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Monday, October 14, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 14, 2024

New restriction on moving palms is the result of invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles. 
Image from state Department of Agriculture

GETTING RID OF INVASIVE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLES is the aim of a new state Department of Agriculture restriction. It prohibits moving the following from infested areas to non-infested areas: Palm plants, decomposing plant material, such as compost, wood or tree chips; mulch; potting soil; other landscaping products that may harbor the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle; Palm trees that are higher than 4 feet - smaller plants can be inspected.
     CRB is a major pest of palms in India, the Philippines, Palau, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Nukunono, American and Western Samoa and Guam. It is still not known exactly how the beetles arrived in Hawai‘i.
     All of O'ahu is designated as infested. The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle was also found in Waikoloa on this island, on Kaua'i and in Kihei, Maui.
    The interim rule was signed last Friday by HDOA Chairperson Sharon Hurd and is effective immediately. It is valid for one year, while HDOA finalizes a permanent rule which is slated to be considered by the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture later this month.
    Any individual, company, or organization that violates the rule will be charged with a misdemeanor and fined not less than $100 and up to $10,000. Penalties for a second offense committed within five years will require the violator to pay for the cost of clean-up and decontamination fees to remove contaminated materials, as well as the cost to fully eradicate any CRB infestations caused by the violation. Repeat violators will be fined not less than $500 and up to $25,000.
    HDOA’s Plant Quarantine Branch inspectors at all island ports are concentrating efforts on inspections of potential CRB host material transported between islands.
    Residents on all islands are asked to be vigilant when purchasing mulch, compost and soil products, and to inspect bags for evidence of entry holes. An adult beetle is about two inches long, all black and has a single horn on its head. CRB grubs live in decomposing plant and animal waste. Adult CRB prefer to feed on coconut and other larger palms and are a major threat to the health of these plants.
Damage from Rhinoceros Coconut Beetle will kill palm trees and moving plams and other plant materials from infected areas is restricted by state Department of Agriculture. Photo from DOA

    Residents may go to the CRB Response website at: https://www.crbhawaii.org/ to learn more about how to detect the signs of CRB damage and how to identify CRB life stages. Reports of possible CRB infestation may also be made to the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).
   Surveillance for CRB has been ongoing on all neighbor islands, including pheromone traps at airports, harbors and other strategic locations. The traps are used for early detection of CRB infestations and are being monitored by HDOA, island Invasive Species Committees and the University of Hawai‘i.
    The CRB is a large scarab beetle that was first detected on O‘ahu in 2013. The beetle has since been detected in many neighborhoods on O‘ahu, In May 2023, CRB was detected on Kaua‘i and collaborative eradication efforts continue on the island. On Hawai‘i Island, CRB was detected in a palm tree stump Waikoloa in October 2023 and a single CRB was found dead in a trap last month in that same area. CRB grubs were found in Kīhei, Maui, in November 2023, but have not been detected on the island since.
    CRB is a serious pest of palm trees, primarily coconut palms, as the adult beetles bore into the crowns of the palms to feed on the trees’ sap. New unopened fronds are damaged in this way and when fully opened, may break and fall unexpectedly. .   If CRB kill or damage the growing point of the palm, the tree may die. Secondary fungal or bacterial pathogens may also attack the wounds caused by CRB, thereby killing the tree as well. Tree mortality after CRB attack has been reported to be anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent. Dead trees then become a safety hazard as they may fall unexpectedly after the trunk rots, potentially resulting in bodily injury or property damage.

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KAʻŪ HIGH BEAT PAHOA IN GIRLS VOLLEYBALL on Monday in four sets. Pahoa took the first set 25-21. Kaʻū Trojans took the second 25-13, the third 25-15 and the fourth 25-15,
     Coach is Josh Ortega, Assistant Coach and JV Coach is Sarah Ortega, Trainer is Moses Whitcomb and Athletic Director is Jaime Guerpo.      
    The varsity team is comprised of Mckenzie Decoito, Leahi Kaupu, Jezerie Rose Nurial-Dacalio, Kiara Ortega-Oliveira, Jazmyn Navarro, Aubrey Delos Santos-Graig, Alajshae Barrios, CaLiya Silva-Kamei and Zia Rae Wroblewski.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.

 A MARTIAN INVASION is the theme of the radio play this weekend, Oct. 18 – 20 produced by Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network as a special pre-Halloween treat. KDEN presents the radio play The War of the Worlds at KMC's Koa Room. 
     The War of the Worlds chronicles the events of a Martian invasion narrated by the "breaking news" style of storytelling. Based on the story by H.G. Wells and the radio script by Harold Koch, this updated, localized version of the 1938 classic was adapted by Hal Glatzer,
Under the direction of Suzi Bond, the cast of 14 will bring the excitement and the terror of this classic radio presentation to life. 
    Just like in the 30's the actors will be performing at microphones with scripts and will be creating the sound effects.
    Joel Kelley and Elizabeth Young lead the cast as Professor Pierson and Newscaster Connie DeSilva. They are joined by Arlene Araki, Stephen Bond, Deb Campbell, Lori DeMello, Dick Hershberger, James, Erin and Kendall Haddock, Roch Jones, Ariana Kelley, Alana Kirby-Corbett and Ray Ryan playing numerous roles.
    Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2:30. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door, cash or check only. For more information call 808 982-7344 or email kdenhawaii@gmail.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.


    

5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on the street.