BLNR Votes for More Money and an Extended Contract Period for Kaua‘i Mosquito Releases
Despite 100% of testifiers opposed to the experimental mosquito releases, the BLNR continues plowing forward with their reckless agenda
On May 10th, the State of Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) once again disregarded serious concerns voiced by our community about their dangerous lab-altered mosquito experiments. Without addressing the issues raised in numerous pages of testimony in opposition, and with no testimony in support of the agenda item, the board voted unanimously to double the contract amount and the contract period for bacteria-infected mosquito releases on Kaua‘i.
Information presented at the meeting reaffirms that these agencies have no intention of ever stopping this biotech experimentation, no matter what the risks are to the health of Hawai‘i’s people, wildlife, and ‘āina. Their focus is on keeping the cash cow of funding rolling into their coffers.
100% of the written and verbal testimony for the 5/10 meeting was in opposition to mosquito experimentation on the islands. Hawai‘i Unites’ testimony included compelling details about the potential significant impacts of the project on Kaua‘i and about the outright lies presented by the multi-agency propaganda campaign.
“The agencies involved in the project have lied about the introduction of foreign organisms into the islands and about the release of female mosquitoes that bite and breed and spread disease, and here on Maui the agencies involved are also deviating from the approved plan, blatantly deviating from this approved plan that was already reckless and unstudied, and these deviations are increasing the risks of helicopter fires and accident incidents.”
“The agencies releasing these lab-altered mosquitoes have admitted that the plan does not include monitoring the effects of the experimental mosquitoes on forest birds. That’s outrageous.”
Testifiers who showed up to oppose the plan questioned the hidden agenda behind the mosquitoes as well as the lack of data to back the project narrative.
“I don’t think that there has been sufficient evidence presented that the Incompatible Insect Technique is effective at preserving the birds.”
“You all understand that this is an experiment, a biotechnology biotech experiment, so the rest of us are going to become more focused on looking at your partners…”
“Who makes these decisions about new technology? Many people say vested interests. Yes, and that includes money interests.”
“Persons who are interested to save the birds would not just accept unstudied mechanisms that could also cause great social harm.”
Written testimony from multiple testifiers opposing the project included several pages detailing concerns about the risks of these lab-altered mosquitoes. Scientific studies, expert opinions, agency documents contradicting the state’s narrative, and references to court case filings were all presented. The clear voice of the people is overwhelmingly against this continuing desecration of Hawai‘i’s natural environment.
“Southern house mosquitoes transmit diseases to people and animals, and pathogen screenings are not being disclosed. Wolbachia bacteria can cause mosquitoes to become more capable of spreading diseases…This project has the potential to cause the extinction of the native birds it is meant to protect, and it could impact the health of the people. I demand an environmental impact statement.”
“To just dive right into this experimental program without a serious long term EIS is irresponsible. You are here to protect us and our environment.”
“Have we not learned that actions so easily implemented cannot be easily undone? This proposed headlong rush is dangerous.”
“Are you able to provide to the people of Hawai‘i the risks and impacts that this project would have on the health of the people of Hawai‘i, how it could affect our pets and other wildlife, and effects it may have on our delicate ecosystem and land and water?”
“Normally, we change our human habits, decreasing overfishing, protecting reef and birthing areas. However, in this case, we are introducing an ‘unnatural’ component to the world. It has not been fully studied and the impact can be more hazardous than the original problem.”
“There would be no monitoring of results of this reckless action, so perpetrators will never take blame for expected damage to our ‘āina.”
“Do we really want Hawai‘i to be discovered to be the biotech insect center for the world? How will that affect other industries on the islands and their populations?”
“Since spring 2022, as a veteran in National Security and Investigations for over 32 years, I have personally studied the science in depth behind the use of Wolbachia for mosquito control. After reviewing thousands of pages of scientific papers, environmental assessments, government documents, videos, interviews, and grants related to Wolbachia; as well as consulting with experts regularly; what stands out from all this research is that Wolbachia bacterium strains are still being discovered and its impacts are yet to be fully understood…
There has been no documentation offered to the public outlining risk analysis conducted on the security vulnerabilities for lab bred mosquitoes that can be utilized as bioweapons against a population (intended) nor details of quality control mechanisms for accidental transmission of pathogens (unintended).”
“It needs to be asked, what percentage of the funding and research was dedicated to testing what would happen in the environment? And those results would then need to be in the public domain for informed consent to be possible…
Releasing a flying organism whose habitat is water makes a mockery of the idea of a control group, to weigh up the risks and benefits.”
“Are you, as board members voting on the fate of our delicate island ecosystem, even informed enough on the science involved to make an accurate risk assessment? Are you so blinded by your concern for our endemic avian species that you will try anything no matter the risk to save them; even if it means your experimental project could become the proximate cause for their ultimate extinction?”
As has come to be expected, the BLNR chose to completely disregard serious concerns brought forward by testifiers. The discussion prior to voting was brief and provided no actual data or documentation to inform their decision-making. Kaua‘i Board Member Karen Ono inquired about the effects of helicopter noise pollution on native birds in the project area. Project representatives reaffirmed that no studies have been done, so no information is available. Member at Large Wesley Yoon stated that he hadn’t “to date heard any other innovative solutions to the decline” of native species. Releasing millions of experimental bacteria-infected mosquitoes into our fragile ecosystems looks to be the only approach he’s listening for. Apparently, he’s decided to ignore alternatives presented in court by tropical disease and vector expert Dr. Lorrin Pang. Yoon seemingly also has no interest in the alternative natural approach voiced by Kānaka Maoli calling for stream flow restoration. Chairperson Dawn Chang admitted to a lack of data and quickly moved the agenda item towards a vote. With millions of dollars in additional funding informing their decisions, the BLNR members unanimously voted to double the contract amount and contract period for the lab-altered mosquito releases on Kaua‘i.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources appears singularly focused on plowing forward with approval of these heavily funded mosquito experiments, no matter what the risks are to the health of the islands. We won’t stop speaking out and bringing truth to light. Mahalo to everyone for making our voices heard, documenting our opposition, and challenging the propaganda narrative of this multi-agency biotech agenda. More opportunities to stand up for protection of our environment from these mosquito projects are ahead. The agencies involved in this travesty are looking to milk this cash cow into perpetuity. They’ve even asserted that one of their next targets is to push state legislators for line-item funding in the Hawai‘i state budget.
Hawai‘i Unites has taken the Department of Land and Natural Resources and their Board to court to stop the release of these bacteria-infected mosquitoes on Maui. We can set a precedent with this case to strengthen Hawai‘i’s environmental laws for all islands and to impact the course of this agenda globally. Your tax-deductible donations help us continue challenging these dangerous biotech industry mosquito experiments.
Mahalo,
Tina Lia
Founder
Hawai‘i Unites
HawaiiUnites.org
Hawai‘i Unites is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of our environment and natural resources. Your tax-deductible donations help us to fulfill our mission of honoring and protecting our sacred connection to the natural world.
Report a Mosquito Bite
The State of Hawai‘i and its multi-agency partnership Birds, Not Mosquitoes have been releasing bacteria-infected mosquitoes in East Maui and conducting pilot study releases on Kaua‘i since 2023. As part of our ongoing research and documentation, Hawai‘i Unites has been compiling reports from throughout the islands about unusual mosquito bite reactions. If you’ve been bitten by a mosquito and would like to report the incident, please complete our Mosquito Bite Incident Report.