Keep Kona Quiet: Honaunau Hawaii Coqui Frog Blog

January Update

2011-02-01T18:35:00.000-08:00

Aloha,

Here's the news for 2011. This January we had our annual board meeting. Four board members remain and one new member joined us. Mahalo to Ru for taking minutes as recording secretary and to Steve for serving as bookkeeper. We are grateful to report the Bill Healy Foundation accepted our grant proposal in 2010. Thank you for your grant of $4,000 we'll use toward treatment supplies, education efforts and special projects.

January we are treating areas on Painted Church Rd. Treatment dates to be scheduled for Napo'opo'o Rd coming soon. Neighbors in the area have given us permission to tag and treat a coqui infested property behind the coffee mill. If you live in South Kona and you are interested in Keep Kona Quiet, please volunteer. Volunteers are needed for education projects, contacting neighbors, and treatment days. CALL : 896-2110

How can you can help?
Friends, farmers and neighbors are supporting each other by:

Tagging Trees - join us for "friends & flashlights in the moonlight"
TREATing areas for coqui frog contol
Calling & Contacting neighbors
Make a Meal or a snack to "renew the crew"
Display the Keep Kona Quiet bumper sticker in a "loud" place.

Reminder: We are not a membership organization - the board serves as a legal body to get the supplies and info we need into the hands of helpers who will Keep Kona Quiet.

Donations accepted. Mail to:

Keep Kona Quiet
83-5368 Middle Ke'ei Rd
Captain Cook, HI 96704

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

Coqui Sounds in Puna

2011-01-28T14:58:00.000-08:00

Recently, some of our South Kona neighbors were in Puna. Listen to the noise recording of invasive coqui frog on RIGHT. The per acre density of frogs in Puna along the Red Road is very high. The sound from the coqui frogs there is intense and very loud.

Listening: on the right side of this blog page you'll see a green mp3 player. Click on the triangle to hear the sounds of the night when coqui frogs are allowed to spread. From a distance the coqui sound may not seem noisy, however, at a close distance their sound is deafening - measured at over 90 decibels (louder than a lawn mower). Imagine this sound near your home throughout the night.

Keep Kona Quiet

2010 Update

2010-07-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

A Neighborhood Watch meeting is scheduled tonight at the Painted Church form 6 - 8 pm for residents in Honaunau near Painted Church Rd, Middle Keei Rd and surrounding areas. Agenda includes a brief update on our community coqui situation.

Please note: flyers distributed at the meeting are now posted here for your reference - currently updated for 2010. Mahalo.

Tips for Community Coqui Control

from the 2010 Honaunau Ke’ei Coqui Watch

WHY we need to work together:

Do you hear coqui frog noise in the evening? Coqui are small frogs that make big noise. Above the Mormon Church on Hwy 11, decibel levels have been measured between 70 - 90. This is the level of moderate-to-heavy street traffic or the din in neighborhoods along aircraft corridors. 75 decibels or higher substantially increases the risk of hearing loss. Unmanaged coqui habitats can create excessive noise.

The World Health Organization recognizes noise as a serious health hazard. Prolonged or

excessive exposure to noise may lead to sleep loss, provoke annoyance responses or hearing

impairments. (Research from the WHO online).

WHAT are coqui frog habits & facts:

During the day, most coqui frogs reside just under the ground to stay wet and cool: under low plants, mulch or rocks. However, some frogs stay up in plants that hold moisture like bananas, ti, and lahala. At sunset, any time of the year, frogs come to the ground surface to eat bugs. Please note: just after sunset is a good time to locate frogs and eradicate them even when it is dry and males are not calling. Coqui have an area on their underside where they absorb moisture. When they sit on the slat baking soda powder, they absorb it and die. Dusting under specific trees should be quicker and more effective than covering an entire habitat area.

Males are mature enough to make noise at about 7 months. Males climb plants or manmade

objects (including house rooftops!) in the evening to call females and claim their territory. Females and young males do not make noise. Male coqui are quiet when it’s dry, cold, or tending eggs. You may have coqui, even if you don’t hear them. Know that when you first hear one or two frogs, there are many more silently multiplying that you don’t hear. Therefore, keep treating & maintaing infested areas.

A pair of frogs can produce *40 frog eggs every two & a half weeks. That’s 291,600,000 frogs in 40 months. A concerned resident at a Kona Rotary meeting reported 10,000 frogs per acre. There are no natural predators for coqui frogs on the Hawaiian Islands and populations are expanding out of balance. Research is currently being done to test coqui impact on the ecology.

While it is seems coqui are here on the island to stay, know you and your immediate

neighbors CAN do your part to keep coqui away!

HOW to take action with a few easy steps:

Coqui control is successful when motivated neighbors take ACTION to work together!

While many methods have been tried for coqui control, coqui frog populations can be managed. Communities near Capt. Cook Rd, Kaloko, Honalo, Hawi & N. Kohala are frog free. Create your own “frog free zone” with neighbors near you!

Many methods:

TAG -n- TREAT: For ‘isolated frogs‘, when you first hear 1 or 2

This best time to manage coqui near you!

First listen and locate frogs in the evening just after sunset.

Directly apply citric acid solution (formula below), with hand sprayer. Direct contact is needed to be effective.

Or, tag trees with survey tape, write down month & year of finding with marker pen. (chances are, you may have to return to this spot later for follow up treatment) Return the next day, on a clear afternoon with little chance of rain, and treat area with dry baking soda*. (Baking soda will still work even when its a little wet). Distribute baking soda evenly around base of tagged trees. When coqui frogs come up from the ground near sunset time to feed, their contact with baking soda causes death.

For larger areas of coqui habitat infestation:

spray citric acid solution or dry baking soda* from a large backpack blower Several applications may be needed for maintenance. Prevent coqui habitats from spreading or secure the perimeter of your property by clearing a 5 ft barrier along your property.

* Citric acid dissolve in water with any size sprayer: 1.3 lb of citric acid per gallon 1 of water. (16% solution) This solution requires direct contact with coqui frog to be effective.

* Catch by Hand use clear plastic gloves or bags, turn inside out, tie & put in freezer.

* Hydrated lime is no longer legally recommended for coqui control, but some find it still works.

* Hot water – 113 to 119 degrees – kills frogs

Baking soda is found effective “in the field” however, it is still considered an experimental method and not approved by the BIISC - more research needs to be done.

