Do you love to hike, passionate about the environment and conservation in Hawaii?
OISC has 2 positions open for Invasive Species Field Associate I. Applications are due by April 8th. For job details and to apply online visit RCUH Jobs and search JOB ID#: 222168.
Hawaii Invasive Species Council hosted virtual events in February to learn more about invasive species by exploring the three wao (or realms) of Akua (upper forests), Kanaka (lower valleys and urban areas), and Kahakai (wetlands, ocean). Each week they will learn from the different people working in these wao, the invasive species impacting them, and what you can do to help. Look for the tag #HISAM22 on Instagram and Facebook.
. Subscribe to the HISC Youtube and follow the HISAM 22 playlist to watch any presentations you missed live.
Recognizing people and organizations from across the state for their efforts to protect Hawaiʻi from invasive species. Click on the links below to see the award videos for each awardee. Learn about the 2022 awardees’ stories in this story map.
These are emergent pests that have limited distributions across the state. State-wide establishment of these pests would cause significant negative impacts.
Field industry personnel such as conservationists, landscapers, farmers, ranchers, along with the general public are urged to be aware and report these species, especially in areas where detections have not occurred.
Early detection and rapid response to new detections are critical to keep areas free of these harmful invasive species.
Report these pests to the statewide pest hotline: 643-PEST (643-7378), www.643pest.org or download the free Android or iPhone “643pest” smartphone app.
Additional Resources:
Send photos and locations of sick/dying ʻōhiʻa: CLICK HERE TO REPORT!
ROD Symptoms in ʻōhiʻa trees = brown leaves attached
Healthy ʻŌhiʻa
Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) Detections on Oʻahu (as of March 2022) CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED MAP
What Should You Do To Prevent the Spread?
HOW TO COLLECT & SUBMIT ʻŌHIʻA SAMPLES TO TEST FOR ROD – for Land Managers and Conservation Field Staff
OISC and DOFAW are the primary organizations surveying and sampling for ROD on Oʻahu. We are limited with time and staff. Assistance from land managers and conservation field workers to collect samples from suspect trees is needed. Collecting samples from dead/dying ‘ōhiʻa trees is easy and we can show you how prepare your team to sample ʻōhiʻa suspect trees they may come across when working in the field.
We can “train the trainer”, showing you how to collect samples, properly decontaminate your tools and self, and proper way to submit your wood samples for testing. We sample at least once a month, so contact us via email to arrange your training: oisc@hawaii.edu.
Resources for land managers and field staff to collect & submit suspect ROD samples.
What is ROD?
Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) is a fungal pathogen new to science not ever seen before 2014. There are two (2) species of ROD:
Quick Facts About ROD:
A variety of things can kill ʻōhiʻa trees and we canʻt know if itʻs ROD unless we get a sample of the wood from inside the tree. You cannot see ROD on leaves or branches…it grows inside the sapwood. This is where the tree moves water around. When the fungus plugs up the sapwood, no water can be moved and the leaves turn brown.
About ʻŌhiʻa
ʻŌhiʻa is the dominant canopy forest tree in the state with over 350 million trees across 800,000 on all the main Hawaiian islands. It is a keystone species, meaning itʻs integral to the ecosystem and the services they provide like clean water, water capture, as well as flood and erosion control. ʻŌhiʻa is also significant to Hawaiian culture and represented in numerous hula, moʻolelo, mele and oli. There are five species of ʻōhiʻa in Hawaiʻi. They are all endemic to our state, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world…and two of those five are endemic to Oʻahu island! You can see ʻōhiʻa in yards and in the forest.
For more details about ROD and ʻōhiʻa, visit: www.rapidohiadeath.org
We’re so excited to launch this new community volunteer program! Being part of the crew will mean you will really get to know (and love getting rid of) this invasive plant.
We are looking for people to commit to surveying Oahu trails and reporting their findings to OISC. There are also known areas on the island where Devil Weed is prevalent and large patches will need to be removed. We may reach out for help with these. This is a community led effort to help OISC determine the spread of devil weed on Oʻahu. ANYONE can participate anytime…just survey when/where you can!
Get started by heading over the Devil Weed Crew volunteer page!
