Proposals sought for coconut rhinoceros beetles management in green waste

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is seeking proposals from nonprofit organizations to eliminate coconut rhinoceros beetles on O‘ahu, and another to support green waste management on Maui, Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i island, Kaua‘i and O‘ahu.

The beetle attacks various plants including coconut trees, palms, hala, taro, banana, pineapple and sugarcane. Green waste is a primary breeding ground for the invasive species.

Approximately $200,000 is available for projects to manage green waste in neighborhoods. The funding is broken into five awards, each with a maximum of $40,000, with one project each on Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i and O‘ahu.  

The request for proposals, details and application can be found at RFP-24-01-PI.

Green waste includes grass clippings, leaves, branches, hedge and tree trimmings, fruits and vegetables, palm fronds and other similar plant materials that can be composted. Proposals will be reviewed for clear objectives, measurable outcomes and data collection methods to show the measurable outcomes were met.

Proposals for the green waste request for proposal must be submitted electronically to the Agriculture Department via email to jonathan.k.ho@hawaii.gov by noon June 7. Priority will be given to community groups that have demonstrated concern about coconut rhinoceros beetles during public meetings or activities within the past year.

A separate request for proposals totaling $200,000 is available for Hawai‘i-registered nonprofit organizations on O‘ahu that have developed viable projects to control coconut rhinoceros beetles in their neighborhoods. That request for proposals number is RFP-24-02-PI.

Up to eight community organizations will be awarded a maximum of $25,000 each. Higher award amounts will be considered for proposals that are of extraordinary merit, that have a wider benefit outside their communities.

Awardees will be required to provide state tax clearance and a certificate of vendor compliance from the Hawai‘i Compliance Express, showing compliance with state procurement laws.