KEEP KONA QUIET: Honaunau Ke’ei Coqui Watch

Volunteers are needed: in the field, make a meal to renew the crew, or to call & coordinate treatment dates with neighbors. Please note: our community coqui watch is currently designed as a resource for education and empowerment, your participation and contribution is encouraged so we can work together.

Keep Kona Quiet, a 501c3 (#20-3505810), kindly accepts your tax-deductible donations.

Support our sole mission and purpose: protect the peaceful environment of Honaunau & Ke’ei ahupua’a through community coqui control. Mahalo & Aloha

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

June update - Neighborhood reports

2010-06-22T11:28:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

Thank you to our neighbors who are taking action to maintain hawaii coqui frog populations in Honaunau and Captain Cook in the past few weeks:
on Rock Bottom Rd, Painted Church Rd, makai of Captain Cook police station, and makua of Honaunau school.

With the return of the rains, it a good opportunity to listen and locate frogs. Mark your trees with survey tape or string so you can return later for treatment.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet!

aloha.

Hitchhikers

2010-05-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Our faithful President and V.P. went out to assess the situation at the Honaunau PO this Monday. For now it seems mostly quiet, except for a lone coqui frog, a 'hitchhiker' resting on a truck around the corner on HWY 160. Please note our treatment plan for the PO on WED this week is canceled, and may be rescheduled later.

Remember, when you travel to coqui infested areas, coqui frogs may 'hitchhike' a free ride on your car or truck. The frogs then may jump off in your driveway or wherever you park and establish habitats in new areas.

You can help prevent the spread of coqui frogs. Sprinkling a light dusting of baking soda underneath your car where you park. Since the frogs dissolve on contact with salty content in baking soda, this can prevent these 'hitchhikers' from establishing new noisy habitats near your home.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet.

May Update

2010-05-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

After a soft return of rain in West Hawaii, Honaunau volunteers are gathering together to maintain coqui frog populations in their neighborhoods.

Mahalo to:
Chuck and friends who met on Tuesday 5/18 near Hwy 11 and the pizza place in Captain Cook.

Ron and friends to Re-treat SKEA on HWY 11 in Honaunau on Wed. 5/19

Next week:
Listen and locate frogs at Honaunau PO at 7 pm MON 5/24,
Then, meet Chris and friends to re-treat this area on WED 5/26 at 4 pm.

Our mantra to Keep Kona Quiet is : Tag, Treat and Repeat. First, listen and locate frogs to TAG trees just after sunset. Return during the day to TREAT the area. REPEAT the process for the most effective results.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet.

From West Hawaii Today: The Frog Whisperer

2010-05-12T01:49:00.000-07:00

The frog whisperer

Studying coqui, and the people who hate or love them

by Peter SurStephens Media
Sunday, May 9, 2010 7:27 AM HST

Check out this article on Big Island Hawaii coqui frogs from West Hawaii Today The frog whisperer

April Update

2010-04-26T02:00:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and neighbors,

Our April update is short and sweet:

Thanks to the volunteers who said yes to treating the area near SKEA last week. They met and worked with some of the local neighbors to prevent the spread of the invasive coqui frog in South Kona. Mahalo.

Next week, volunteers meet neighbors near the Painted Church. Tag on Monday April 26th at 7pm, listen and locate coqui frogs. Then, Treatment Tuesdays at 3 or 4 pm.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet!

Dates are being discussed for projects near the Honaunau PO, Captain Cook just off Hwy 11 and re-treating areas from last fall. Stay tuned to our community frog blog. Aloha.

Compassionate Communications for Community

2010-04-01T00:58:00.000-07:00

Dear neighbors & friends,

Requests for communication resources came in after a recent Neighborhood Watch Meeting on March 31, 2010 at the Paleaku Peace Gardens. This article is reprinted from an earlier OCT 2009 post. The work is based on Marshall Rosenberg's book, Non-Violent Communication.

Compassionate Communication

for Community Coqui Control

This is a guide for establishing connection and understanding with your neighbors for community coqui control. Have an intention to remain open to possibilities for creating connection with others when you communicate about this issue. Stay connected to your purpose in sharing - to build awareness, foster education, and to support community collaboration in sharing the responsibility of managing coqui frog populations.

Follow these steps to establish communication:

1. Share the FACTS:

With your closest neighbors, begin a conversation for coqui control with facts or observations. Start with what you see and hear. Here are some examples:

* I noticed “I hear several coqui frogs on your property.”

Noise levels: Did you know unmanaged coqui habitats have been measured between 70 - 90 decibel levels? Levels above 75 decibels risks hearing or sleep loss.
Rapid reproduction rates: A pair of frogs can produce 291,600,000 frogs in 40 months or 40+ every 2 1/2 weeks. In unmanaged areas, up to 10,000 frogs per acre have been counted.

2. Share the feelings and values you care about:

* I feel concerned about the health and well-being of people in our community who live in areas where frogs are getting established. * I feel an urgency to do something now, before it’s too late. * I want to help manage the coqui frog population because I value quiet in my neighborhood.

Look for a common connection with your neighbor. What needs or values do you share?

* Health & well-being * Peace, quiet or tranquility * Environmental & personal responsibility * Care for the land /malama the aina * Integrity * Respect for nature/life

3. Establish connection with others by:

* Asking how they feel hearing what you've said.

* Ask if they share some of the needs/values you expressed. If so, which ones?

* If they express a differing viewpoint, try to guess what it is that they need or value. Listen and reflect back what you understand so they know you hear them.

4. Request action, once you have determined you share similar concerns/values:

* Are you willing to allow a team of volunteers help you in managing coqui on your land?

* Will you clear brush and overgrowth from your yard to prevent coqui habitat from spreading?

Are you willing to donate 2 hours of your time each month to support community coqui control?

Andrea Pro offers classes, individual sessions, and works with groups using the skills of Compassionate Communication, based on the model of NVC. For support with deepening connection and improving communication in your relationships contact Andrea at andrea@konacoast.com.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

Baking soda for Coqui Frogs

2010-04-01T00:49:00.000-07:00

Mahalo Cindy for sharing this article.

Council looks at coqui killers

by Peter Sur
Tribune-Herald Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 9:42 AM HST

'Agent Green' touted as among the most effective

Councilwoman Brenda Ford wants to get the ball rolling on approving baking soda as a pesticide for use against coqui frogs.

