HAPA’s Position on the Use of Pesticides, Including Neonics, in the Fight Against Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB)
At HAPA, we recognize that invasive pests like the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) present urgent and serious threats to our ecosystems, local agriculture, and way of life. In such cases, biosecurity emergencies may call for targeted and temporary pesticide use as part of a broader Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy. When thoughtfully implemented, IPM combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to manage pests in the most environmentally and socially responsible way.
We support the use of pesticides only as a last resort—when necessary, effective, and as part of a carefully designed, integrated, and time-bound response plan. Use of chemical control should never be a first-line or ongoing solution, nor a substitute for ecological land management or structural change.
Mulch management, for example, is a critical cultural practice that plays a central role in the CRB response and should be prioritized alongside any treatments for adult beetles. Likewise, non-toxic alternatives and low-impact choices must always be considered and made available, especially when there are proven, scalable options.
We differentiate between targeted pesticide use in emergency biosecurity situations—such as CRB outbreaks—and the routine, systemic reliance on pesticides and synthetic inputs in manicured lawns, HOAs, golf courses, hotels, agrochemical experimentation and conventional agriculture. The latter is not only unsustainable, it is ecologically disastrous and contributes to long-term chemical dependency in farming and land management.
We are particularly concerned about the widespread and often unregulated use of systemic pesticides, such as neonicotinoids (neonics) being used in CRB response, which can have cascading impacts on biodiversity, pollinators, aquatic organisms, and broader food webs. Studies show that up to 90% of systemic pesticides applied can leach into surrounding soil and water, leading to widespread non-target exposure. The use of neonics—coated onto seeds, sprayed on turf and lawns, or used in ornamental gardening—has been linked to pollinator decline, contamination of waterways, and reduced ecosystem resilience.
Even more alarming is the lack of transparency, labeling, and oversight surrounding General Use Pesticides (GUPs), including neonics, many of which can be purchased and applied with minimal regulation, education, or reporting. This contributes to misuse and public exposure, including the potential consumption of treated coconuts and other crops without sufficient risk evaluation or consumer awareness.
We strongly advocate for:
Strict requirements, tracking, and reporting for any use of systemic or high-risk pesticides;
Public education on the ecological and health risks associated with pesticide use;
A shift toward diversified agricultural systems that break chemical dependency;
Regulatory reforms to close loopholes in pesticide oversight and labeling;
Support for organic, regenerative, and indigenous farming practices that work with ecosystems, not against them.
In sum, we believe Hawaii’s best path forward is rooted in prevention, education, and ecological land care. Emergency responses to biosecurity threats like CRB must be effective—but also temporary, accountable, and embedded within a broader vision of long-term environmental stewardship and resilience.
About Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action
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The Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) is deeply committed to championing social, economic, and environmental justice throughout Hawaiʻi. Recognizing the interconnected nature of food systems, we underscore that the challenges plaguing these systems are not isolated from broader social, economic, and environmental concerns. We believe in an integrated approach that addresses these interdependencies to create a just, equitable, and sustainable future for Hawaiʻi.
Contact: info@hapahi.org | (808) 212-9616
