Judge John M. Tonaki of the First Circuit Court has ruled in favor of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) in a case about controlling mosquito-borne avian malaria in east Maui. The disease has led to the extinction of many native birds and is a threat to the remaining Hawaiian honeycreepers. The judge’s decision supports the DLNR’s project to reduce mosquito populations carrying the disease, a key measure to protect the endangered birds.
Previously, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) approved an environmental assessment for the project, concluding it would not have a significant impact. A plaintiff argued that the BLNR wrongly accepted the assessment. However, Judge Tonaki found that the plaintiff’s concerns were addressed in the assessment and that the DLNR and BLNR had met the requirements of the Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act.
DLNR/BLNR Chair Dawn Chang stated that the ruling supports the protection of endangered forest birds. She highlighted that climate change has increased the spread of avian malaria to bird species at higher elevations. She added that the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) is an effective and safe method for controlling mosquito populations.