Meeting as the Environmental Management Committee, County Council members listened to a presentation from various scientists on the different methods and chemicals that people are using across the Big Island.

The frogs, native to Puerto Rico, have become widely established throughout the island's lower elevations, even in areas experiencing a severe drought. High concentrations of the chirping males disrupt the sleep of countless residents and visitors. The frogs' incessant appetite poses a threat to native insects and the birds that depend on them. If overseas markets decide to restrict imports from Hawaii based on the threat of a coqui infestation, that would harm the economy. Mark Munekata, a volunteer with the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board and former research technician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, passed to the council two large jars containing three live frogs each.

"The main thing is the public needs to be trained in using any of these methods, and all," Munekata said. "Because one thing that the coqui frog has shown is that it is adaptable. Once you think you have got it under control and you understand it, it does something else and throws you totally for a loop."

Residents have been experimenting for years ways to capture or kill the frogs, attacking them with chemicals, powders, sprays and traps of all kinds. Members of the public testified that chickens, baking soda, and neighborhood cooperation were all effective.

Several of the speakers praised the "Agent Green" developed by orchardist David Davis. This solution of acidic calcium sulfate, he said, is nontoxic, half the cost of citric acid and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

"I'm asking for the council's support in further development of this," Davis said.

Citric acid is the only chemical approved for use against the frogs. Calcium carbonate -- baking soda -- is not, but the FDA classifies both substances as "generally recognized as safe."

"Baking soda will control the frog. It'll also kill your grass," Munekata said. "It's not the silver bullet, but it's something that the public understands."

Munekata said the major manufacturers of baking soda, including the company that makes Arm & Hammer, do not want the state to use their product as a pesticide, "which is unfortunate."

The frogs will eat honey bees, fruit flies, small lizards, other coquis and "anything that fits into the mouth," he said.

Munekata urged that the public get some kind of educational program to raise awareness about the frog.

Ford, who requested the presentation, then asked other specialists present to comment on what they heard.

Lionel Wong is the head of the state Department of Agriculture's Plant Industry Division.

He said that the state was asking the Environmental Protection Agency to grant plant nurseries permission to use hydrated lime.

Baking soda could be procured from sources in China, for example, if U.S. manufacturers don't allow it to be used for frog control, Wong said.

Agent Green, if it's effective against the coquis, should be considered for registration as a pesticide, Wong said. And it cannot be described as nontoxic.

Bill Mautz, a biology professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, said that all acids or bases will kill the frogs if in high enough concentrations.

"The question before us is what ones work that are inexpensive and relatively not hazardous," he said. "I find ... that sodium bicarbonate isn't nearly as effective as citric acid, but in high enough concentrations it does work to kill coqui frogs."

He called Davis' Agent Green "very effective" by causing death within a matter of minutes. Mautz also endorsed chickens and the clearing of vegetation to deprive the frogs of habitat.

Ford pledged to meet the scientists at a later time, and asked about the process of getting baking soda approved for use on the frogs.

"Which of you gentlemen is going to be working on getting baking soda potentially approved as a pesticide?" she asked, inviting Wong to step forward.

Wong said the state could submit a request for an exemption to the EPA.

"How do we inspire you to fill out an application for an exemption?" Ford asked. Wong said he would work with Munekata to determine the best way to do so.

TONIGHT Neighborhood Watch & Community meeting

2010-03-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

Friends and neighbors near Painted Church Rd, Hwy 160, Napo'opo'o and Middle Ke'ei in Honuanau are invited to meet together tonight, 6-8 pm at the Paleaku Peace Gardens.

To be discussed: recent car thefts, (4 in the past month) the prevention of fire ants and coqui frog update.

Thank you for your support and Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet.

Step into Spring

2010-03-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

With the return of the rains, come a return of the coqui frogs noise and our community's commitment to Keep Kona Quiet. There has been request from the community to malama the area near Patel's and SKEA.

Next week: Step into Spring
Learn the process of Tag, Treat and Repeat.

Meet at Patel's (The Sprit Gas Station) near mile marker 106 on HWY 11.

Monday evening 3/29 at 6:30 to TAG trees and listen for frog sound.

Next Tuesday 3/30 at 4 pm TREAT area.

Depending on the size of the job and area, volunteers will discern if 2 locations can be treated on one day.

In other news, neighbors on Rock Bottom Rd share that they are treating their property on their own, after a few volunteer "education" visits this fall. Our group is about community, education and empowerment. We work together and help each other to manage and malama coqui noise.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet.

Hawai'i County Coqui Programs end in April

2010-03-26T01:39:00.000-07:00

The County of Hawai‘i will be continuing its Coqui Frog Community Loan Sprayer program after previously announcing it would end with a public auction of the County’s coqui frog spraying equipment. The loan sprayer program had been slated to end on April 30.

County Mayor Billy Kenoi announced today that the program will continue its current assignment of 26 County sprayers to coqui “cooperators,” or organizations that use the County’s sprayers on loan to control frogs in their communities. Therefore, there will be no equipment auction.

The County currently loans coqui sprayers to community cooperators and employs its own two-member crew for coqui control.

Due to budget constraints, after April 30, the County will no longer be doing its own spraying to control coqui frogs. Community cooperators may continue using the equipment at no cost but they will be responsible for costs related to the sprayers including repairs and spraying materials.

The coqui frog community loan sprayer program, currently a function of the Mayor’s Office, will be moved to the County’s agriculture office in the Department of Research and Development. Until April 30, callers with coqui concerns may call 961-8065 for more information and referral to one of the County’s community cooperators to borrow a sprayer.

The new number for the loan sprayer program after April 30 will be announced.

Hunter Bishop

Executive Assistant to the Mayor

Office of Mayor, County of Hawaii

808-961-8565 / 808-987-5186

hbishop@co.hawaii.hi.us

Coqui frog control back in local news

2010-03-17T02:09:00.000-07:00

There have been a few articles lately in the West Hawaii Today about the county's attempt to manage the Hawaii coqui frog situation. Community groups speak up to get the resources they need, HERE

As the spring rains return to South Kona, so is your invitation to follow the 3 simple steps needed for community control: tag, treat and repeat.

