"Plumbing" for Pests

simple pvc coqui trap

Many of our friends here on the Big Island of Hawaii, and the district of PUNA in particular, remember when you did NOT hear the perturbing sounds of the infamous COQUI frogs all night long.

 LISTEN TO COQUI  As you listen to this short video, imagine this sound multiplied 1000x – then maybe you won’t think it is so cute.  At our house, we have tried to keep most of the vegetation away from the house, but if a few of these little buggers are near your bedroom window – you have to use earplugs.

Yes, if you are visitor, there is some enchantment, but most of us locals find them annoying. At least we know when the temperature falls to 60 degrees because they are quiet.

Apparently this invasive species arrived in Hawaii from Puerto Rico in 1988. While Puerto Rico residents seem to adore them as their mascot; here, however, they have a negative impact by eating many of the insects that would be consumed by the insectivore birds that are actually native to the island. If they keep growing in numbers, they may contribute to the decline of local native species.  

Our neighbor's nightly catch

The male calls the females and mating pairs here can produce an egg clutch of 150 eggs every 20 days!!  Since adult coqui frogs live 4-6 years – the chances of eradication are small.  It is an exponential challenge.  There are some places around Puna where you can hardly hear your own voice – especially in the more jungle-like areas. 

Our main goal is to catch as many as we can (especially close to the house)  using this simple technique (offered by UH) and our next door neighbor.  They can be killed by freezing, very hot water, or citric juice.

Tunnel Vision

Invasive trees crowd out native species - Hwy 132

After Hurricane Iselle it took weeks to clear trees

In the few years we have both visited and lived here in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii, there have been a few changes in a category that might be called ‘tunnel vision.’  

Prior to Hurricane Iselle in 2014, there was a stretch of Highway 132 (from Pahoa Village down to Kapoho) that was tunneled with overgrown giant savanna-like Albezia trees that had become infamous as “the trees that ate Puna.” The cleanup was long and messy, but as a result, it brought discussions about this horribly invasive species to the foreground; the result has been a heightened sense of public and county awareness towards appropriate management (somewhat illusive goal being eradication.)

"Mango Road" to the ocean

Looking up our driveway in 2012

One of the beautiful places here in Puna that first struck our hearts was the Mango edged one-lane road down to the boat ramp at Pohoiki – a magical tunnel I have featured several times in our blog entries.  Unlike the junky invasive trees, these mango trees are stable and strong, and produce piles of mangoes annually.   

We found another tunnel, oddly enough,when first looked at the house we now live in. The driveway into our property formed a long lush green tunnel.  Of course, later we learned most of that tunnel was invasive species.  We also lost some ohia long the drive.  We have since planted local, endemic, and hardwood trees as replacements.

Tree stump of large Albezia removed

"Tree Tunnels" on the way to our house (both now gone.)

For several years we have referenced "tunnels" to give directions to our house.  Our street was just past the "second tunnel" coming down Leilani. Fortunately the newly formed Big Island Invasive Species Committee is NOT suffering from "tunnel vision" and are taking a proactive stand to remove some of these giants before they fall over.

Big Island Invasive Species Committee  BIISC --is a cooperative of over 20 agencies including education, forestry, agriculture, transportation, tourism, watershed, university and National Guard.  Power and internet providers also have had to reconsider their own tunnel vision and take a serious look at how much prevention saves when disasters occur.