What's Being Discussed

The Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals will meet on Friday, July 17, 2026 at 1:30 PM, both in person in Honolulu and via Zoom. The meeting has one main topic:

• A petition from the Lahaina Community Land Trust asking the state to create an emergency rule that would restrict moving certain materials from other parts of Hawaii to Maui and Lānaʻi. The goal is to stop the spread of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB), a destructive pest that threatens palm trees and other plants.
• The restricted materials would include potted plants, coconut fruit, compost, wood, tree chips, mulch, plant propagation media, landscaping material, and erosion control socks — anything made of decomposing organic plant material that could harbor the beetle.
• The committee will also consider whether current regulations are insufficient to prevent CRB from reaching Maui and Lānaʻi, and whether the threat is serious enough to justify an emergency (interim) rule.

Decisions Expected

• The committee is expected to review and make a recommendation on whether an emergency interim rule should be adopted to restrict the transport of CRB host materials to Maui and Lānaʻi.

Who Should Pay Attention

• Maui and Lānaʻi residents concerned about protecting local trees and plants
• Landscapers, nurseries, and agriculture businesses that move plant materials between islands
• Environmental and community groups focused on invasive species and biosecurity
• Anyone involved in post-fire recovery efforts in Lahaina, where landscaping and replanting are ongoing