Remember - this is an on-going project. View our earlier posts for details.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet!

Mahalo - Thank you for your donations

2010-02-16T00:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce that last month the New Thought Center of Hawaii offered their December tithe to our 501c3. Mahalo for your donation of $225.

We were blessed in December 2009 by the generosity of the friends and fans Kona Harp Ensemble. They offered us a $120 donation after the benefit concert.

Our deepest thanks goes out to our friends in the field - those who take the time with their friends and flashlights in the moonlight to find coqui frogs!

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet.

Do you have your Keep Kona Quiet bumper sticker? Support your neighbors by placing these stickers in a "loud" place! Find them at the South Kona Green Market, Sundays 9-2 at the Amy Greenwell Gardens in Captain Cook on Hwy 11 across from Mango hotel. Your donations are gratefully accepted.

No Rain, No Frogs? Reminders for Coqui Control

2010-01-27T10:37:00.000-08:00

Has the lack of rain in West Hawaii reduced coqui frog noise? This research in Puerto Rico suggests that drought deters their life cycle, but they will return when rains return.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/1564995

Below are a few reminders for community coqui control. Mahalo for your interest and concern. http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/pi/pq/coqui

Action Plan

for COMMUNITY Coqui Control

TAG * TREAT * REPEAT

Coqui frog control has been successful when neighbors are motivated & committed to work together. Keep the peace & quiet in your community by aligning with your immediate neighbors. All you need is 2 friends or neighbors willing to work together and take these few easy steps: Tag,Treat & Repeat.

Many methods have been tried to prevent the invasive Hawaii coqui frog from spreading. The latest includes an easy technique with a leaf blower or backpack blower & dry baking soda.

Please NOTE: Many neighbors report success with this method to quiet coqui. The information shared here has been learned through experience by our friends and farmers 'in the field". While this technique is not officially ‘approved’ by BIISC at this time, there is currently research being done by the USDA. Visit HERE: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/coqui/documents/USDASodiumbicarbonatereport.pdf

For ‘isolated frogs‘ (when you first hear 1 or 2):

Listen & locate sound, TAG tress, then clear underbrush. TREAT with baking soda evenly around base of trees. REPEAT a month or so later. Start at the base, and work your way up to about 10 feet. If you start top-down, the frog may jump and you’ll miss the mark. After an evening of “coqui calling”, these frogs often return to the ground to remain cool and wet during the day. Contact with baking soda causes death. Know that when you first hear one or two frogs, there are many more silently multiplying that you don’t hear! The best time to manage coqui noise near you is NOW.

For larger areas of coqui infestation:

Spray dry baking soda dust with a leaf blower/backpack blower on top of the mulch/ground. Have one person hold the leaf blower, and another a container with baking soda. If necessary, create a 5 foot barrier clearing around your property edge to prevent frogs from spreading or if you want to secure the perimeter of your property from coqui habitation.

More Coqui Research

2010-01-07T18:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Mahalo to all those treating the area near Honaunau Post Office. We will continue to re-treat PO once a month and other areas by request.

Here is a link with the latest info for coqui research.
Enjoy!

http://www.hawaii247.org/category/education/

Buy Tickets in Advance for Benefit

2009-12-10T12:50:00.000-08:00

Reminder, buy your tickets in advance for "Joy to the World" benefit concert.
NOW available at PATELS, The Spirit Gas Station near Middle Keei Rd & Hwy 11
and South Kona Green Market Sunday 12/13 in Captain Cook at the Amy Greenwell Botanical Gardens from 10:30am til close.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

The Kona Harp Ensemble Presents

Joy to the World
Solstice Celebration & Christmas Concert

Friday, December 18th, 7 to 9 pm

Painted Church Meeting Hall

84-5140 Painted Church Road, Honaunau

Proceeds benefit Keep Kona Quiet: The Honaunau Keei Coqui Watch, a non-profit organization to preserve & protect the peaceful environment of Honaunau and Ke’ei ahupua’a through community coqui control.

Join in on the Spirit of the Holiday Season

with your family, friends and community

The Kona Harp Ensemble has managed to birth a new sound. The shimmering vibration of multiple harps with the wide expanse of modern influences, mixed with the world sound of Eastern flutes and the crystalline vocals of Bernice Roberto. Bernice, also on harp, is joined by the soulfully talented Irminsul on harp and synthesizer; and delicately spectacular musicians Kristin Aria Shaw on harp and percussion, and Manuel Roberto on flute. From the wealth of talent and experience possessed by this ensemble, comes a sound completely unique and stirring. Their concerts are rich, inspirational and leave their audiences feeling uplifted and in awe. For more information on The Kona Harp Ensemble, please visit: www.KonaHarpEnsemble.com

Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
For information, advanced tickets & directions

please call: Sheoli at 328-2082

DEC events & updates

2009-12-08T21:31:00.000-08:00

Board Meeting for Honaunau Keei Coqui Watch

Keep Kona Quiet

Dec 1, 2009

5 pm Ah Paradise B & B

***************************************

Our Board has expanded this year, from 4 active seats, now to 6. Some Board members also hold officer positions:

Board and Officer Elections for 2010

Tom for president

Miles for VP

Steve as Treasurer

Esta, Secretary

Ru and Chris on as board members

Mahalo for your presence and support.

Donations being accepted now through 2010

Mail to:

Keep Kona Quiet

83-5368 Middle Ke'ei Rd

Captain Cook, HI 96704

What’s Next for us in the next few weeks:

“Re-treat” Honaunau PO next month, early Jan.

“Re-treat” the Dragonfly Ranch & surrounding neighbors

Visit Ah Paradise and new neighbors on Rock Bottom Rd.

Returning to neighbors on upper Middle Keei Rd.

Visit the Keep Kona Quiet calendar above for details.

How you can help

Friends, farmers and neighbors are supporting each other by:

Tagging Trees - join us for "friends & flashlights in the moonlight"

TREAT - dust areas for coqui frog contol

Call & Contact neighbors

Make a Meal or a snack to "renew the crew"

Initiate a FUNdraiser$

DONATE$

Display the Keep Kona Quiet bumper sticker in a "loud" place.

Reminder: We are not a membership organization - the board serves as a legal body to get the supplies and info we need into the hands of helpers who will Keep Kona Quiet.

