Kauaʻi community invited to invasive pest meeting

Resource managers, community members and stakeholders are invited to the “Invasive Pest Meeting – Kauaʻi 2026,” a gathering centered around the theme “Protecting Island Ecosystems: Biosecurity, Invasive Species and Resilience.”

The meeting is scheduled for Aug. 11-12 at Kauaʻi Community College in Līhuʻe.

This 2-day event — organized by University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience — will feature invited talks, collaborative networking opportunities and a headline keynote presentation by Laura Brewington, co-director of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Pacific Research on Island Solutions for Adaptation.

Brewington will explain how climate change makes the threat of invasive species even worse for Pacific Island communities.

The meeting will also discuss how different groups can work together to protect local environments, stop new pests before they arrive and make sure leaders have the correct scientific data to make smart decisions. Stopping the coconut rhinoceros beetle is also an urgent priority topic.

“The future of island resilience will be decided not only by how well we can anticipate change, but by how well we prevent harm, restore what matters most and act together before the next threshold is crossed,” said organizer College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience Extension Agent Roshan Manandhar in an announcement for the event.

There is a $100 registration fee, which cover event costs and food.

Space is limited. Those who want to attend are encouraged to register early online.