DAB News Release on Biosecurity Dashboard

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & BIOSECURITY

ʻOIHANA MAHIʻAI A KIAʻI MEAOLA

SHARON HURD
CHAIRPERSON

KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

DEAN M. MATSUKAWA
DEPUTY TO THE CHAIRPERSON

KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE

BIOSECURITY WEBSITE ESTABLISHED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                       

Dec. 1, 2025

NR25-35

HONOLULU – Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) has established a biosecurity website to better coordinate and document programs and activities in the battle against invasive species statewide. The website also aims to increase transparency among all the involved agencies, including data from the state departments of Land and Natural Resources, Health, Transportation; the counties; the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; as well as community organizations.

Under Acts 231 and 236, enacted during the 2024 and 2025 state legislative sessions respectively, the DAB has been designated as the lead agency in coordinating biosecurity activities. Act 236 also required DAB to establish a pest dashboard by December 1, 2025 to report and track all biosecurity activities statewide. The dashboard is now accessible at: https://biosecurity.hawaii.gov/ 

“This invasive species dashboard not only provides important information to the public on invasive species programs but also helps to increase communication and coordination between government agencies and other organizations that have the mutual goal of protecting Hawai‘i’s agriculture and environment,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

The dashboard is a work in progress and DAB will add data from partner agencies as it becomes available. The dashboard currently includes general information and data on coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), coqui frog, little fire ants (LFA) and avian influenza with other pests and areas to be added to the lineup in the future. The current data posted on DAB activities include:

 CRB

• Maps of areas treated for O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island
• Number of trees and types of trees treated by ZIP code
• Number of trees treated by DAB and other agencies for 2024 and 2025

LFA

• DAB survey data on O‘ahu including number of samples, positive samples, positive samples via ZIP codes, location type and total acres surveyed

Coqui Frogs

• Number of responses by DAB on O‘ahu
• Number of coqui captures by DAB on O‘ahu via ZIP code
• Pounds of citric acid used via ZIP code

Avian Influenza

• Number of tests conducted by county and number of negative and non-negative test results

To report invasive species, call the statewide toll-free Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378) or online via 643pest.org.

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Media Contact:
Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity
Phone: 808-973-9560
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://dab.hawaii.gov/