Meet your neighbors active for community coqui control

Make your mark on the community map at our next event:

Joy to the World
Solstice Celebration & Christmas Concert

Friday, December 18th, 7 to 9 pm

Painted Church Meeting Hall

84-5140 Painted Church Road, Honaunau

For tickets, please call Sheoli 328-2082

only $10 in advance or $15 at the door

(details on earlier NOV post)

Mahalo for doing YOUR PART
to Keep Kona Quiet

NOV 2009 update

2009-11-29T23:46:00.000-08:00

This month, neighbors gathered in five regions to manage invasive coqui frogs to Keep Kona Quiet. Team leaders are organizing neighbors to support each other near Honaunau Post Office, Painted Church Rd, Rock Bottom Rd, Middel Ke'ei and near Napo'opo'o Villiage.

While the drought in South Kona has helped couqi control, we learned it's important to remain diligent in our treatment efforts, even in dry season.

The coqui volunteers find that the Hawaii coqui frog project is bringing people together. The situation has created opportunities to connect and get to know our neighbors.

Mahalo for those taking initiative to work together to preserve the peace and quiet in Honaunau: our "Action Team" for tagging trees & treatment days, folks making a meal or snack to "renew the crew", our educators - sharing information at the South Kona Green Market and special events, and others involved in fundraising. See previous post on the coming Benefit Concert, Joy to the World on 12/18.

A special thanks to Young Brothers

for a $500 grant to support us with supplies.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet.

12/18 Holiday Concert

2009-11-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

We are delighted to announce a Holiday concert to benefit Keep Kona Quiet. Thanks to the generosity and innovation of community; friends, neighbors and farmers have access to the information and supplies they need to preserve peace and quiet in Honaunau.

The Kona Harp Ensemble Presents

Joy to the World
Solstice Celebration & Christmas Concert

Friday, December 18th, 7 to 9 pm

Painted Church Meeting Hall

84-5140 Painted Church Road, Honaunau

Join in on the Spirit of the Holiday Season

with your family, friends and community

Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
For information, advanced tickets & directions

please call: Sheoli at 328-2082

email: info@AwakeningInParadise.com.

Advanced tickets available at the South Kona Green Market Sunday 12/6 (visit the education booth - Keep Kona Quiet)

Thank you for supporting live music in Kona!

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

The Honaunau/Keei Coqui Watch is a 501c3 & kindly accepts tax-deductible donations. Support our sole mission: to preserve & protect the peaceful environment of Honaunau and Ke’ei ahupua’a through COMMUNITY coqui frog control.

TAG * TREAT* REPEAT

2009-10-31T08:49:00.000-07:00

Action Plan

for COMMUNITY Coqui Control

TAG * TREAT * REPEAT

Many methods have been tried to prevent the invasive Hawaii coqui frog from spreading. The latest includes an easy technique with a leaf blower or backpack blower & dry baking soda.

For ‘isolated frogs‘ (when you first hear 1 or 2):

For larger areas of coqui infestation:

More about Coqui Frogs:

All frogs come up to eat bugs around sunset, even when it is dry and males are not calling. Powder when there is no rain to wash the powder away. Baking soda will still work when its a little wet. Coqui have a area on their underside where they absorb moisture. When they sit on the powder, they absorb it and die. Dusting under specific tree should be a lot quicker than covering an area. Mark infested area when you hear frogs, then dust it when there is less rain.

A pair of frogs can produce 291,600,000 frogs in 40 months.

Males are mature enough to make noise at about 7 months. Males climb plants or manmade objects (including house rooftops!) in the evening to call for females. Females and young males do not make noise. Male coquis are quiet when it’s dry, or cold, or they are tending eggs.

During the day, frogs are on the ground, under low plants, mulch or rocks. Frogs can stay up in plants that hold moisture like bananas and lauhala. Near sunset any time of the year most frogs come up to the surface to eat bugs. This is a good time to kill them.

Many Methods:

* Hydrated lime is the least expensive method. While helpful for soil PH it is no longer “approved” for coqui control and not appropriate for organic farmers. Mixed with water, it requires a sprayer with an agitator. Don’t breathe lime or get it in your eyes. Agitating sprayers may be available for loan by HI county. Under restricted conditions in farm fields and nurseries, lime can be applied dry. People must be kept away for 48 hours; the lime remains effective about that long.

* Citric acid dissolves well and can be used in any sprayer. Use 1½ lbs per gallon of water. The challenge is it requires direct coqui contact, and may damage some plants.

* Hot water 113 to 119 degrees – kills frogs on contact.

* Hand - catch at night with plastic gloves, turn in side out and put in freezer.

Visit the West Hawaii Today archives to see how community groups in South Kona, Hawaii support community coqui control. Learn to prevent coqui frog infestation near you. http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2009/08/30/features/features04.txt

Thank you for visiting and

Mahalo for doing YOUR PART

to Keep Kona Quiet.

Show your support 10/31 for coqui control at Pua Plantasia

2009-10-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

The Honaunau Keei Coqui Watch has been invited to participate in one of the largest plant sales in West Hawaii, Pua Plantasia. We are happy to have support from the Kaloko group, a former employee of Sunrise Nursery, and Andrea Pro with NVC.

Purchase some beautiful plants to support the KOC, then spend some time with us at the coqui control booth to show your support to Keep Kona Quiet! Mahalo & Aloha.

October 31, 2009
KONA OUTDOOR CIRCLE'S 32nd ANNUAL PUA PLANTASIA EVENT - MAKA'EO EVENTS PAVILION, OLD AIRPORT STATE PARK
Plants from 25 growers - bamboo, orchids, day lilies, bedding plants, herbs, fruit trees, and more; a collectibles treasures booth with spectacular and fun finds; jams and jellies and chutneys. Plant advice, a coqui eradicator, and a Recycle Hawaii booth. Food for sale: a benefit for Rotary of Kona Sunrise, food by Tante's Restaurant for breakfast thru lunch at great prices (breakfast croissants, yogurt and granola, chili and rice, vegetarian chili and rice, chicken salad in papaya, smoothies, desserts, Kona coffee).
There will be free classes:
9 am - Sustainable Gardening (with Diana Duff, KOC Education Advisor)
10 am - Composting with Worms (with Joan Lamont and Jeri Baumgardner)
11 am - Food Plants of Old Hawaii (with Peter Van Dyke, Amy Greenwell Garden)
Noon - Planting to Sustain the Gardener with Fragrance and Beauty (with Brian Lievens)
On Stage:
10 am - John Keawe
11 am - Aloha in Motion (Bobby Koanui, Sean Hudman & Konabob Stoffer)
12:30 - Beautification Awards
1 pm - Aloha Performing Arts Center Performance Highlights
Proceeds will benefit beautification work by Kona Outdoor Circle. For more info, contact Kona Outdoor Circle at 329-7286, email koc@konaoutdoorcircle.org

OCT '09 Update

2009-10-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

It's been a busy month for community coqui control with the Honaunau Keei Coqui Watch this October. Here we review what's happening and what's next.

