Latest news with #Polynesian-introduced
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DPP combats coconut rhinoceros beetles in urban Honolulu
Damage linked to the palm tree-killing coconut rhinoceros beetle has become more obvious in urban Hono lulu, according to city officials. Recent plantings at new privately owned building developments in Kakaako and Ala Moana show the telltale signs of CRB infestations—boreholes 2 inches or bigger in palm trunks, V-shaped or scallop-edged palm fronds and generally unhealthy-looking trees overall. CRB breeding populations also are being discovered along the palm-rich corridor extending from Iolani Palace to Diamond Head Crater, the city Department of Planning and Permitting asserts. To combat the problem, DPP says it's strengthening efforts to preserve the health of the island's urban landscapes. 'The DPP is concerned about CRB for many reasons, but primarily we are concerned about the potential rapid loss of palms in our community forest and the related safety hazards that result from damaged or dead palms falling unexpectedly, ' Alexander Beatty of DPP's Urban Design Branch, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The department's main focus is on new development and replacement of landscapes, he said. 'The DPP has limited authority over private landscape ; therefore, we are focusing our efforts in street trees, which require DPP approval, and in the special districts, which often require approved landscape plans, ' Beatty added. In March 2024 the department implemented a policy aimed at slowing the spread of CRB until effective treatments are available. The policy is focused on areas under DPP's direct authority and includes the following measures :—Prohibiting palms from fulfilling street tree requirements.—Discouraging the use of palms to meet landscaping requirements.—Limiting the use of compost, wood, tree chips and mulch that may harbor CRB.—Requiring compliance with the state Department of Agriculture's interim rule restricting the movement of CRB host materials.—Mandating an invasive species management plan for affected developments.—Ensuring damaged palms are replaced with tree species that are not susceptible to CRB. Despite efforts, DPP continues to see new urban landscapes dominated by palms, such as coconut and loulu. The department encourages residents and developers to consider alternative tree species. Native and Polynesian-introduced species featured on the city's Street Tree List offer a range of sizes and benefits. Those plants include alahee, ohia, hau, milo, kou, kukui, lonomea, manele, variegated hau and kamani. Canopy trees favored Areas in urban Honolulu—including those with special districts—continue to have spots where coconut palms are common. The Hawaii Capital Special District, the Punchbowl Special District, the Thomas Square Special District, the future Transit Oriented Development Special Districts and the Waikiki Special District are among the locations, according to Beatty. 'These areas rely heavily on palm plantings, and that reliance poses a real threat to our urban forest, ' he said. 'It also creates an elevated hazard since these are more pedestrian-oriented and highly trafficked areas. Kakaako is also in this area but is not under the jurisdiction of the DPP for landscaping.' He noted coconut trees themselves are not effective canopy trees either. 'Canopy trees offer exceptional public benefits relative to their cost—providing shade, mitigating the urban heat island effect, managing storm water and enhancing the pedestrian experience, especially when diverse species are planted, ' he said. A result of this effort has been a renewed focus on incorporating Hawaiian canopy trees, according to Beatty. 'Several projects in Waikiki have already replaced palms in their landscape plans with more canopy trees, ' he said. 'For example, Hilton Hawaiian Village plans to significantly increase canopy coverage around the edges of their campus, particularly near the lagoon.' Another hope is tree growers will increase availability of these species so they can be used more often and at larger scales, he said. 'We also hope that other projects, including those in Ala Moana and Kakaako, will see the wisdom of diversifying the planting to make a more resilient community forest and take action on their own, ' he said. 'Damaged trees that have been treated are still a hazard, and should be replaced. 'We understand that this will require a shift in thinking from the community, including developers and landscape architects, ' he said. 'However, planting shade trees and replacing damaged palms with shade trees will help create a more resilient community forest.' As far as DPP's efforts, no city funds have been spent to quash the CRB threat. 'We are operating within the existing regulatory framework of zoning and street trees, ' Beatty said. Jeanne Rice, an Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board member, said the CRB problem is a threat to all of Oahu, not just in the vicinity of her longtime residence near Ala Moana Regional Park. 'I think everyone needs to be vigilant regarding these beetles. I've seen the damage they can do personally ; it's such a shame, and I know the state has been trying for many years to eradicate them too, ' she added. Few success stories First detected in Hawaii in 2013 after being discovered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, the ravenous beetles have spread to different parts of Oahu where coconut palms and other palm varieties have become their main source of food. The insects are native to Africa, China, Myanmar, India and Southeast Asia. Adult beetles are black, 2 inches long and have a visible horn. They typically take wing at night and can fly up to 2 miles if looking for a food source. Female beetles might lay 50 to 140 eggs in their lifetime, which is four to nine months. And although the insects don't bite, they can carry disease and should not be handled with bare hands, if possible. CRBs create bore holes in palm trees that can lead to an individual tree's untimely demise. They then eat palm fronds to the point where the foliage is unable to photosynthesize, or turn sunlight into chemical energy for the tree to grow or survive. As insecticides and other bug-stopping methods have proved only moderately effective in controlling the spread of CRBs, the City and County of Honolulu has worked to identify and remove dead or dying coconut palms at city-owned parks, as such trees can become CRB breeding grounds. Many of those parks are located along the Leeward Coast and the North Shore. 'Really, the unfortunate truth is it's going to get worse before it gets better, ' said city Department of Parks and Recreation spokesperson Nate Serota, during an October news conference at Haleiwa's Bill and Peggy Paty Kaiaka Bay Beach Park, where many palms needed to be cut down due to CRB infestations. 'We're going to have to start removing more and more of these palms, really out of concern for public safety.' But, according to Serota, CRBs don't stop at just palm trees. He said the destructive insects threaten 'heritage plants ' as well, including taro and other staples brought by the Polynesian voyagers who first populated the Hawaiian Islands centuries ago. The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Team, administered through the University of Hawaii and funded by the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Defense, is also part of the effort to control the beetle. At the same news conference in October, Keith Weiser, a CRB Response Team member, said 'success stories ' in fighting these insects are few and far between and mainly occur only in urbanized areas. He noted that a combination of netting and insecticides—typically with the use of plant-based pyrethrins—can be used to control CRB infestations. For more information on DPP's program, visit.
