File photo of a coffee berry borer (CBB) courtesy the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity

Coffee Berry Borer Infestation Areas Expanded

Big Island Video News

Jun 25, 2026

STORY SUMMARY

HAWAIʻI - The Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity approved a request to expand the areas to include the islands of Lānaʻi and Kauaʻi.

(BIVN) – The State of Hawaiʻi is expanding the areas designated as coffee berry borer (CBB) infestation areas to include the islands of Lānaʻi and Kauaʻi.

The Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity on Wednesday approved a request to expand the designated CBB infestation areas, which went into immediate effect.

Similar designations were made on Hawaiʻi Island in 2010, and Oʻahu in 2015.

From the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity:

With the board designating the islands of Lānaʻi and Kauaʻi as CBB-infested areas, almost every island with commercial production of coffee is considered infested with CBB and the current restrictions on the interisland movement of green coffee beans for roasting or consumption, used coffee bags and coffee harvesting equipment, will no longer require permits and inspection, but are still subject to periodic and random inspections. The board’s designation would still require a permit for the interisland movement of coffee plants and propagative plant parts including seeds for planting, to prevent the movement of pests.

The island of Molokaʻi remains the only island not considered infested with CBB. A permit and disinfestation treatment is still required for interisland movement of green coffee beans for roasting or consumption, used coffee bags and coffee harvesting equipment being transported to Molokaʻi. Coffee plants and propagative plant parts including seeds for planting will also continue to require a permit and one year quarantine period before being allowed to be transported to Molokaʻi.

If you need more information about the expanded infested area or permit requirements, please contact the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s Plant Quarantine Branch Acting Plant Specialist, Ms. Techie Lancaster, by phone: 808-832-0566, or email: DAB.PQSPEC@hawaii.gov.

About The Featured Image

File photo of a coffee berry borer (CBB) courtesy the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity


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