouTube channel - Appreciation for the funding process that thecouncil uses.
c. Noting that this is a virtual meeting
7. Adjournment: 2:30 pm
The Council may go into Executive Session pursuant to Section 92-5(a) (4), Hawaii Revised Statutes, inorder to consult with its attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the Council’s powers, duties,
privileges, immunities and liabilities.
For information, contact:
HISC Support staff: 1151 Punchbowl St, #325, Honolulu, HI 96813; Fax: 587-0160
Josh Atwood, Program Supervisor: 587-4154, Joshua.P.Atwood [at] hawaii.gov
Randy Bartlett, Interagency Coordinator: 870-6443, Randal.T.Bartlett [at] hawaii.gov
Leyla Kaufman, Mamalu Poepoe Project Coordinator: leyla [at] hawaii.edu
Chelsea Arnott, Planner: Chelsea.L.Arnott [at] hawaii.gov
Elizabeth Speith, 643pest.org Report Facilitator: speith [at] hawaii.edu

VOTING MEMBERSDAVID IGE

SUZANNE CASE
DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURALRESOURCES

GOVERNOR OF HAWAIʻIJOSH GREEN

PHYLLIS SHIMABUKURO-GEISER
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

LIEUTENANT GOVERNORKEITH KAWAOKA, D.Env
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHNICHOLAS COMERFORD, Ph.D.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘IHAWAIʻI INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL
1151 PUNCHBOWL ST, #325
HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI 96813

MARY ALICE EVANSOFFICE OF PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF
BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT &TOURISMDAVID RODRIGUEZ
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

January 27, 2021
SUBMITTALTO:

Co-chairs and Members
Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council
State of Hawaiʻi

FROM:

Josh Atwood, Acting Program Supervisor, andChelsea Arnott, Planner
Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council Support Program

SUBJECT:

Requesting Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) approval for potential
activities as part of a 2021 Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Month (HISAM)
and delegating to the HISC Support Program staff the annual coordination ofactivities and the selection of awardees for HISAM to be recognized in theCouncil’s name

Background
Since 2013, the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) Support Program has coordinated a
Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Week (HISAW) or, in more recent years, a Hawaiʻi
Invasive Species Awareness Month (HISAM). This event is usually coordinated in February or
March to coincide with similar awareness events happening at a national level and in other states,
countries or regions.
Though events vary by year, HISAM (and its predecessor, HISAW) generally includes thepromotion of volunteer events hosted by external partner organizations (or in some cases the
HISC Support Program), a proclamation from the Governor, and the provision of “HISC
awards.” The awards are recognitions for individuals, programs, or businesses that havecontributed to work that mitigates the impacts of inasive species in categories including but notlimited to “Community Hero,” “Business Leader,” “Greatest Hit,” and “Island Most Valuable
Player (MVP).” The Island MVP category has been traditionally nominated or selected by the
University of Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Committees, while the other categories are generally
selected by HISC Support Program staff based on nominations solicited through the HISC email
list or social media, or through partner email lists or social media. HISC Support Program andstaff at State agencise are not excluded from nominating individuals, programs or businesses
for recognition. The resulting award winners have been provided a small plaque, which is
generally given at a ceremony at the State Capitol following the Governor proclamation.
Legislative partners have traditonally presented the awards, and sometimes provide additionalrecognition from legislative bodies.

Discussion
The HISC Support Program coordinates much of the activities associated with HISAM, with
input and contributions form other invasive species entities. Because the activities, and inparticular the HISC awards, are presented as being from the Council, the Support Program isinterested in obtaining Council review and approval on a list of potential activities and awardees.
In the past it has been assumed that this work is delegated to the HISC Support Program, but noformal delegation has been made.
While the list of potential activities presented in Attachment 1 are specific to HISAM in 2021,
the Support Program requests the Council’s consideration of formally delegating these tasks tostaff for future years as well.
For the purposes of this submittal, the HISC Support Program staff includes both the civil
service position at the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry andWildlife, and the non-civil-service University of Hawaiʻi, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit
positions employed by the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi that provide
technical support to the HISC.
Legal Authority• HRS 194-2 (a): Establishes the HISC for the purpose of cabinet-level coordination andplanning among state departments, federal agencies, and international and local initiatives• HRS 194-2 (a)(4): Directs the HISC to create and implement a plan for prevention, early
detection, rapid response, control, enforcement, and education
Recommendations
1. That the HISC approve the non-exclusive list of potential activities in Attachment 1 forthe 2021 HISAM, and
2. That the HISC formally delegate the annual coordination of activities and the selection ofawardees for HISAM to be recognized in the Council’s nameAttachment 1: Potential Activities for Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Month 2021
•
•
•
•
•
•

Opening and closing ceremony with Hālau ʻŌhiʻa
Weekly webinars featuring presentations from each island’s Invasive Species
Committee on target pests, cat impacts on native species, Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death progress
and projects, native urchin control for invasive algae, and more...
Social media posts, activities and events; Invasive Species Tournament with Big Island
Invasive species Committee (BIISC), volunteer training for Devil Weed control withOʻahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC)
A potential media release (or other media engagement) by the Communications
Office at the Department of Land and Natural Resources (the agency that administers the
HISC program)
Ongoing school engagement with Little Fire Ant activities from OISC and invasive
aquatics education from Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)
Videos for the HISAM Award winners. Winners will be announced near the end of themonth with a brief video acknowledging their work.

