Palm Sunday

 with Soňa Holeňáková:

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

KHON2 Hawaii, Paradise lost: Hawaii palm trees to be cut down due to CRB

Hawaii’s palm trees are on the chopping block. Several palms were marked for removal after being damaged by invasive beetles on the North Shore of Oahu and experts said it is a troubling sign.

Longtime Haliewa resident Kali Bass said he first noticed the V-shaped fronds that indicate damage from coconut rhinoceros beetles at Ali’i Beach Park about two years ago. He said the trees were not always so shabby.“ Oh, no ways,” Bass said. “It just scares me that on this island, there won’t be another coconut left in about four years or so!”

The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation said marked trees could be removed as early as the week of Monday, Sept. 30 due to concern over heavy crowns falling on beachgoers. The palms at Ali’i are not the first casualties of the beetle battle. Parks and Recreation officials said about 100 palms were previously cut down along the Leeward Coast.