At Areté Collective, preserving Hawai‘i’s landscapes means protecting the iconic palms that define our communities and culture. The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) is an invasive threat to these trees, capable of weakening or killing palms if left unchecked. Addressing this challenge requires proactive management, careful monitoring and collaboration across the community.

A coalition made up of Areté Collective and the owner of the majority of Turtle Bay Resort, with local arborists, and the state CRB Response Team has implemented a comprehensive approach to safeguard Turtle Bay’s trees.

Key mitigation efforts include:

• Inoculating hundreds of coconut, royal, and date palms to prevent infestation
• Removing heavily infested or weakened trees while maintaining overall grove health
• Regularly managing mulch and green waste to disrupt beetle breeding
• Monitoring shoreline and groves for early detection of beetle activity

The community also plays a critical role in protecting Hawai‘i’s palms:

• Avoid stockpiling or transporting green waste
• Keep compost piles shallow (10” or less)
• Trim and inspect coconut palms regularly
• Report any beetle sightings to the CRB Response Team

Through coordinated action and community engagement, we are mitigating the threat of CRB while demonstrating how collaborative stewardship preserves Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural heritage for generations to come.

To learn more, visit crbhawaii.org or APHIS’s Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle page