LIHUE — Over the Easter weekend, a different kind of egg hunting occurred, as community volunteers hunted Kauai’s current invasive pest, the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB).
On April 19, Na Kahu o Hoai, Inc., in its continued mission to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the Hoai area at Prince Kuhio Park in Koloa, organized a community workday on Saturday in response to the CRB that has been detected at the park.
The volunteers and the next generation of protectors geared up, and within minutes, multiple larvae began to be unearthed from the Mulch pile. Keoni Bounos, a member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, expressed concern about the current beetle problem. He also thanked the volunteers for participating in the continued fight against the CRBs.
“We are here because these rhinos are ruining our trees,” said Bounos. “We’ve probably lost about seven trees here at the park, and more than half the trees inside are being treated too. Crews have come by to spray our trees, and mahalo to them for that. To our volunteers, mahalo mahalo mahalo, for me, they’re all ohana, all of them, even the keiki,” he said.
Early this April, the County of Kauai’s Office of Economic Development (OED) launched a new resource page for community members to visit in their effort to combat CRBs. The webpage provides crucial information on CRBs and is aimed at serving as a central hub for residents, farmers, businesses, and volunteers to learn how to identify and report any possible infestation.
“CRB is a serious threat to our island’s natural resources and local economy,” said Nalani Brun, Director of the Office of Economic Development.
“By creating this resource page, we aim to give our community the tools they need to be informed, stay alert, and act quickly. Community awareness is one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against invasive species. We invite everyone to learn more on the website and stay connected with us on Instagram,” Brun added.
Volunteer Kealii Kuaulu Wilson mentioned finding over 500 beetle larvae last weekend at the park. He also explained that by providing his time, he makes a direct impact in the fight against the beetles. He hopes to inspire others to volunteer and show their Aloha to the Aina.
“We just show up and show everyone what we do,” said Wilson. “This is a special place here; this is the real history and the most sacred part of the island. These coconut trees are part of history. We have to save these trees first before we move on to the next trees.”
“If you feel you get Aloha just help, you know what I mean? Aloha is to help; it’s as easy as that. Don’t hide your Aloha, be the Aloha. Aloha to the Aina,” he said.
Residents interested in navigating through the CRB resource page can visit kauaiforward.com/coconut-rhinoceros-beetle or follow @KuiKauai on Instagram for ongoing updates, tips, and information.
Individuals interested in volunteering with Na Kahu o Hoai can visit nakahu.org or email hoai.community@gmail.com for upcoming community events.