A Kaua‘i County Council funding committee approved $290,000 yesterday to bolster efforts to kill off the coqui frog — cited as a threat to Kaua‘i’s eco-systems and tourism industry. The funding still needs the approval of the County Council. Some
A Kaua‘i County Council funding committee approved $290,000 yesterday to bolster efforts to kill off the coqui frog — cited as a threat to Kaua‘i’s eco-systems and tourism industry.
The funding still needs the approval of the County Council.
Some of those commenting at yesterday’s council meeting claim the coqui frog population will explode and create intolerable noise for residents and visitors.
A foraging army of frogs also will cut into the insect supply for native birds, supporters of the funding request said.
KISC project manager Keren Gundersen said the chances of eradicating the frogs on Kaua‘i are extremely high because they are confined to only one site — 15 acres in Lawa‘i.
Gundersen said killing off the colony is a must.
“If we had known that mosquitoes could be carriers of malaria, dengue fever and West Nile virus, I don’t think anyone would question whether we should kill the first (frog) to arrive, to prevent devastation to both humans and animals.”
Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura said the frog infestation problem is likely to create financial hardships for the tourism industry on Maui and the Big Island, something Kaua‘i could avoid with the eradication project.
Councilman Jay Furfaro, who heads the committee that approved the funding request, said he experienced first-hand the impact of the frogs on a recent visit to the Big Island.
“I was absolutely overwhelmed by the amount of noise generated from these nests,” Furfaro said.
Gundersen said the unchecked frog problem has created economic challenges for commercial plant nurseries in Hawai‘i as well. Government officials may prohibit the frog-infested businesses from exporting goods.
In her funding request, Gundersen gave assurances to councilwoman Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho that her group will continue to keep in touch with residents — to inform them when KISC people will spray, what type of chemicals or eradication methods will be used and what areas will be worked on.
Although some Kaua‘i residents who live near the colony have raised concerns about the use of herbicides, citrus acid and hydrated lime, Gundersen said the chemicals are used at approved levels.
Council chairman Kaipo Asing said he wants accountability from KISC, recommending the group provide a status report on its work six months after funding is provided.
Opposition to the funding request came from Syd Singer of the Coqui Hawaiian Integration and Re-education Project.
Singer said the eradication was not possible and that chemicals will burn the frogs and cause them to suffer before they die.
Rapozo said he was more inclined to support the funding request as a necessity since Gundersen’s presentations have been professional and objective.
The funds KISC is seeking would be added to state funds to continue the efforts to kill the frogs, Gundersen has said.
The state Legislature has appropriated $1 million next year to fight the problem on the Big Island, Gundersen said.
But she said the money will be ill-spent because the frog population is so large there — 20,000 per acre in some spots — that eradication will be impossible.
Kaua‘i will only receive $50,000 for the same period, not enough to fund KISC efforts to stop the frog in its tracks on Kaua‘i, Gundersen said.
With the $50,000 from the state and another $39,000 from the county slated to come to KISC in 2007, approval of the $290,000 is a must, she has said.
