B.5. HAWAII AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLAN 
B.5.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF HAWAII’S PLAN 
Hawaii’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Management Plan was developed by the 
Hawaii Invasive Species Council and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division 
of Aquatic Resources and released in 2003 (available at 
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dar/pubs/ais mgmt plan fmal.pdf ). The goal of the Management 
Plan is to minimize harmful impacts of AIS through prevention and management of their 
introduction, expansion, and dispersal. The Plan identifies specific objectives to achieve this 
goal, including improved coordination, early detection and rapid response, monitoring of existing 
AIS, increased education and research, and effective laws promoting prevention and control. 
The Management Plan includes a monitoring and evaluation program and an implementation 
table that outlines responsible agencies and funding. 
B.5.2. CLIMATE CHANGE AND AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES IN HAWAII 
The effects of climate change in the tropical Pacific Basin are expected to cause a gradual 
warming of sea surface and air temperatures. Climate models project possible increases of 2.5 to 
5.5°F (1.4 to 3.1°C) between 2080 and 2099 (Christensen et al., 2007). Model results project a 
3% increase in precipitation in the Southern Pacific region. Sea levels are expected to rise in the 
Pacific Ocean, although the magnitude is uncertain (Christensen et al., 2007). Models project a 
rise between 3.9 to 4.7 inches (10 to 12 cm) in the short term and 11.8 to 15.0 inches (30 to 
38 cm) over the long term (PIRAG, 2001). Climate models also show a gradual increase in 
tropical cyclone frequency for islands in the Central and East-Central Pacific region (PIRAG, 
2001 ). 
Hawaii contains 40% of the United States’s endangered species. Invasive species are one 
of the major threats. For example, warming temperatures may allow mosquitoes to survive at 
higher altitudes, pushing already threatened native forest birds to higher elevations and into 
smaller ranges. Coral species and coral reef-dependent species also may be impacted by climate 
change and invasive species (Harvell et al., 1999). Warming water temperatures are projected to 
cause coral bleaching and increase the occurrence, the severity, and the spread of marine diseases 
(Harvell et al., 2002; Jones et al., 2004). Diseases could further exacerbate these problems by 
weakening ecosystems (Jones et al., 2004). 
B.5.3. THE HAWAII PLAN’S CURRENT INTEGRATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE 
Table B-4 summarizes how the Hawaii Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan 
addresses and incorporates the projected effects of climate change. Although Hawaii’s Plan does 
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