Local Organizations & Community Voices

• Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council (HISC)

  • A statewide council made up of multiple state agencies that coordinates Hawai‘i’s response to invasive species. HISC focuses on prevention, early detection, funding research, and educating the public about how invasive species spread through travel, cargo, and plant imports.​

• Island Invasive Species Committees (ISCs)

  • A network of island-based organizations that work on early detection and rapid response. ISCs monitor high-risk areas, remove invasive species before they become widespread, and work closely with local residents to prevent new infestations.​

• Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee (KISC)

  • An island-level committee that responds to specific threats such as little fire ants and invasive plants. KISC conducts fieldwork, surveys, and community outreach, helping residents identify invasive species and understand how to stop their spread.​

• Sierra Club of Hawai‘

  • An environmental organization that advocates for stronger protections of native ecosystems. The Sierra Club connects invasive species issues to water security, climate change, and land stewardship, while encouraging community involvement through education and volunteering.​

• Native Hawaiian Cultural Practitioners and Leader

  • Community members who emphasize kuleana (responsibility) to care for the ʻāina. They highlight that invasive species threaten culturally important plants, traditional practices, and ancestral knowledge. Many support restoration efforts that combine traditional ecological knowledge with modern science.​