For the first time, BIISC is teaming up with Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO), Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT), and the Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR) for a coordinated, neighborhood-scale effort to tackle two growing problems at once in Kona Palisades: wildfire risk and the spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB).
Instead of addressing these issues separately, this program recognizes something simple but often overlooked — the same piles of green waste sitting in yards and along roadsides are contributing to both.
From May 1 through May 4, residents along Kaʻiminani Drive, between Māmalahoa Highway and Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, are invited to bring their green waste to designated collection bins placed throughout the area. The goal is straightforward: reduce the buildup of plant material before it becomes a bigger problem.
Green waste piles might seem like a normal part of maintaining a property, but over time they can quietly turn into risk. As material breaks down, it creates ideal breeding habitat for CRB. At the same time, dry and unmanaged piles can act as fuel, increasing fire danger close to homes.
For those with larger or difficult-to-move piles, limited assistance may be available, please email biisc@hawaii.edu to request kōkua.
Accepted:
- Tree branches and limbs
- Shrubs and hedge clippings
- Weeds and other yard plants
Not Accepted:
- Household trash
- Bagged yard waste
- Construction or demolition debris
- Appliances or electronics
- Hazardous waste (chemicals, oils, paint, etc.)
