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Fighting CRB Together: Our Role in Protecting Hawai‘i Island

  • soilplusteam
  • Jul 30
  • 2 min read
Coconut Rhinoceros beetle on wood

The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) has recently been detected on Hawai‘i Island, raising concern among farmers, landscapers, and homeowners. At Soil Plus, we take this threat seriously and are committed to doing our part to prevent the spread of this invasive pest.


Site Inspection and Findings

Last month, our team met with representatives from the CRB Response Team from UH and HDOA, as well as representatives from the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC). They conducted a thorough site inspection to determine whether monitoring traps (CRB lures) were needed at our yard.


We’re pleased to report that our risk level was determined to be low. This is due to several key factors:


  • Our compost is actively managed and consistently heated to above 130°F, which helps destroy CRB eggs and larvae.

  • Our yard contains no palm trees, decaying plant material, or green waste, which are the beetles’ preferred breeding grounds.


Because of these practices, traps were not deployed—an important outcome, since traps can sometimes attract beetles to areas where they weren’t previously present.


Our Ongoing Commitment

Although we are currently at low risk, we remain in close communication with BIISC and continue to monitor the situation. We are committed to transparency and public awareness as part of a collective island-wide response.


Stopping the spread of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle will take vigilance from all of us—businesses, residents, and government agencies working together.


Learn More and Take Action

We encourage our customers and community to stay informed and take action. Here are some trusted resources to learn more or report sightings:


If you have any questions about our materials or composting process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. At Soil Plus, we’re proud to be part of the solution and to support the health and resilience of our Hawai‘i Island ‘ohana.

 
 
 
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