VOTING MEMBERSDAVID IGE

SUZANNE CASE
DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURALRESOURCES

GOVERNOR OF HAWAIʻIJOSH GREEN

PHYLLIS SHIMABUKURO-GEISER
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

LIEUTENANT GOVERNORKEITH KAWAOKA, D.Env
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHNICHOLAS COMERFORD, Ph.D.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘IHAWAIʻI INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL
1151 PUNCHBOWL ST, #325
HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI 96813

MARY ALICE EVANSOFFICE OF PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF
BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT &TOURISMDAVID RODRIGUEZ
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

January 27, 2021
SUBMITTALTO:

Co-chairs and Members
Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council
State of Hawaiʻi

FROM:

Josh Atwood, Acting Program Supervisor, andChelsea Arnott, Planner
Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council Support Program

SUBJECT:

Requesting Council approval to delegate to Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council(HISC) Support Program staff the authority to track legislative measures, provide
in the Council’s name written and/or oral testimony, and provide comments inlegislative hearings, and requesting that the Council delegates to the HISC
Program Support Staff the authority to draft and provide in the Council’s namewritten and/or oral comments on documents relevant to invasive species andreleased by other entities for input

Background
The Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) was created in 2003 to provide policy level
direction, coordination, and planning among state departments, federal agencies, andinternational and local initiatives for the control and eradication of harmful invasive species
infestations throughout the State and for preventing the introduction of other invasive species
that may be potentially harmful. The State has a collective voice on invasive species-related
issues through the HISC’s ability to submit public comments and testimony and to develop
resolutions for invasive species-related issues in a timely manner.
Discussion
One way HISC can provide policy level direction is through the submission of comments andtestimony on invasive species-related issues. Often these issues come up with a small window to
respond and immediate action is necessary. A recent review of the Office of Information
Practices (OIP) document “Sunshine Law Options to Address State Legislative Issues andMeasures” offers multiple solutions to allow boards to submit comments or testimony without
being subject to Sunshine Law requirements that may prevent timely submission.
The first option suggested in the OIP document outlines Delegation to Staff. If the council
approves this option it would officially delegate HISC Program Support Staff the authority to
track legislative measures, provide testimony, and provide public comments in accordance withthe positions and policy directives previously adopted by the board (see the summary provided
by OIP below):First Option: Delegation to Staff At the outset of the legislative session, a board may filea notice of a public meeting with an agenda indicating that the board will consider the
adoption of a position or the general policy direction it will take on specific legislative
topics, subject matters and legislative measures, including the relevant bill numbers, if
available, which the board desires to present in testimony during a legislative session. (Aboard may contact OIP’s Attorney of the Day to discuss whether the notice of an agenda
item is legally sufficient.) The board could then delegate to staff (e.g., executive director)
the authority to track legislative measures and provide testimony in accordance with thepositions and policy directives previously adopted by the board. The members of aboard’s staff (assuming they are not board members) can freely discuss legislative
measures the board is tracking among themselves without implicating the Sunshine Law.
Likewise, discussions involving staff and a single board member would not raise
Sunshine Law concerns, unless the discussions comprise a serial communication between
staff and individual board members to solicit a commitment to vote on a specific matter.
The board’s staff would report to the board on all legislative measures at the board’s
regularly scheduled meetings conducted during the legislative session and could seek
confirmation or clarification of testimony that it planned to or had presented to thelegislature. Alternatively, if the board has delegated legislative authority to two board
members as discussed in the second option below, or to a permitted interaction group as
in the third option below, then the staff could report to those groups at any time without
having to notice a Sunshine Law meeting.
The 2017-2027 Hawaiʻi Interagency Biosecurity Plan and the HISC/CGAPS 2025 Joint Strategy,
which were previously approved by the Council, could be used as guiding documents to provide
the positions and policy directives adopted by the Council. Both planning documents provide
clear priorities for addressing invasive species over the course of the next 5 - 10 years and HISC
Program Support Staff are charged with the tracking and implementation of these plans.
Likewise, resolutions adopted by the Council could also be used as guiding documents toprovide positions for future testimony or comments.
For the purposes of this submittal, the HISC Support Program staff includes both the civil
service position at the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry andWildlife, and the non-civil-service University of Hawaiʻi, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit
positions employed by the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi that provide
technical support to the HISC.
Legal Authority• HRS 194-2 (a): Establishes the HISC for the purpose of cabinet-level coordination andplanning among state departments, federal agencies, and international and local initiatives• HRS 194-2 (a)(10): Directs the HISC to advise the governor and legislature on budgetaryand other issues regarding invasive species• HRS 194-2 (a)(15): Directs the HISC to suggest appropriate legislation to improve theState's administration of invasive species programs and policies
Recommendations
1. The Council delegates to the HISC Program Support Staff the authority to track
legislative measures, provide in the Council’s name written and/or oral testimony, andprovide comments in legislative hearings in accordance with the positions and policy
directives previously adopted by the Council as outlined in the 2017-2027 HawaiʻiInteragency Biosecurity Plan, the HISC/CGAPS 2025 Joint Strategy, and resolutions
adopted by the Council.
2. The Council delegates to the HISC Program Support Staff the authority to draft andprovide in the Council’s name written and/or oral comments on documents relevant toinvasive species and released by other entities for input, including county, state, federal,
regional, or international organizations, provided that the positions described in written
and/or oral comments are in with the positions and policy directives previously adopted
by the Council as outlined in the 2017-2027 Hawaiʻi Interagency Biosecurity Plan, the
HISC/CGAPS 2025 Joint Strategy, and resolutions adopted by the Council.