"Before tourism, coconut trees shaped Hawaii 's landscape for hundreds of years, tracing back to groves planted by alii, or chiefs, who once cultivated them by the thousands on Oahu, Kauai and other islands. Introduced by early Polynesian voyagers, the coconut tree, or niu, is not only one of Hawaii's most recognizable trees, but one that symbolizes food security, sovereignty and a deep connection to Hawaiian cultural traditions and ancestral foodways."
"The beetle was first found on Oahu in 2013. The species has since killed at least 200 trees and damaged over 1,000. The last few years have seen the beetle rapidly spreading: to Kauai, which has the second-worst infestation, found in May 2023; the island of Hawaii (aka the Big Island), found in October 2023; Maui in September 2023; and Lanai since May 2025."
"Eric Enos has seen firsthand what the beetle can do to coconut tree groves. When he was visiting Guam in 2010, he saw vast swathes of forest filled with what appeared to be spikes. He asked what they were, and was told by a local resident that all were once towering coconut trees that had been destroyed by the coconut rhinoceros beetle."
Coconut trees have long shaped Hawaii 's landscape and symbolize food security, sovereignty, and connections to ancestral Hawaiian foodways. The invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle, native to Southeast Asia, has killed or badly damaged trees across Pacific islands for over a century and has reached Hawaii. The beetle was first detected on Oahu in 2013 and has killed at least 200 trees and damaged over 1,000. Infestations spread to Kauai (May 2023), the island of Hawaii (October 2023), Maui (September 2023), and Lanai (May 2025). Many on Oahu and Kauai consider control difficult, while other islands retain more opportunity to limit spread. Eric Enos observed similar devastation in Guam and serves as executive director and co-founder of Kaala Farm in Waianae, Hawaii.
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