Governor Josh Green, M.D.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

ʻOIHANA MAHIʻAI

 

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR

KIAʻĀINA
                                                                       

SHARON HURD
CHAIRPERSON

HAWAI`I BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       

NR24-09

March 27, 2024

 

 

INTERIM RULE ESTABLISHED TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF LITTLE FIRE ANTS ON O‘AHU

 

 

HONOLULU – Due to the increased detections of little fire ants (LFA) in windward O‘ahu, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has established an interim rule that authorizes the department to restrict the movement of plant material infested with LFA on O‘ahu to prevent the further spread on the island and subsequently to other non-infested areas in the state. The restrictions involve the movement of LFA-infested agricultural commodities including, but not limited to live plants, propagative plant parts, cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, green waste, and plant propagation media (e.g.: soil, compost), unless subjected to a treatment approved and witnessed by the HDOA’s Plant Quarantine Branch (PQB).

 

The Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals recommended approval of the interim rule on March 11, 2024 and it became effective upon the signature of Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture Chairperson, Sharon Hurd, on March 26, 2024. The interim rule is effective for one year and provides the department time to finalize permanent rules.

 

“The Department of Agriculture is moving forward from past policies to gain more enforcement authority to stop the spread of invasive pests,” said Hurd. “Our concern is always that the department has enough personnel and resources to adequately and fairly administer potential quarantine actions such as those allowed by this interim rule.  

 

“There is more optimism this year that more resources will be made available to the department to carry out the daunting task of eradicating and controlling invasive pests,” Hurd added.

 

Any person who violates this interim rule shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than $100, with a maximum fine of $10,000. For a second offense committed within five years of a prior conviction, the person, company, or organization shall be fined not less than $500 and not more than $25,000.

 

While this particular interim rule is focused on O‘ahu, HDOA is considering similar actions for the counties of Maui and Kaua‘i. Before such rules can be applied, there are serious challenges relating to adequate PQB staffing for inspection and treatment of infested properties that need to be addressed.

 

LFA are tiny ants, measuring approximately 1/16 of an inch in length; are a uniform pale orange in color; and generally move very slowly and are easily dislodged when disturbed. LFA sting readily when they get under clothing. The stings are painful, resulting in welts and itching that can persist for weeks. LFA stings to animals result in skin issues and when stung in or near their eyes, permanent cloudiness of the eyes can occur.

 

Native to South America, LFA was first discovered on Hawai‘i Island approximately 25 years ago. LFA populations have since been detected throughout most of the state, with ongoing control projects involving joint efforts between the Hawai‘i Ant Lab, and the Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council, including the Invasive Species Committees in all counties in the state and HDOA.

 

Suspected LFA infestations on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Maui may be reported to the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at: 808-643-7378.

###

Attachment: Interim Rule 24-1

Media Contact:
Janelle Saneishi, Public Information Officer
Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture
808-973-9560
[email protected]
http://hdoa.hawaii.gov

 

 

HDOA is committed to maintaining an environment free from discrimination, retaliation, or harassment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability, or any other class as protected under federal or state law, with respect to any program or activity.

                                                         

For more information, including language accessibility and filing a complaint, please contact HDOA Non-Discrimination Coordinator at 808-973-9591, or visit HDOA’s website at http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/.

 

 

Paʻa ka manaʻo o ka HDOA ma hope o ka pāpā loa ʻana i ka hoʻokae, ʻimi mākaia, a hoʻopilikia ʻana no kō ke kanaka lāhui, ʻili, keka, ʻāina, kūlana makahiki, kīnānā, a mea ʻokoʻa aʻe i kaʻa ma lalo o nā kānāwai pekelala a mokuʻāina, ma kona mau papahana a hanana.

 

No kekahi ʻike hou aku, e laʻa nā lawelawe unuhi ʻōlelo a me ka waiho ʻana i palapala hoʻopiʻi, e hoʻohui ʻoe me HDOA ma -808-973-9591, a i ʻole e kipa aku i kō ka HDOA kaha pūnaewele ma http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/.

