HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0230.001 2020-2022 T
LAA 0 PUN
P.O Box 1467
Pahoa, HawaN 96778
(808) 965-2000
www.malamaopuna.org * malamaopuna@yahoo.com
Protecting Hawaii's precious natural heritage
May 17, 2021
azi
To: Councilmember Matt Kaneali'i Kleinfelder and County Council Members
From: Malama O Puna (MOP) _
Re: Resolution 113-21 - CRF to Combat Little Fire Ant(LFA) Infestations
Aloha Councilmember Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder and Council Members,
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Malama O Puna (MOP), we want to thank you and
the council for providing CRF funding to help mitigate the problems with Little Fire Ants
(LFA)through the provision of control materials and public education efforts.
LFAs are a serious problem and when interacting with the public at farmers' markets, we
have learned how extensive this infestation is in the Puna district. People are not only
battling LFA's in their yards and gardens, but are experiencing infestations in their homes.
As you are likely aware, while these ants are quite small, they have a fierce bite that can
turn into welts and cause great discomfort for humans. The LFA can also affect pets and
livestock, stinging the eyes and causing loss of sight and discomfort as well. Because of
these impacts, we find there is less interest in backyard gardening and small orchard
production given that preparing for planting, and conducting maintenance of subsistence
food crops, causes people to come into contact with these harmful pests.
MOP is committed to educating the public on methods of controlling LFA in the context of
its Food Security program and hopes to alleviate one of the greatest barriers to control —
the cost of acquiring materials to prevent LFA infestations. The biggest issue in effecting
control is the cost of the materials needed to combat the LFA. This funding, along with a
CRF provided by our District 4 representative, will help MOP integrate the distribution of
educational and LFA control materials in the context of the backyard gardening and
community fruit orchard programs we will be conducting over the next year. We will now
be able to offer LFA control materials along with instructions on how to use effectively.
Thank you for your support of funding to combat this serious problem.
Mahalo, /
Eileen O'Hara, Special Projects Manager
Comm. No.
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Ref. Date 20