The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), in collaboration with the County of Hawai‘i Public Works Department (COH-PWD), has commenced another series of treatments on palm trees at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. This initiative, which began on May 6, aims to prevent the establishment of the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) on Hawai‘i Island. This effort follows a similar treatment conducted last month.
“It really is ‘all hands on deck’ in West Hawai‘i and all our partner agencies are dedicating everything they have to stop the establishment of CRB on Hawai‘i Island,” stated Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. She also expressed gratitude towards Mayor Kimo Alameda and his team for their invaluable assistance.
The collaboration between the County of Hawai‘i and HDOA started in January 2025 after CRB was detected in Kona. COH-PWD has provided boom trucks to facilitate treatments at the tops of palm trees.
A timeline highlights key events: In October 2023, six grubs were found by a resident in Waikoloa. By April 2024, four adult CRBs were discovered by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC). The following months saw additional detections and intensified treatments across various locations including Waikoloa Village, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i (NELHA), Honokōhau Small Boat Harbor and Marina, and West Hawai‘i Veteran’s Cemetery.
As of March 2025, ten adult CRBs have been reported across multiple areas such as Keāhole Ag Park and KOA. Treatments are carried out by staff from HDOA’s Plant Pest Control Branch and Pesticides Branch using both crown applications and injections where necessary. Treated palms are marked with yellow tape as a precaution against consuming coconuts from these trees.
Residents are advised to inspect mulch, compost, and soil products for signs of CRB presence. The beetles breed in decomposing waste materials and can be identified by their distinct appearance and damage patterns on palm leaves.
For more information or to report potential infestations, residents can visit the CRB Response website or contact the state’s Pest Hotline.