Questions…Contact Erin Bishop, OISC Outreach Coordinator. E: oisc@hawaii.edu, C: 808-286-4616
October is “Spot the Ant, Stop the Ant Month” in Hawai‘i. This campaign is being conducted state-wide to educate residents of the threats posed by little fire ant, especially the painful stings to our families and the blindness it causes in pets. We are asking for your help to participate in early detection surveys by collecting and submitting ant samples to the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture or OISC for identification. By testing once a year, you can ensure that you are either LFA-free or find the ants while the infestation is still small enough to eradicate.
To see the status of LFA detections on O‘ahu and other islands, CLICK HERE
What are little fire ants, and why are they so bad?
Unless you’ve encountered the wrath of these tiny pests, you may ask “what’s the big deal?”. Well, among all of the world’s invasive pests – the plants, animals, insects, bacteria…LFA have top-chart billing as one of the world’s worst 100 invasive species.
Little fire ants (LFA) are native to Central & South America, but have been spreading across the Pacific, damaging the envrionmnent, economy and the quality of life of those subjected to their stings. LFA sting the eyes of pets, leading to blindness. LFA damage crops, food production, and the economy everywhere they have spread. LFA alter (or impact) people’s lives because their stings are unavoidable.
Doesn’t Hawaii already have fire ant? How are LFA different?
Many of us have been stung by the common Tropical Fire Ants, which nest in the ground in sunny fields and beach parks. These are NOT the same as Little Fire Ants. LFA is a very tiny ant-about as long as a penny is thick and prefer shady, moist areas. They can nest in the trees and on the ground. LFA’s sting packs a wallop and when they fall out of trees, a person gets multiple stings all at once.
LFA have been detected on all main Hawaiian Islands except Molokai, and are only established on the Big Island. The Hawaii Ant Lab is based in Hilo and conducts research on invasive ant impacts, prevention and treatment methods, and eradication plans. They provide resources and information for the public and work closely with the residents of Big Island to best manage little fire ant infestations around their homes.
Early detection is key to preventing LFA from establishing.
LFA are established in areas on the Big Island and it’s highly unlikely there will be an island-wide eradication, but finding them early significantly increases chances of spreading across the island, as well as between all the islands. When infestations become larger, costs increase dramatically and the chances of successful eradication are also much lower.
On Oahu, the residents of Mililani Mauka were crucial to the success of eliminating the infestation there. A resident brought samples to HDOA after being stung and because of this, the infestation was discovered while it was relatively small. Equally important, all the neighbors allowed staff on their property to test for and to treat the ants.
We need your help!!
LFA can spread across an island and move between islands in any materials – including fresh fruit, cut flowers, potted plants, household items and vehicles. The best way to help is to test your yard for little fire ant at least once a year. It’s quick, easy and a fun activity to do with kids. There are written instructions and a video explaining how to test at the website www.stoptheant.org.
OISC is available to host live webinars for both virtual classrooms or community meetings. We also have on-demand webinars and educational worksheets and games for keiki.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Reach out to us and we can accommodate your remote learning needs.
To schedule a live webinar for your classroom or community meeting, contact OISC via email: oisc@hawaii.edu or call 808-286-4616.
RCUH JOB ID: 220222
MONTHLY SALARY RANGE: $2,424-$4,372/Mon.
DUTIES: Provides essential fiscal, operational, and administrative support for OISC’s invasive species control program and for OISC cooperators. Responsible for the formulation, oversight, tracking, and projection of the project’s budget, including multiple individual accounts with different accounting periods. Coordinates contracts and receipt of grant funds with granting agencies and fiscal sponsors. Determines whether requests for no-cost extension for grants are necessary. Modifies budgets as needed. Manages all project expenditures including, but not limited to, assignment of accounts for staff salary and fringe, equipment and office supply inventory, equipment, vehicle and baseyard repairs, and researching/selecting vendors and products. Executes all purchases, including delivery or pick-up. Projects future budget needs. Serves as primary custodian of $500 imprest funds (authorization, completion). Works closely with OISC Manager to decide budget priorities. Work must be done in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and laws, especially regarding invasive species, safety and health, and pesticides. Oversees all fiscal, personnel, and administrative documents to ensure project efficiency. Responsible for administrative tasks integral to the function of OISC operations. Oversees up to five (5) field crew workers and volunteers performing occasional administrative and research tasks as needed. Researches grant opportunities. Prepares budgets for grant proposals. Organizes OISC Committee meetings, documents and summarizes OISC meetings and action items. Edits proposals, reports, letters, manuscripts, and public relations or educational material.
PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION/TRAINING: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university. (Associate’s Degree from an accredited community college and one to three (1-3) years of experience managing a budget, processing payments, acquiring supplies, or related experience may substitute for a Bachelor’s Degree.).
EXPERIENCE: One to three (1-3) years of experience formulating and managing a budget.
ABIL/KNOW/SKILLS: Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word. Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally. Excellent mathematical ability. Must be accurate, dependable, and detail oriented. Excellent organizational skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding personnel and budgetary matters. Post Offer/Employment Condition: Must be able to pass a post offer criminal background check.
POLICY AND/OR REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS: As a condition of employment, employee will be subject to all applicable RCUH policies and procedures and, as applicable, subject to University of Hawai‘i’s and/or business entity’s policies and procedures. Violation of RCUH’s, UH’s, or business entity’s policies and/or procedures or applicable State or Federal laws and/or regulations may lead to disciplinary action (including, but not limited to possible termination of employment, personal fines, civil and/or criminal penalties, etc.).
SECONDARY QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university in Business, Finance or Accounting. Expertise with purchasing goods and services in excess of $100,000 annually. Experience formulating and managing an organizational budget in excess of $500,000 with multiple funding streams. Experience with assigning personnel costs to grants. Experience working in an office to support publicly funded programs or non-profit work.
INQUIRIES: Nathan Dube (808) 292-6691 (Oahu).
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Please go to www.rcuh.com and search JOB ID: 220222. You must submit the following documents online to be considered for the position: 1) Cover Letter, 2) Resume, 3) Supervisory References, 4) Copy of Degree(s)/Transcript(s)/Certificate(s). All online applications must be submitted/received by the closing date (11:59 P.M. Hawai‘i Standard Time/RCUH receipt time) as stated on the job posting. If you do not have access to our system and the closing date is imminent, you may send additional documents to rcuh_employment@rcuh.com. If you have questions on the application process and/or need assistance, please call (808)956-8344 or (808)956-0872.
RCUH’s mission is to support and enhance research, development and training in Hawai‘i, with a focus on the University of Hawai‘i.
Equal Opportunities Employer – Minorities/Women/Disability/Veteran.
Here are some more links for other conservation job postings in Hawaiʻi.
If you received the pest alert post card, LFA have been detected in your neighborhood. We are asking that everyone collect and submit any ants you have on your property or in your home for identification. LFA are tiny and can go undetected for a long time before you start to feel their sting. On their own, they spread very slowly as the ant population grows, but they can easily be spread from yard to yard when we move potted plants, yard materials, equipment…just about anything!
The eradication of these isolated population can only be successful if we can find them early and work together to get rid of them. To do this, we need to know how far these ants have spread in your neighborhood. Now more than ever, we need your help in finding any additional infestations in your areas.
Let us know you surveyed for ants online. We’re all doing our part to stay home during the pandemic. Some ants we can rule out as LFA with just a photo. We’ll let you know if it’s a suspect LFA and should be identified by species. Simply fill out this shorty survey and tell us (or submit a photo) of what you find: MY ANT SURVEY
There have been several little fire ant (LFA) detections on Oahu in the last year. Residents have reported getting bitten or stung by something in their yard. Suspecting it could be LFA, they collected and submitted their ants for identification. Luckily, most of these have turned out to be small populations and with the help of area residents, we have either already begun treatment for eradication or they are in the planning phase to start treatment.
Collecting and submitting your ants is fast and easy…just 3 steps: VIDEO ON HOW TO SURVEY
Once received and identified, you will be contacted informing you whether or not your ants are LFA. If they are, the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture and Hawaii Ant Lab will discuss with you the next steps toward eradicating these harmful ants. We appreciate your help and your patience. Normally, we would try to visit all of the houses in affected neighborhoods in person. We hope that everyone stays safe and that we will soon be able to resume our work in communities, protecting our islands from harmful invasive species.
If you have questions, you can contact us: 808-286-4616 or email: oisc@hawaii.edu.
