Hawaii farmer Fletcher Parker has found hundreds of coconut rhinoceros beetles in a mulch pile on Kaua‘i’s South Shore. The invasive pest is causing increasing damage to coconut trees. Parker and others are tracking the beetle's spread as part of a community mapping project funded by a county grant. The project aims to empower the community to collect evidence of the beetle’s presence and inform solutions. The nonprofit E Ola Kākou Hawai‘i leads the effort, which includes community workdays and educational events. The initiative is seen as a model for other Hawaiian communities dealing with the pest.
