Interim Rule 26-1 Restricting the Transportation of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Host Materials on Hawaiʻi Island

On March 24, 2026, the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Board) approved Interim Rule 26-1, restricting the transportation of coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) host materials including bare root CRB host palms, other live plants of any size if there is any organic material attached to the roots, such as potted plants or sod; and decomposing plant material, such as mulch, trimmings, wood or tree chips, stumps, compost, plant propagation media, including commercially bagged plant propagation media, and other items comprised of or containing decomposing plant material such as landscaping material or erosion control socks from and within the designated CRB infested area on Hawaiʻi Island to minimize the spread of the CRB, Oryctes rhinoceros. Interim Rule 26-1 authorizes the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) Plant Quarantine Branch to restrict the transportation of CRB host materials from and within the designated CRB infested area on Hawaiʻi Island, effective March 25, 2025 subject to a permit or compliance agreement issued by the DAB.

The Board designated the CRB infested area on Hawaiʻi Island as the geographic area generally bound by the following: Waikōloa Road from Highway 190 to the coast, continuing south to Laʻaloa Avenue and from the coast to its intersection with Highway 11 to the east as shown below in Figure 1.

The restriction does not apply to plant products intended for consumption, such as coconuts, fruits, nuts, edible leaves, leaves used for cooking, and spices; plant products preserved from decay by treatment or use, such as lumber, woven hats, dried and painted coconuts, wooden posts, wood carvings, and firewood; seeds for planting; cut flowers and foliage for decoration, such as lei, floral bouquets, or arrangements; rock, coral, and sand, not mixed with any CRB host material; live bare rooted plants that are not CRB host palms, including propagative cuttings; and tissue cultured or other micropropagated live plants in sterile media.

A person may conduct activities related to CRB host material without a permit or compliance agreement until May 1, 2026, if the person is acting in good faith to complete any required training and enter into a compliance agreement or obtain a permit within 30 days after the effective date of this interim rule.

To sign up for a training, contact the Franny Brewer, Big Island Invasive Committee, at [email protected]. The training session should be approximately one hour. A schedule of training sessions is listed below:

• Wednesday, April 22^nd: West Hawaii Civic Center, Room B-2 (74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.)
  • Classes: 8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.
• Thursday, April 23^rd: West Hawaii Civic Center, Room B-2 (74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.)
  • Classes: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.
• Wednesday, April 29^th: Terraformation main conference room (73-4485 Kahilihili St. (HOST Park))
  • Classes: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.
• Thursday, April 30^th: West Hawaii Civic Center, Room B-2 (74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.)
  • Classes: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.

For a copy of Interim Rule 26-1, please click here.

For a coy of the Compliance Agreement, please click here.

Figure 1. CRB Infested Area