How a Beetle Is Threatening Hawaii’s Culture and Resilience

Before hotels and highways, the niu (Hawaiian for coconut) provided the Hawaiian people with shade, tools, and purpose. Its leaves danced in the wind and its roots were grounded into the earth with strength. However, a relentless menace looms over Hawaii’s serene islands in the form of a voracious beetle, jeopardizing not only the existence of the tree but also the very essence of what it embodies.

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Oryctes rhinocerosmore commonly known as the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), sounds just as terrifying as the damage it causes. Native to Southeast Asia, this beetle is now a major threat to both Hawaii’s landscapes and cultural identity. First found in Samoa in 1909, the beetle made its way to Oahu in 2013. Now, multiple populations have made their homes on Kauai, sparking calls for eradication.

Without a natural predator, CRB populations remain unchecked, rapidly growing in size. On Oahu, efforts have shifted from eradication to containment, as the beetle has become too widespread to completely erase.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is now focused on containing beetle populations on other islands such as Kauai, where populations are still manageable, at least for now.

Not Only Palms at Risk

These beetles do not just nibble on trees; rather, they destroy the central growing point, known as the heart of the palm. This focal point is where all new growth begins. When destroyed, the entire tree dies. This is especially concerning for loulu, Hawaii’s only native palm, which is already listed as an endangered species. What’s more, these beetles can fly up to two miles in search of food, making containment or elimination extremely difficult once the species has found a new habitat. Their ability to spread quickly turns small infestations into massive problems.

Last fall, city crews flagged 80 coconut palms for removal on Oahu’s North Shore, between Mokuleia and Haleiwa. While they might have looked healthy on the outside, these trees were completely hollow inside – a dangerous yet invisible threat. Safety concerns have led to rapid removal of infested trees, especially in public spaces like parks. “It’s not what we want to do, it’s what we have to do,” said Urban Forestry Administrator Roxeanne Adams.

Cultural Consequences

While coconut palms comprise much of Honolulu’s urban tree canopy, according to the Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, the infestation of coconut beetles is not just an environmental issue.

Coconut palms are symbols of island life and essential to many Hawaiian practices and identities. In Native Hawaiian culture, the coconut tree is known as the “tree of life” – a source of food, shelter, and medicine. The Tickets are (Hawaiian for coconut tree) is something you look up to as a teacher and guide. Once a leader and symbol of wisdom, numerous coconut trees now suffer invisibly.

What’s Being Done?

On Hawaii Island, the response has been promising. The county awarded the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) a US$250,000 grant to expand surveys, set traps, and educate local communities. Teams have also been working to train dogs to sniff out the beetles. Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda summed it up: “We’re doing everything we can together… because if we don’t figure this out, it could jump to other crops like the kalo, as well as the ulu.”

Starting June 2025, Honolulu County is working to treat or remove around 800 coconut palms, with additional efforts to set traps in local parks. Currently, these trees are being treated with an insecticide known as Xytect. Farmers across the island have raised concerns about the insecticide’s harmful effects on bees and marine life, and call for a more natural approach. Further, the use of Xytect requires removing the fruit of the palm trees, halting cultural traditions and creating ecosystem imbalance.

Daniel Anthony, owner of Mama ʻĀina Farms, explained that his coconut trees are fed solely natural ingredients to protect them from invasive beetles. Anthony and other farmers use eco-friendly methods to treat the palms, aiming to naturally combat the tree as if it has an infection, one that can be treated without harming other species, stripping the tree of its fruit, or introducing chemicals into the environment.

What Else Is Affected?

CRB does not just affect palms. There is a substantial risk to agriculture, climate resilience, and food and water systems, too.

Local crops like banana, sugarcane and taro, which help protect shorelines, create shade, and support ecosystems, could all be next. Without these crops to defend us, the impacts of climate change will magnify. The Hawaiian economy is also paying a price – both through tourism, which relies on the beauty and cultural significance of coconut palms, and through food production, which will suffer when crops are lost. As the beetle continues to spread, pesticide use will increase, harming public health.

In 2021, a report estimated that if the CRB continues to spread, it could lead to regional agricultural losses of up to $169 million annually by 2040.

These combined effects make the beetle not just an agricultural issue, but a growing threat to Hawaii’s overall sustainability, wellbeing, and way of life.

Is Policy Keeping Up?

The HDOA has expanded its policies in response. In an effort to keep the beetle from traveling between islands, in October 2024 the department approved a permanent rule banning the movement of mulch, green waste, and palm materials (breeding grounds for the beetle) from infested areas such as Oahu to non-infested areas. Residents of all Hawaiian islands are encouraged to inspect soil, mulch, and compost products for evidence of holes by which the CRB could enter.

However, policies are only effective if enforced-and quickly. According to the Sierra Club of Hawai’i, the new permanent rules have made transportation of beetles between islands much more regulated, but enforcement is still needed. If businesses sell infested plants and materials, it is possible for the beetle to spread unchecked.

As Senator Awa put it, the beetles are now “about as common as cockroaches” in some communities. Hawaii agriculture officials are experimenting with the potential solution of a nudivirus currently used in New Zealand, which fatally infects CRB by clogging their systems. This testing, however, requires mobile, airtight bio-secure labs, which Hawaii has yet to obtain. Not to mention, it will take at least $3 million more and several years just to begin local testing.

What You Can Do

In a state where palm trees define much of the skyline and symbolize local heritage, this is a battle for future generations who risk losing a symbol of identity and a source of income. Without a well-funded and strictly enforced strategy, experts warn that Hawaii may face a future without its iconic palms. Entire ecosystems could unravel, and traditional practices tied to trees like hala, coconut, and taro could disappear.

What happens next depends on the decisions we all make now. The fight against CRB requires collective action and collaboration. Residents can play a critical role by:

• Inspecting mulch and green waste for beetle holes.
• Reporting any beetles seen outside Oʻahu.
• Capturing and freezing specimens in a sealed container and contacting CRB Response.

Every beetle caught could be a tree saved, helping coconuts trees thrive for generations to come.

Featured image: Matthew Kellar via Flickr.