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Kauaʻi community invited to invasive pest meeting

Strategies to stop Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death will be discussed at the August meeting.

Stopping the coconut rhinoceros beetle is an urgent priority

Resource managers, community members and stakeholders are invited to attend the “Invasive Pest Meeting - KauaÊ»i 2026,” taking place August 11–12, at KauaÊ»i Community College in LÄ«huÊ»e.

Organized by the University of HawaiÊ»i at Manoa’s (CTAHR), the gathering centers around the theme, “Protecting Island Ecosystems: Biosecurity, Invasive Species, and Resilience.” The two-day event will feature invited talks, collaborative networking opportunities, and a headline keynote presentation by Laura Brewington, co-director of NOAA’s Pacific Research on Island Solutions for Adaptation.

Brewington will explain how climate change makes the threat of invasive species even worse for Pacific Island communities. The meeting will also discuss how different groups can work together to protect local environments, stop new pests before they arrive, and make sure leaders have the right scientific data to make smart decisions.

“The future of island resilience will be decided not only by how well we can anticipate change, but by how well we prevent harm, restore what matters most, and act together before the next threshold is crossed,” said organizer Roshan Manandhar, CTAHR Extension agent on KauaÊ»i.

Registration information

The $100 registration fee will cover event costs and food. Space is limited, and people are encouraged to .