We began the month with an information and action plan meeting at the Painted Church 10/6/09. Here, neighbors organized themselves into "regions" to support each other for coqui control. New people took the responsibility to: confirm calls to volunteers, join the treatment team and make a meal once a month to "renew the crew". Mahalo for your support.

Our next opportunity for education and outreach is PUA PLANTASIA on Oct 31 at the Old Airport. People and plants come from all over the island for this event, a fundraiser for the Kona Outdoor Circle. This is a perfect opportunity to increase awareness and inspire action for coqui control on Hawaii Island. 2 residents of Kaloko will be joining us, including a former employee of the Sunrise Nursery to help with plant inspections.

Do you enjoy listening and talking with new people? We need a few more people present at the booth to collect and share information. You are welcome to join us anytime from 7:30 - 2 pm at the Old Airport, in Kailua Kona. Please RSVP to Kathryn at keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com when you can attend.

What's Happening:

A team met near Napo'opo'o Village the the weekend of 10/11 to tag trees and treat a coqui frog invested area. Neighbors reported hearing 20 or more before they started, ( Tis has been a growing population over the past year and a half) Only 1 or 2 coqui frogs were heard after the treatment. One neighbor purchased their own equipment for monthly maintenance. This is a good reminder to any dealing with the coqui situation near them, make coqui frog control part of your garden & landscape ritual. Just as you weed a garden or prune trees a certain time of year, incorporate the business of coqui control as new habit and routine to malama the aina.

Later that week groups met on Upper Middle Ke'ei Rd and Rock Bottom to tag and treat. Some had to reschedule due to rain delay. It's best to apply treatment on a dry afternoon between 4 pm and sunset. Remember - it only take a team of 3 to listen and locate the invasive coqui frogs! If you hear one frog, get that frog, before it attracts others to the area. If you are living near an established coqui habitat, establish boarders to create "frog free" zones with your neighbors. If you don't know your neighbors - it's time to meet and make friends. This process will work, only when neighbors are in agreement and to establish clear communication together.

The week of 10/18 we got busy again near the ditch by the Painted Church. Thanks to neighbors who gave us permission and supported the cause with their time or donations toward treatment. We are creating a boundary around the watercourse to prevent the coqui frogs from spreading. If you live near the watercourse, consider making a donation for supplies, or offer a couple of hours each month to help maintain the peace and quiet of your community. Next month, we make our way mauka.

"LEAP" Frog at SKEA gave the 12 active members of our volunteer crew an opportunity to connect and receive appreciation with a dinner party for a job well done. Later, at 7pm, more people were introduced to the importance of coqui control when they arrived for the conscious community cinema. The event began at 4pm with four of us treating the area with 2 large backpack blowers. While we were expecting more people for the "teaching and training" part of this event, the good news is that with dedication and the right equipment, the job gets done easily & effectively. In about an hour, we surrounded the perimeter of the property to hold back the coqui frog infestation from getting too close to the SKEA building. NOTE: About 120 lbs of product was used, that's a $60 investment (not including the cost of gas and other other supplies - ear protection and particle masks)

We start a new project, on Painted Church Rd this week, about a .5mile south of Paleaku Gardens. Check the calendar for details to particiapte. There are some new projects as well as places to revisit in November, including the Honaunau Post Office. Our calendar page is updated often with the latest information on where, when and who to meet for community coqui control.

The best way to show your support these days for community coqui control it to SHOW UP for any of the event near you in the neighborhood. Remember COMMUNITY is 'with unity'. We can create change, and maintain the peace and quiet of our neighborhood, when we are in this TOGETHER.

Mahalo for doing YOUR PART to Keep Kona Quiet.

"LEAP" Frog TONIGHT at SKEA in Honaunau

2009-10-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

TONIGHT:

************** “LEAP” Frog at SKEA OCT 22 *****************

This is a special event with friends, film, & food.

All are welcome to come for any part or all of this gathering.

South Kona Education & Arts Center in Honaunau

TH OCT 22
4pm, Meet Chris & John and friends for instructions coqui TREATment.

5:30 pm Dinner Party and Potluck.

7 pm “LEAP” conscious community cinema. Sponsored by the Sanctuary of Mana Kea Gardens. $5 donation accepted

COMING SOON!

10/26 Mon 6:30 pm til 7:30 pm- Tag trees with Tom, Ru & friends, 83-5319 PCR* makua side Painted Church Rd, south of Paleaku.

10/27 TUES 4 pm - 5:15pm meet Tom, Chris, Dave & friends to TREAT 83-5319 PCR*

**************************************************

PUA PLANTASIA

10/31 7:30 - 2pm Old Airport

This may be the largest plant sale in West Hawaii, a benefit for the Kona Outdoor Circle. People and plants come from all over the island for this event. What a perfect opportunity to encourage community coqui control!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to share at the info table - YOU CAN HELP:

7:30 - 9:30, 9:30 - 12, 11:30 - 2 (or any few hours that suit you!)

Please RSVP to keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com for your interest in these events. Remember to check the FROG Blog often & join in Honaunau Hawaii community coqui frog control.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

Frogs, Friends, Food & Film

2009-10-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

“LEAP” Frog at SKEA OCT 21 & 22

South Kona Education & Arts Center in Honaunau, Hawaii

This is a special event. Learn the latest methods for community coqui control with friends, film, and food.

All are welcome, to come for any part or all of this gathering.

Mahalo for doing you part to Keep Kona Quiet.

WED, OCT 21

* 6:30 - 7:30 pm*

Listen & locate coqui frogs. This is step # 1: TAG trees for next day’s TREATment team.

