Stopping the Silent Invasion
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strawberry guave
Strawberry guava invades native forests
Introduced to Hawaii from Brazil in 1825, strawberry guava is an invasive species that many enjoy. People eat the fruit fresh or in jam, or use the wood for smoking meat. However, strawberry guava's potential damage may outweigh its utility. Strawberry guava has no natural enemies or competitors in Hawaii. It forms dense thickets replacing native Hawaiian plants, and damages the watershed services that diverse forests provide. Its spread over thousands of acres is beyond the possibility of control by existing methods. These are just some of the reasons why there is a public conversation about the proposed introduction to Hawaii of a scale insect that is the natural population control of strawberry guava in Brazil. Learn more about strawberry guava and biocontrol and the facts and fiction about strawberry guava control (pdfs). Further information is provided by the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry: Biological Control of Strawberry Guava in Hawaii

Native Hawaiian forests vs. strawberry guava. (video) New!


Hawaii Invasive
Species Council (HISC)

Cabinet-level work
on invasive species

Coordinating Group on
Alien Pest Species (CGAPS)

Management-level coordination
and initiatives

Invasive Species Committees
of Hawaii (ISCs)

Island-based response
and control programs

Hawaii's high-profile
invasive species

About the problem of invasive species

What is an invasive species? An invasive species is an alien species (plant, animal, or microbe transported by humans to a location outside its native range) whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health (U.S. Presidential Executive Order 13112).

Hawaii is in the midst of a growing invasive species crisis affecting the islands' endangered plants and animals, overall environmental and human health, and the viability of its tourism- and agriculture-based economy.

Partnerships to meet Hawaii's invasive species challenge

Preventing and controlling invasive species is so important that several groups have formed in recent years to work on these issues on multiple levels:

  • Grassroots, island-based partnerships work to protect each island
  • A multi-agency partnership works on statewide issues at a management level
  • A cabinet-level council provides the framework for a comprehensive statewide program.

Comments? Questions? Contact joshua.p.atwood@hawaii.gov .
© 2008 Hawaii Invasive Species Partnership