Ever since December 23, I’ve been engaged in a battle against two pretty nasty and significant invasive species for Hawai’i. The Little Fire And and the Coconut Rhiniceros Beetle. I am, essentially, the Department’s field general against these pests. It’s quite a challenge and I am finding that the works of some of the world greatest generals are filled with lessons that can be applied to insect invaders as well as human ones. Understanding the enemy is clearly a big one and in most battles to prevent a new invader from establishing a permanent beach head on Hawaii’s shores, this is huge. When Little Fire Ant first appeared in 1999, we knew some about it, but not enough and at the end of the window of opportunity, we did not know enough. I wasn’t there for that fight. I am here for the fight with LFA on O’ahu and while we have learned considerably, knowing is but part of the equation. Every piece of knowledge you have must lead to a response to address that piece of knowledge.
We’re in a similar problem with the coconut rhinoceros beetle. We’re learning fast, but there is so much unknowns. Even as we learn, we need to develop the answers and too often, the answers are not self evident. Still, we are making headway with the Rhino Beetle.
Still, the truly hard part is, preparing for the threat. Only by preparing for the threat, developing strategic plans, tactics to execute those plans… but this is can only be predicated on being informed enough to be effective. On too many issues we are unprepared. We’re estimating the rhino beetle project will costs in millions. One pest. How many threats are there? We don’t know.
And to quote another military genius, GI Joe, “Knowing is half the battle.”
