The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) announced that it's seeking proposals for community-based projects to mitigate coconut rhinoceros beetles and another to support green waste management.
The coconut rhinoceros beetle was first detected on Oahu in December 2013 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and is now widespread. In the last year, coconut rhinoceros beetles have been found in every county in Hawaii. The highly destructive species bores into the crowns of palm trees to feed on sap.
A request for proposals, with $200,000 in funds, is available for Hawaii-registered nonprofit organizations on Oahu that have developed projects to control coconut rhinoceros beetles.
HDOA will award eight organizations a maximum of $25,000 each. However, HDOA will consider higher award amounts for projects that have a wider application.
The other request for proposals, also with $200,000 in funds, is for projects by nonprofit organizations to eliminate coconut rhinoceros beetles in green waste. Green waste is a breeding ground for coconut rhinoceros beetles.
HDOA will award five organizations a maximum of $40,000, with one project each on Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu. The proposals should have clear objectives and measurable outcomes.
For both requests, community organizations that have expressed concern about coconut rhinoceros beetles within the last year will be given priority.
Application forms for projects to control coconut rhinoceros beetles can be found here, and those for eliminating coconut rhinoceros beetles in green waste can be found here. Proposals must be submitted to jonathan.k.ho@hawaii.gov by noon on June 7, 2024.