Fewer critters hitchhike to Hawaiʻi on Christmas trees, but local plants less risky

While the number of critters found on Christmas trees has dwindled over the past 12 years, there always is a risk when importing plants to the Hawaiʻi Islands. 

The Aloha State is expected to import 135 containers of about 70,000 Christmas trees mainly from Oregon and Washington. So far this year, only one critter — albeit a slithering one — was found in a container of Christmas trees on Nov. 16 as it was being unloaded at a store in Hilo.

Store staff quickly closed the container they were unloading and called the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture inspectors from the Plant Quarantine Branch in Hilo responded and captured the two-foot long hitchhiker, identified as a non-venomous gopher snake. The inspectors checked every tree and inside of the container, finding no other critters.

Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture, said inspectors open every container of Christmas trees and wreaths that arrive, but they do not have the resources to inspect every item within a container. 

This is the first time that a snake has been reported to the Department of Agriculture since 2020, when a shipment was being held for secondary inspection due to a slug interception. Inside the container, inspectors found a 9-inch snake, a Pacific tree frog and other pests.

In 2013, Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Branch inspectors began working closely with agricultural officials in Oregon and Washington to develop a compliance program to increase monitoring and develop protocols and best management practices to prevent pests from clinging to Christmas trees before shipment to Hawai`i. 

Although there has been a reduction in the number of pests intercepted upon entry to Hawaii, sometimes critters fall through the cracks. 

To combat the risk of invasive species introduction, many businesses, organizations and residents have been advocating for more “ʻāina-friendly” solutions.

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee has spent years advocating for Hawaiʻi households to use native species as their Christmas trees and wreaths instead of buying imports, which are the highest risk pathway for invasive species introductions.

In November, the Committee hosted a hands-on workshop for people to learn about the significance of native plants, how to cut them sustainably and then how to make a unique, but beautiful holiday wreath from plants like uluhe, ʻŌhia ha and ama‘u.

“The workshop originally started in 2015 as a way to educate people on rapid ʻŌhia death and how we can use other native plants to make a beautiful wreath for the holidays,” said Molly Murphy, invasive plant prevention coordinator with the Big Island Invasive Species Committee.

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee also hosted its first-ever series of Christmas tree decorating workshop last month. Attendees received a 1-foot-tall Mexican cypress to adorn with native vegetation like ‘a’ali’i, koa leaves and pūkiawe. 

For those who missed the native plant wreath workshop, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee posted step-by-step instructions for anyone to do at home.

In 2021, the Hamakua Christmas Tree Forest planted more than 1,000 new trees to meet the Big Islandʻs demand and have made it even easier for residents to have trees tagged early and delivered to their homes. 

The Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA had no problems with pests this year after purchasing 400 trees from Kirk Company in Oregon for its annual Christmas tree sale and fundraiser. The Christmas tree grower posted an integrated pest management plan to its website in September to educate other growers and reassure retailers purchasing their trees.

According to the post, Kirk uses a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical methods to control pests in the fields.

Biological control allows predators and competitors to control pests. Cultural control is the removal of trees or branches from trees that have shown symptoms of pest infestation. And mechanical control is the cultivation of unwanted vegetation from the fields.

Chemical control is the last line of defense with pesticides selected and applied in a way that minimizes possible harm to people, other organisms and the environment.

“With the way Kirk handles the Christmas trees, we have not had a problem with pests,” said YMCA CEO Wendy Botelho. “We unloaded these trees a couple weeks ago and they are still fresh, beautiful and they smell amazing.”

The YMCA has less than 50 Christmas trees available for walk-in purchases from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day in the parking lot at 300 Lanikaula Street in Hilo until they are sold out. As of Thursday, every item is 75% off.