HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2022-06.1 -Revised Ports of Entry Biosecurity Support Letter
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Mitchell D. Roth Zendo Kern
Mayor Director
Lee E. Lord
Jeffrey W. Darrow
Managing Director
Deputy Director
74 -
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Kailua -
P hone (808) 323 - 4770
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Phone (808) 961 - 8288
Fax (808) 327 - 3563
Fax (808) 961 - 8742
DATE: March 1 5 , 2022
TO: DR. LEYLA KAUFFMAN
FROM: CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: - of - Entry Biosecurity Program
Aloha,
T he Community Development Plan Action Committee on the Big Island of Hawai i
would like to express support for the Po rts - of - Entry (POE) B iosecurity P rogram (formerly
known as M malu 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 district has been subject t o severe impacts from
invasive pests that have cost us not only monetarily but have also negatively impacted our health
and well - being. From the impenetrable thickets of strawberry guava which disrupt natural
ecosystems and crowd out native animal communit ies , to the incredibly fast growing Guinee
grass that has a very high fine fuel load greatly increasing fire potential, spread, and severity
pos ing a serious threat to both our natural environment and our public safety , 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 Hawai i. Our burden is already great without the addition introd uct ion of new
pests known to be some of the worst in the world .
F or 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 cos t Hawai i 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!
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
Dr. Leyla Kauffman
March 1 5 , 2022
Page 2
has a wonderful mixture of many large - and small - scale agricultural endeavors. We are
currently engaged in a robust ef fort to implement and move forward a community - driven vision
to enhance and improve our district. We appreciate any biosecurity efforts that seek to allow us
to plan for the future of our community without additional strains burd en from new invasive
species that could negatively affect our environment, our farmers, and the health and well - being
of our residents.
Mahalo for your consideration,
Brad Kurokawa
Chair, Community Development Plan Action Committee
KM : hb
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Biosecurity Program.DRAFT.3.8.22.docx
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov