HAWAI’I DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY
Notice of Interim Rule Restricting the Transportation of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Host Materials on Hawai’i Island
On March 24, 2026, pursuant to interim rule, the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Board) authorized restricting the transportation of coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) host materials including bare root CRB host palms, other live plants of any size if there is any organic material attached to the roots, such as potted plants or sod; and decomposing plant material, such as mulch, trimmings, wood or tree chips, stumps, compost, plant propagation media, including commercially bagged plant propagation media, and other items comprised of or containing decomposing plant material such as landscaping material or erosion control socks from and within the designated CRB infested area on Hawai’i Island to minimize the spread of the CRB, Oryctes rhinoceros. This authorizes the Hawai’i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) Plant Quarantine Branch to restrict the transportation of CRB host materials from and within the designated CRB infested area on Hawai’i Island, effective March 25, 2025.
The Board designated the CRB infested area on Hawai’i Island as the geographic area generally bound by the following: Waikoloa Road from Highway 190 to the coast, continuing south to La’aloa Avenue and from the coast to its intersection with Highway 11 to the east. A link to interim rule 26-1 and an image of the designated CRB infested area can be found online at https://dab.hawaii.gov/.
The DAB is authorized to establish interim rules when the importation or movement of any flora or fauna, in the absence of effective rules, creates a situation dangerous to public health and safety or to the ecological health of flora or fauna present in the State which is so immediate in nature as to constitute an emergency. Due to the ongoing infestation of CRB in West Hawai’i Island, and after a finding by the Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals on February 27, 2026, that the movement of CRB host material constitutes an emergency, the Board determined that restricting the transportation of CRB host materials is necessary to minimize the spread of CRB from and within the designated CRB infested area on Hawai’i Island.
Pursuant to interim rule 26-1, the transportation of CRB host materials including bare root CRB host palms, other live plants of any size if there is any organic material attached to the roots, such as potted plants or sod; and decomposing plant material, such as mulch, trimmings, wood or tree chips, stumps, compost, plant propagation media, including commercially bagged plant propagation media, and other items comprised of or containing decomposing plant material such as landscaping material or erosion control socks may be transported from and within the designated CRB infested area on Hawai’i Island subject to a permit or compliance agreement issued by the DAB. A person may conduct activities related to CRB host material without a permit or compliance agreement until May 1, 2026, if the person is acting in good faith to complete any required training and enter into a compliance agreement or obtain a permit within 30 days after the effective date of this interim rule.
The restriction does not apply to plant products intended for consumption, such as coconuts, fruits, nuts, edible leaves, leaves used for cooking, and spices; plant products preserved from decay by treatment or use, such as lumber, woven hats, dried and painted coconuts, wooden posts, wood carvings, and firewood; seeds for planting; cut flowers and foliage for decoration, such as lei, floral bouquets, or arrangements; rock, coral, and sand, not mixed with any CRB host material; live bare rooted plants that are not CRB host palms, including propagative cuttings; and tissue cultured or other micropropagated live plants in sterile media.
The restriction applies to all persons, nurseries, retailers, distributors of CRB host materials, mulch/compost producers, and to any individual or entity that moves or transports CRB host material interisland from or within the within the designated CRB infested area on Hawai’i Island.
(SA/TGI/HTH/WHT1524808 4/08/26)
