Hawaii’s congressional delegation is hoping to draw mainland support for the ongoing fight against invasive species. ADVERTISING Hawaii’s congressional delegation is hoping to draw mainland support for the ongoing fight against invasive species. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz and
Hawaii’s congressional delegation is hoping to draw mainland support for the ongoing fight against invasive species.
Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz and Reps. Tulsi Gabbard and Colleen Hanabusa on Tuesday introduced the Macadamia Tree Health Imitative.
The initiative would establish an Areawide Integrated Pest Management plan to address infestations of macadamia felted coccid as well as authorize more research to help fight the pest.
Macadamia felted coccid is native to Australia and was introduced to Hawaii in 2005. It causes dieback of macadamia trees and leads to crop loss.
The macadamia nut industry in Hawaii is worth about $46 million. Most farms are on Hawaii Island.
“Very little is known about this invasive pest, making it difficult for our farmers and agriculture industry to fight back,” Gabbard said in a release.
Schatz said he hoped the problem could be addressed using “lessons learned from fighting the coffee berry borer.”
“Quick, systematic action gives us the best chance to save crops and keep Hawaii’s economy strong,” he said.
In 2014, the state Legislature appropriated $360,000 toward macadamia felted coccid research. The Edmund C. Olson Trust and Royal Hawaiian Orchard, which are primary macadamia nut growers on the Big Island, contributed an additional $160,000.
A bill introduced during last year’s state Legislature session that would have appropriated more funds to that effort died in the Senate.