TH OCT 22

* 4pm* TREATment, step #2

Learn the best ways to manage coqui near you from our active volunteer team!

*5:30 pm* Community Party & Potluck.

* 7pm* LEAP” conscious community cinema. Sponsored by the Sanctuary of Mana Kea Gardens. $5 donation accepted.

Look forward to seeing you for LEAP Frog at SKEA!

2009-10-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Compassionate Communication

for Community Coqui Control

Follow these steps to establish communication:

1. Share the FACTS:

With your closest neighbors, begin a conversation for coqui control with facts or observations. Start with what you see and hear. Here are some examples:

* I noticed “I hear several coqui frogs on your property.”

Noise levels: Did you know unmanaged coqui habitats have been measured between 70 - 90 decibel levels? Levels above 75 decibels risks hearing or sleep loss.
Rapid reproduction rates: A pair of frogs can produce 291,600,000 frogs in 40 months or 40+ every 2 1/2 weeks. In unmanaged areas, up to 10,000 frogs per acre have been counted.

2. Share the feelings and values you care about:

Look for a common connection with your neighbor. What needs or values do you share?

* Health & well-being * Peace, quiet or tranquility * Environmental & personal responsibility * Care for the land /malama the aina * Integrity * Respect for nature/life

3. Establish connection with others by:

* Asking how they feel hearing what you've said.

* Ask if they share some of the needs/values you expressed. If so, which ones?

* If they express a differing viewpoint, try to guess what it is that they need or value. Listen and reflect back what you understand so they know you hear them.

4. Request action, once you have determined you share similar concerns/values:

* Are you willing to allow a team of volunteers help you in managing coqui on your land?

* Will you clear brush and overgrowth from your yard to prevent coqui habitat from spreading?

Are you willing to donate 2 hours of your time each month to support community coqui control?

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

"LEAP" Frog event at SKEA

2009-10-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

“LEAP” Frog at SKEA OCT 21 & 22

South Kona Education & Arts Center in Honaunau, Hawaii

This is a special event. Learn the latest methods for community coqui control with friends, film, and food.

All are welcome, to come for any part or all of this gathering.

Mahalo for doing you part to Keep Kona Quiet.

WED, OCT 21

* 6:30 - 7:30 pm*

Meet Ru, learn to listen & locate coqui frogs. This is step # 1: TAG trees for next day’s TREATment team.

TH OCT 22

* 4pm* Meet Chris & John for instructions on step #2 of coqui frog TREATment.

Learn the best ways to manage coqui near you from our active volunteer team!

*5:30 pm* Community Party & Potluck. Enjoy a 20 minute educatonal film on the value managing invasive coqui frog in Hawaii.

* 7pm* LEAP” conscious community cinema. A film like What the Bleep, about the human’s potential to LEAP ahead in conscious evolution. Sponsored by the Sanctuary of Mana Kea Gardens. $5 donation accepted.

Look forward to seeing you for LEAP Frog at SKEA!

A hui ho, from the 2009 Honaunau Keei Coqui Watch.

Become and member of the blog and post your comments or e-mail keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com

FROG Squads working in KONA PARADISE

2009-10-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

Frog Squad Report: All it Takes is ONE.
by Kristina Anderson

in Kona Paradise

It's now mid-2009 and while legions of coqui frogs screech and squeal on all sides of us, closing in alarmingly, our Kona Paradise subdivision remains heavenly quiet at night due to the undying diligence of our residents. We have had a few frogs pop up, but most have been quickly been eliminated, as frog squads were immediately out in force. Some of our owners may not realize that it's possible to bring in and infest a coqui-free area such as ours with contaminated soil, plants or merely objects that have been in coqui-laden areas. As we all know, they can hitch hike on cars, especially in beds of pickup trucks. Please be ultra careful when traveling from infested areas back into our subdivision. Buy plants only from coqui-free nurseries. Special thanks to Kirk Olsen, he is 2009's Kona Paradise coqui-killing hero! Let's all continue to help each other keep our subdivision coqui free. If you hear one, let's ALL get on it!

Summer 2009

Thank you for sharing your stories. This is an inspiration to the YES WE CAN spirit. We can be proud to be "frog free" when we are DEDICATED as a COMMUNITY to work together.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

Commitment - what it takes for COQUI control

2009-10-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

After our community coqui control meeting for the Honaunau Keei Coqui Watch on October 6, 2009, I heard two very different neighbors share with me their experience. It showed me how important it is to align with our neighbors and make the COMMITMENT for coqui control. The first example is when one lives near apathy. Next, a report from an organized community in Kona Paradise. Let's learn from each other, and encourage what is working!

Aloha,
Went to the Painted Church meeting and was inspired until I went a mile from my house to the Waiea Transfer(99.5 mile marker) Station tonight. I could not believe the volume of noise. I pulled over and actually saw a frog jump along the ground. There must be 1000's of da buggahs. I thought of you folks trying to take care of the HonaunauP.O. and thought how you only a few miles from this mind boggling noise heading your way. Left flyers in my neighbors mailboxes, but they no care, they have them right in their yard. Please call and let me know where to meet to mark trees next time you go out. I stay really depressed by the apathy of people around me.
malama pono

NEXT, a view from Kona Paradise:

Hello! I am Frog Squad leader of the Kona Paradise POA. You may be interested to know how we have mobilized to keep the screeching pests out of our subdivision.. It's simple. When a frog is heard I am called or emailed. I then make the phone calls or send emails to mobilize a neighborhood posse of people who have lime, sprayers, ladders and more.... we work together as a neighborhood to get to them the minute they are heard. Often we notice them brought in viapickup truck or with soil and new plants. We don't waste a second when we hear them. I have posted stories in our yearly property owners newsletter keeping residents informed about how they are brought in and what we do when we hear one. Our motto is: NOT ONE CAN LIVE. Through networking, posses, communication and DEDICATION, we are able to keep Kona Paradise coqui free!!! So far! fingers crossed.

Thank you for visiting and Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet!

New Regional Coordinatiors

2009-10-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

Wow - What an amazing turnout for our community coqui control meeting at the Painted Church this week. Over 45 concerned citizens from S.Kona were present. The Honaunau Ke'ei Coqui Watch has renewed it's volunteer efforts, with more neighborhood participation.

THANK YOU South Kona for steping up and taking responsibility for community coqui control!

