Helicopter searching for signs of invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle in Waikōloa

If you live in Waikōloa or the surrounding area and noticed a helicopter flying low overhead today, you might have wondered why.

Hawai‘i state Sen. Tim Richards, who represents the Big Island’s Senate District 4 (North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikōloa, North Kona), explained in a Facebook post that the Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Labs at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo is conducting a low-altitude helicopter flight over Waikōloa until noon today.

The flight, which started at 10 a.m., is part of an effort to collect aerial imagery of palm trees in the Waikōloa area to identify potential damage caused by the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle.

It’s in partnership with the Big Island Invasive Species Committee.

The data gathered will help the committee improve its palm surveys and target trees that might need further inspection.

What this means for Waikōloa area residents:

• The helicopter is flying low to capture detailed imagery.
• If a tree on your property needs further inspection, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee will contact you.
• Trees found to have coconut rhinoceros beetle damage could qualify for free treatment by the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Hawai‘i team and Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture.

“Thank you for your cooperation in protecting Hawai‘i’s palms!” said Richards in his post.

For more information or to get on the list for a free property survey, call/text the Big Island Invasive Species Committee at 808-731-9232 or email to biisc@hawaii.edu.