Maui and Molokaʻi Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) Response Timeline
- 21 hours ago
- 4 min read
Maui Timeline
(Background) September 2023- Dead beetle found in potting soil bag.
Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB, formerly HDOA) discovered a dead adult beetle in a potting media bag being sold at a box store during routine survey.
The bag with the beetle was destroyed and the entire shipment it came from was shipped back to Oahu, approx. 2,000 bags. Another approx. 2,000 bags from another store that came from the same source and date were also shipped back to Oahu.
November 2023 – Initial Maui Detection (Background)
A public report of a CRB breeding site in a dead palm trunk was sent to Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC).
MISC shared the report with DAB for a joint response on-site.
Confirmed breeding site and 24 additional palms in the immediate area were cut down, fumigated, and disposed of. All 100 coconut palms on the golf course were crown treated with a pesticide.
Follow-up trapping was deployed and additional surveying was done by DAB & MISC.
The site is still monitored by DAB and traps are checked every 2 weeks with zero detections since.
Ongoing
County of Maui CRB Working group established regular meetings.
Attendees: County of Maui (CM), MISC, Molokaʻi/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC), CRB Response (CRBR), Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS), Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC), DAB
Ongoing CRB trainings
DAB and MISC continue to deploy traps and respond to suspect reports from the public.
No detections from November 2023-April 2026.
April 1, 2026 –New CRB Detection
MISC detected one dead adult female CRB in a Port of Entry Monitoring Program (POEM) panel trap on Kahului Airport property.
All other POEM traps were checked and no additional detections were found.
POEM traps are serviced biweekly; the previous check occurred on March 11, 2026.
The specimen was transported to DAB Plant Quarantine (PQ) and forwarded to Plant Pest Control (PPC) Taxonomy (Oʻahu) for identification.
HISC notified Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and Department of Land and Natural Resources following the incursion. Also spoke to CRB Response.
Kahului Airport personnel, Office of the Mayor and Maui County Department of Agriculture notified
April 2, 2026 – Confirmation & Response Activation
Official identification confirmed.
MISC and DAB initiated coordinated response planning.
HISC hosted the first weekly statewide interagency coordination meeting to align response efforts and share updates.
Response groups established to:
Survey for palm damage
Survey for potential breeding sites
Expand trap deployment
Week of April 6–10, 2026 – Operational Deployment
Interagency roles and responsibilities finalized within a 2-mile response buffer:
MISC: Lead on trapping (high-density grid up to 64 traps/sq. mile)
DAB/PPC/CM: Lead on palm damage surveys, treatment, and Maui County operations
DAB/PPC/BIO: Lead on breeding site surveys
DAB/PQ Branch: Support for trap checks and field surveys. Education at plant nurseries, compost facilities, farms, and stores selling potting media.
Field operations conducted across all teams.
No additional CRB detections from trapping or surveys.
Week of April 13–17, 2026 – Ongoing Operations
Continued trap servicing and monitoring within the 2-mile buffer.
Ongoing palm damage and breeding site surveys. Stores selling potting media in Kahului checked daily for entry/exit holes.
Interagency coordination maintained through ongoing meetings
Attending agencies: MISC, HISC, County, Maui PQ, DAB Hilo PPC, DLNR, DOT, CRBR
No new CRB detections to date.
Current Status (last updated 4/29/2026)
No additional CRB detections.
Delimiting surveys and high-density trapping remain in place.
Interagency response continues to monitor and adapt as needed.
Map of Maui Airport find response. Credit: MISC
Molokaʻi CRB Timeline
(Background) September 2025- Interim Rule in place on Molokaʻi
April 7, 2026 – Initial Molokaʻi Detection
MoMISC detected one dead adult male CRB during routine track checks at Malama Park, near the entrance of Kaunakakai Harbor.
Previous trap check was March 30, 2026
All other MoMISC traps were checked
HISC notified HDOT of the incursion
April 8, 2026 – Second Molokaʻi Detection
MoMISC detected one adult female CRB in a panel trap on the side of Mauna Loa Hwy
Previous trap check was April 1, 2026
April 9, 2026 – Confirmation and Response Activated
Partners were informed during weekly scheduled HISC Maui County CRB meeting
Traps and lures were sent from DAB PQ Oahu to Maui and were re-routed to Molokaʻi
Interagency roles and responsibilities finalized within a 2-mile response buffer around each detection:
MoMISC: Lead on trapping (high-density grid up to 64 traps/sq. mile)
DAB/PPC/CM: Lead on palm damage surveys, treatment, and Maui County operations
DAB/PPC/BIO: Lead on breeding site surveys
DAB/PQ Branch: Support for trap checks and field surveys. Education at plant nurseries, farms, and stores selling potting media.
April 13, 2026 – Third CRB Detection
DOT detected a dead adult CRB near a trap on Molokaʻi Airport grounds.
MoMISC retrieved the beetle from DOT and routed to Oahu for official ID.
Week of April 13–17, 2026 – Ongoing Operations
Interagency coordination through ongoing meetings
Attending agencies: MISC, HISC, County, Maui PQ, DAB Hilo PPC, DLNR, DOT, CRBR
April 17th- MISC, HISC, DAB-PQ/PPC all present on Molokaʻi for EDRR and public outreach.
DAB/PPC surveyed palm trees and identified breeding sites to follow up on at the 2nd find: a nursery, MKK Airport, and Malama Park. Nothing suspicious was found.
MoMISC continues to deploy traps
Interagency response continues to monitor and adapt as needed.
Map of Molokaʻi finds and trap. Credit: MISC
Last updated 4/29/2026
