Invasive species in Hawaiʻi represent more than a policy issue.
They require a constant battle, one that needs everyone’s buy-in and cooperation to fight, and Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green is grateful so many people throughout the islands have signed up to be on the front lines — even if the numbers might be fewer than hoped.
“I know that it has been an ongoing fight to get enough people, to have enough support, to make sure that we’re all in so that Hawaiʻi is really protected,” Green said during a recent event at the state Capitol in Honolulu. “I’m aware of the biodiversity challenges we have. I’m also super aware of what happens when we upset our ecosystem — and when invasive species run amok, it can be just very, very difficult.”
There are old foes such as biting buggah little fire ants, forever crazing coqui frogs, always adverse albizia trees and forest reaper rapid ʻōhiʻa death…