The state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity unanimously supported a Molokaʻi community initiative to protect the island. They voted to advance a temporary emergency rule that would prohibit the import of planting materials known to be carriers of the coconut rhinoceros beetle.
“All the islands already have it, except Molokaʻi. So how do we protect Molokaʻi, now?” asked board member James Gomes of Maui, calling for immediate action.
On Tuesday, the board heard a petition from Molokaʻi residents Kunani and Ipo Nihipali. They begged for support of a one-year rule to ban the transport of plants, soil, mulch, compost and other organic landscaping materials staged or stored elsewhere in Hawaiʻi, that can harbor the devastating pest. It would not affect treated lumber or plant products for consumption…