 

 

Ti HDOA ket nakatutok iti panangtaginayon iti aglawlaw a nawaya manipud iti panangidumduma, panagibales, wenno panagabuso a maibasar iti puli, kolor, seks, nasion a nagtaudan, edad, wenno disabilidad, wenno aniaman a dadduma pay a klase kas maprotektaran iti masakupan ti linteg ti pederal wenno estado, mainaig iti aniaman a programa wenno aktibidad.

 

Para iti ad-adu pay nga impormasion, kairamanan ti aksesibilidad ti lengguahe ken panagidatag iti reklamo, maidawat a kontaken ti HDOA iti 808-973-9591, wenno bisitaen ti website ti HDOA iti http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/.

 

 

HDOA ມີຄວາມມຸ້ງໝັ້ນທີ່ຈະຮັກສາສະພາບແວດລ້ອມທີ່ບໍ່ມີການຈຳແນກ, ການໂຕ້ຕອບ ຫຼື ການລ່ວງລະເມີດດ້ານເຊື້ອຊາດ, ສີຜິວ, ເພດ, ຊາດກຳເນີດ, ອາຍຸ ຫຼື ຄວາມພິການ ຫຼື ປະເພດອື່ນໆ ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການຄຸ້ມຄອງພາຍໃຕ້ກົດໝາຍຂອງລັດຖະບານ ຫຼື ລັດ, ໃນສ່ວນທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງກັບໂຄງການໃດໆ ຫຼື ກິດຈະກຳ.

 

ສຳລັບຂໍ້ມູນເພີ່ມເຕີມ, ລວມທັງການເຂົ້າເຖິງພາສາ ແລະ ການຮ້ອງທຸກ, ກະລຸນາຕິດຕໍ່ຫາ HDOA ທີ່ 808-973-9591 ຫຼື ເຂົ້າເບິ່ງເວັບໄຊທ໌ຂອງ HDOA ທີ່ http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/.

 

 

夏威夷州農業部門在舉辦任何計劃或活動致力於維護一個不受種族、膚色、性別、國籍、年齡, 殘障或受聯邦及州法律保護的任何其他類別而受到歧視、報復或騷擾的環境。

 

如需更多資訊，包括語言無障礙和提交投訴，請致電 808-973-9591 聯絡夏威夷州農業部門，或瀏覽網站 http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ 。

 

 

Nakatuon ang HDOA sa pagpapanatili ng kapaligiran na malaya sa diskriminasyon, paghihiganti, o panliligalig batay sa lahi, kulay, kasarian, bansang pinagmulan, edad, o kapansanan, o anumang iba pang klase na protektado sa ilalim ng batas ng pederal o estado, na patungkol sa anumang programa o aktibidad.

 

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, kasama na ang kahandaang mai-access ng wika at pagsasampa ng reklamo, mangyaring makipag-ugnayan sa HDOA sa 808-973-9591, o bisitahin ang website ng HDOA sa http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ .

 

 

HDOA มุ่งมั่นที่จะรักษาสภาพแวดล้อมให้ปราศจากการเลือกปฏิบัติ การตอบโต้ หรือการล่วงละเมิดทาง เชื้อชาติ สีผิว เพศ ชาติกำเนิด อายุ หรือความทุพพลภาพ หรือประเภทอื่นใดที่ได้รับการคุ้มครองภายใต้กฎหมายของรัฐบาลกลางหรือของรัฐ ในส่วนที่เกี่ยวกับโครงการใดๆ หรือกิจกรรม

 

สำหรับข้อมูลเพิ่มเติม รวมถึงการเข้าถึงภาษาและการยื่นเรื่องร้องเรียน โปรดติดต่อ HDOA ที่ 808-973-9591 หรือเยี่ยมชมเว็บไซต์ของ HDOA ที่ http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/

 

หากต้องการขอการแปล ล่ามภาษา การปรับเปลี่ยน ที่พัก หรือความช่วยเหลือหรือบริการสำหรับเอกสารนี้ โปรดติดต่อสำนักงาน HDOA ของประธานที่ 808-973-9591 หรืออีเมล [email protected].