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July 13, 2009 Dear Mayor Kenoi: I am writing you on behalf of thousands of residents who have been opposing efforts of the US Forest Service to release an alien scale insect, Tectococcus ovatus, as a biocontrol for strawberry guava. We have just discovered that the new environmental assessment, which was expected on May 23, […]

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Institute for the Study of Culturogenic Disease P.O. Box 1880, Pahoa, Hawaii 96778 (808) 935-5563 May 19, 2009 Chiyome Fukino, M.D. Director, Hawaii Department of Health 1250 Punchbowl St. Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Re: Potential human health impacts from exposure to biocontrol scale insect infestations Aloha Dr. Fukino: I am a medical anthropologist and director of […]

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Good Shepherd Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 1880, Pahoa, Hawaii 96778 (808) 935-5563 Dear Governor Lingle; Are you aware that the Hawai’i government is assuming a large liability for strawberry guava biocontrol? The scale insect being proposed for release, Tectococcus ovatus, will cause unsightly galls on the leaves of this ornamental fruit tree, causing aesthetic damage […]

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MEDIA RELEASE Hawaii’s native forests are undergoing a silent siege. Each year, countless acres of native forest and land are invaded and degraded by nonnative invasive plants. As far as culprit species go, few are more damaging than the strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum), or waiawi. The US Forest service has a webpage with more information […]

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