Hawaii Gov. Josh Green last week slashed $10 million from the Department of Agriculture’s budget aimed at limiting the spread of invasive species.
Green said the agency likely couldn’t spend the money before it lapsed because the agency didn’t have the staffing to effectively identify and oversee initiatives that would put it to use. The biosecurity program still has another $10 million that Green left in the budget.
But community members continue to raise alarms about the stinging ants impairing their ability to use public space and access the outdoors, while the beetles have already started decimating palm tree crops, including coconut trees, throughout Hawaii.“Given the severity and gravity of the situation, they are throwing in the towel,” Tanaka said.
Keohokalole is among several lawmakers to apply pressure on the agriculture department to correct what they see as a sluggish and ineffective response to the state’s pest problems.“At a certain point the excuses have to stop” given legislators’ recent bid to inject funding, Keohokalole said. That fear was stoked by the department’s slow implementation of rules intended to help clamp down on the spread of pests by strengthening regulation of the nurseries.
The administration’s main priority is to find a permanent replacement for Okada. At least one candidate has turned down the position, he said.
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