HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2022-06.1 Ports of Entry Support Letter
Communication Number 2022-06.1
Mitchell D. Roth Zendo Kern
Mayor Director
Lee E. Lord
Jeffrey W. Darrow
Managing Director
Deputy Director
West HawaiÒi Office
East HawaiÒi Office
74-5044 Ane Keohoklole Hwy
County of HawaiÒi
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Kailua-Kona, HawaiÒi 96740
Hilo, HawaiÒi 96720
Phone (808) 323-4770
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Phone (808) 961-8288
Fax (808) 327-3563
Fax (808) 961-8742
DATE: March 3, 2022
TO: DR. LEYLA KAUFFMAN
Hawaii Invasive Species Council
FROM: PUNA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: Support for Hawaii Ports-of-Entry Biosecurity Program
Aloha,
The Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee on the Big Island of Hawaii would
like to express support for the Ports-of-Entry (POE) Biosecurity Program (formerly known as
Mmalu Poepoe), which actively surveils our ports for pests like invasive ants, coconut
rhinoceros beetle, Africanized bees, new mosquito species, and more.
We are highly supportive of proactive efforts taken to prevent the naturalization of new
damaging species. For many years, the Puna district has been subject to severe impacts from
invasive pests that have cost us not only monetarily but have also negatively impacted our health
and well-being. From the invasive albizia trees that crushed hundreds of our homes and left us
without power for several weeks after Tropical Storm Iselle, to the parasite-carrying semi-slug
which has led to our district being the hotspot for the highest rates of severe rat lungworm
disease in the world, to the little fire ants that blind our pets and make growing more difficult for
our farmers, we are plagued by the worst of the worst in Hawaii. Our burden is already great
without the addition of new pests known to be some of the worst in the world.
For many years now, economic analyses have made it clear that relatively small investments into
biosecurity can have large payoffs later. Just one of the invasive ants targeted by this POE
program, the red imported fire ant (RIFA), has been projected to cost Hawaii more than $200
million per year should it become established here. The health costs of diseases carried by
certain species of mosquitoes, the losses to our honey industry and pollination services caused by
Africanized bees - any of these impacts run into the millions of dollars annually, yet this
statewide program costs less than a million dollars a year. Truly a bargain!
Puna is a wonderfully rural and forested place, with many large- and small-scale agricultural
endeavors. We are currently engaged in a robust effort to recover from a series of natural
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai Ò i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
Communication Number 2022-06.1
Dr. Leyla Kauffman
Hawaii Invasive Species Council
March 3, 2022
Page 2
disasters and move forward with a community-driven vision to enhance and improve our district.
We appreciate any biosecurity efforts that seek to allow us to put those plans into action without
additional strains from new invasive species that could affect our environment, our farmers, and
the health and well-being of our residents.
Mahalo for your consideration,
Frances Kinslow Brewer
Chair, Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee
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Entry Biosecurity Program Support. FINAL.docx
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai Ò i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov