Hawaii

State Plant Regulatory Official

Serves on the National Plant Board, oversees state pest detection and regulatory activities and coordinates survey activities between government agencies, public and private organizations. Coordinates the state’s initial emergency response if an exotic pest is detected.

State Survey Coordinator

Michael Melzer, 808-956-7887

Coordinates CAPS survey planning, execution and reporting as well as community outreach activities.

State Plant Health Director

Vernon Harrington, (808) 838-2780

Directs federal APHIS-PPQ pest detection and regulatory activities in cooperation with state officials, and coordinate the initial PPQ emergency response if an exotic pest is detected in the state.

Pest Survey Specialist

Sheldon Arakawa,
Cheryl Young, (808) 838-2782

Provides technical support in planning, executing and reporting annual surveys and coordinates pest detection activities with neighboring states.

5/2021 - USDA APHIS | Using Data to Tackle the Dangerous Mail Pest Pathway
8/2020 - 1st taro genome assembly developed by researchers
8/2020 - USDA Seeks Help from Citizens to Collect Unsolicited Seeds Packages
8/2020 - Officials worry mystery seeds from China could be harmful to Indiana crops
8/2020 - USDA Provides List of Locations by State Where Public Can Mail Unsolicited Seed Packages
7/2020 - Unsolicited seeds could wreak havoc on agriculture, environment, state officials warn
7/2020 - Scientists create ant birth-control to eliminate the plague of fire ants and yellow crazy ants in Hawai
6/2020 - Risks associated with the introduction of exotic lymantriid species
3/2020 - A People Problem and Plant Disease: The Economics of Pest Management in Citrus Greening
1/2020 - Can a War of the Wasps Save HawaiÊ»i's Wiliwili Trees?