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Forbes
How 6 Hotels Celebrate Earth Day Every Day
Half of Sensei Lanai is dedicated to a botanic garden. While Mother Nature faces unprecedented challenges with record temperatures and deadly natural disasters becoming more and more frequent, the hospitality industry isn't throwing in the sustainably sourced towel. Instead, luxury properties worldwide are doubling down on their commitment to the planet. Hotels and resorts are doing everything from rethinking room designs to rehabilitating ecosystems, and they're seeking vacationers' help with the efforts. Forbes Travel Guide has a vast list of VERIFIED Responsible Hospitality properties — those that demonstrate a commitment to more than 100 stringent standards to protect the environment and support the well-being of employees, guests and their communities — but we wanted to call out six special places that are doing their parts this Earth Day (April 22) and every other day to protect our planet without compromising the guest experience. This Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Lanai hotel doesn't just provide its guests with a wellness haven, it also makes sure the native flora and fauna are cared for. To that end, the breathtaking resort dedicates half of its 24 lush acres to a botanic garden. Hotel director of landscaping Robert Woodman cultivated and encouraged the regrowth of nearly 1,000 species of plants, with a focus on native Hawaiian- and Polynesian-introduced greenery. To help with these efforts, the resort employs water-efficient landscaping and uses produce grown from an indoor solar-powered greenhouse. These moves are crucial for preserving biodiversity on campus and supporting local ecosystems. As a beautiful bonus, the anthuriums, orchids and philodendrons dotting the grounds guarantee the hotel looks gorgeous all year. This property is working to ensure a bright future for the marine ecosystem. This Five-Star hotel takes great pride in being a responsible neighbor to the reef surrounding its three islands. An in-house marine biologist manages coral nurseries and works diligently to rehabilitate corals for reintegration into the reef. Additionally, the resort has partnered with Parley Maldives, the Maldivian branch of the nonprofit environmental organization Parley for the Oceans, to promote joint projects that ensure the future of the marine ecosystem. This collaboration ties in well with Hilton's larger Travel with Purpose initiatives to help drive responsible tourism around the world. Eco-awareness extends to all corners of this hotel. Sustainability has never looked more stylish than it does at this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel in Miami. Everything from the reclaimed sculptural driftwood check-in desk to the clustered tree stump tables to a striking 12,000-plant vertical garden, sets an elegant, eco-conscious tone. Design elements such as driftwood wall paneling, warm recycled pine headboards and organic cotton fabric used throughout the hotel's 426 guest rooms and suites create a space that feels as light as its carbon footprint. Locally sourced cuisine, carbon dioxide-offsetting measures and an electric Audi Q8 house car ensure that an eco-awareness extends to all corners of the property. Marine conservation is an essential part of Atlantis Dubai's mission. While neighboring sister properties Atlantis The Royal and Atlantis, The Palm's joint sustainability commitment led them to being named the first in the Middle East to earn the VERIFIED badge, it's the Atlantis Atlas Project, which implements various environmental and social sustainability initiatives, that may prove the most exemplary move. With marine conservation a major part of this mission, $1 is donated from every Atlantis Dubai marine animal experience (dolphin kayaking, anyone?) to support partnerships that combat unsustainable seafood harvesting and marine pollution. The projects focus on four vital components of the aquatic ecosystem: sharks, rays, dolphins and coral reefs. Atlantis Dubai has successfully bred and released 58 carpet sharks and 10 honeycomb rays into a marine-protected area after conducting thorough health assessments and behavioral programs to ensure the native marine animals' successful transition into the gulf. Experience Bali's rich cultural traditions during a stay here. The cultural programming at architect Bill Bensley's Four-Star luxury campsite enables guests to connect meaningfully with locals and experience Bali's rich cultural traditions. Visitors can prepare a traditional meal in the home kitchen of Pak Dewa, a fifth-generation Keliki farmer; sample babi guling (roasted suckling pig) and nasi campur (rice with side dishes)from popular local warungs (small, family-owned businesses); or spend a morning learning Keliki painting from I Wayan Gama, a master known for his colorful depictions of daily rural village life created with Chinese ink. These immersive experiences foster genuine cultural exchange and provide a deeper understanding of the vibrant world beyond the resort's walls, enriching the guest's understanding of the local community. JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea's amenities are thoughtful and sustainable. This Four-Star hotel in Turkey gets its youngest guests involved by promoting a more sustainable future with the help of a children's book. Grape Is in Nature entertains kids with stories of eco-friendly adventures, inspiring them to envision a greener world while instilling the importance of responsible living. Additionally, the book encourages families to do their part in creating a better future together by including foxtail flower seeds for them to plant back at home. Another sustainable amenity comes with turndown service. The Istanbul hotel gifts guests with a fragrant bar of soap made with lavender grown in its onsite JW Marriott Garden and olive oil. Use it during your stay or take it home as a naturally scented souvenir.
