The state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity has approved new rules restricting the movement of plant materials to Maui and Lanai to slow the spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle, which was recently detected again on Maui after a 2023 airport sighting. The invasive pest has now been found on every main Hawaiian island.
- Interisland shipments of CRB host material — including compost, mulch, and live potted plants — to Maui and Lanai now require treatment, CRB-resistant packaging, and a state inspection.
- Maui had its first airport detection in 2023, with a second detection occurring last month, signaling a renewed spread risk on the island.
- CRB has devastated coconut palms across Oahu since 2013 and has now been confirmed on every main Hawaiian island.
- Property owners and landscapers should be aware that importing untreated organic plant material to Maui without a permit is now prohibited.
- Infested palm trees show drooping fronds with triangular or diamond-shaped leaf damage — owners with palms on their properties should monitor for these signs.
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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