New regions for coqui frog management plans are:

Painted Church Rd (PCR) and watercourse region to Hwy 160.

Includes - the Painted Church, Dragonfly Ranch and surrounding properties

Honaunau Post Office & HWY 160 (Painted Church RD - mauka to Hwy 11)

Upper Middle Keei Rd (PCR to HWY 11)

Rock Bottom Rd. & Lower Middle Keei (PCR to Napo'opo'o)

Napo'opo'o Village and Napoopoo Rd.

Don't wait when hear coqui frogs. Apathay is a frog's friend. NOW is the time for action. Keep the issue of coqui control in the conversation and align with your closest neighbors to create frog free zones. Get informed and get INVOLVED. Be proactive and ask - how can I help. YES WE CAN Keep Kona Quiet when we work together. Check our online calendar for updates to join in on coqui control.

E-mail keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com to be in touch with your current volunteer coordinators.

Mahalo and Thank you for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet.

Meeting OCT 6th @ 6PM

2009-10-06T00:46:00.000-07:00

Join us for our next COMMUNITY coqui frog control meeting:

Oct 6th at 6 PM at the St. Benedict's Meeting Hall, Painted Church on Painted Church Rd in Honuanau.

This meeting focuses on coqui prevention plans. We are matching help request with volunteers. Meet your neighbors and take an active role for Hawaii coqui frog control in South Kona!

How YOU can support your community:

* treatment-spray days: Tues & Thurs afternoons

* buy baking soda

* call and coordinate neighbors for treatment days

* make a meal or snack to "renew the crew"

* community outreach at the South Kona Green Market, FIRST Sunday of the month

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet!

Sunday at GREEN Market

2009-10-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Sunday Oct 4th 9 - 1pm Special Guest Andea Pro with NVC

at the South Kona Green Market

Learn new communication skills for community coqui control. NVC, Non-Violent Communication is an established model for ‘compassionate communication’. Find common ground with neighbors to listen and learn about the coqui frog situation. Learn: new listening skills, how to clearly express needs and make requests to "Keep Kona Quiet". Discover the news you can use for community coqui watch the First Sunday of each month at the South Kona Green Market in 2009. The Green Market is located across from Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. E-mail Kathryn at keepkonaquiet@yahoo. com with your comments and questions. The Honaunau/Keei Coqui Watch is a 501c3 and kindly accepts tax-deductible donations. Support our sole mission: to preserve and protect the environment of Honaunau & Ke’ei ahupua’a through coqui control. Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet!

Mahalo for FUNdraiser

2009-09-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you

YOU made this 9/3/09 Fundraiser a Success

*************************************************

Jean Yokoyama McDonald - co founder with Bob McDonald of the Captain Cook Coqui Association who approached the Honaunau / Ke'ei Coqui Watch to team up for this event. A pleasure to be in action with you!

Dianna Duff - of KOC and writer for West Hawaii Today garden column, who focused on coqui control on Sunday 8/30/09 just before the fundraiser meeting and listed our event in the paper.

Tim Bruno & the vendors of the South Kona Green Market, who host us at their education table the FRIST Sunday of each month in 2009, at the Amy Greenwell Park 9 - 1, and mahalo to Esta Feedora who first proposed this idea.

To our guest speakers who all have years of experience ‘in the field’:

Bob McDonald in action for Captain Cook area. Feel free to call 328-9619 with your report of coqui calls in CAPTAIN COOK, mauka of HWY 11, above the Choicemart.

Dr. Mark Munetaka - our featured speaker from Hilo, with the latest tips on coqui control. Find out more at his on-line BLOG: coquifrognews.blogspot.com

Butch Porter from Kaloko group. Meet him and to talk story with us at the South Kona Green Market education table.

To our Sponsors:

The Home Depot, Sports Authority and Costco donated supplies worth over $225. For September's fundraiser: The Island Naturals Mauka offered snacks & goodies, the bottled water was donated by them and Choicemart. Gemini Awakening created, printed & distributed our flyers.

Raffle prize gifts to contributors who gave $100 or more:

Francene Hart offered her print “Earth Prayers” and several thank you cards.

You can find her at the South Kona Green Market on Sundays.

Mamalahoa Hot Tubs & Massage gave a gift certificate for a one hour hot tub for two.

Fundraising for community coqui control is ongoing project. Please let us know if you hear of any grant opportunities for our established 501c3. Some neighbors and local businesses have offered goods and services for a "silent auction". Please be in touch with us again with your generous donation for a future fundraising event.

To our BOARD Members & Active Community VOLUNTEERS:

Thanks to those ACTIVE on the coqui volunteer treatment teams: cutting brush, tagging trees, catching frogs, confirming calls, and making a meal or a snack to ‘renew the crew’. Mahalo to those who: sent e-mails, posted events on-line, distributed flyers, networked with friends, shared equipment, made phone calls, shared your presence and donated time, money or both to

Keep Kona Quiet!

*************************************************

Meeting 6PM on OCT 6th

2009-09-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Join us for our next community coqui control meeting Oct 6th at 6 PM at the St. Benedict's Meeting Hall at the Painted Church on Painted Church Rd.

This meeting focuses on coqui prevention plans, and taking action to match help requests with the renewed volunteer teams. This is an opportunity to meet your neighbors and learn the best methods for coqui control. Discover how you can take an active role as a coqui volunteer through the Honaunau / Ke'ei Coqui Watch, or share coqui frog control methods in your neighborhood.

See you there,

a hui ho!

Easy steps for Coqui Control

2009-09-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

RE-NEW treatment teams with your closest neighbors.

NEW action teams are being formed for community coqui control. Request help from your closest neighbor first. Remember, many hands make light work! Then, the ACTION team is available for TREATMENT TUESDAYS for Honaunau Ke'ei area. Please email keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com if you need help with neighbor contacts, or clarity and communication for the organization.

Yes We Can

Keep Kona Quiet when we join together!

Easy steps for COMMUNITY Coqui Control. Gather teams in your neighborhood to make the job easy and fun:

FIRST: set up jobs - organize volunteer teams with help requests

* confirm calls to each volunteer and landowner/leasehold for each job

* ask a friend to make a meal or a snack to 'renew the crew'

THEN: TAG TREES: evenings after sunset, about an hour.

* using flash lights, and survey tape to tag trees

* hand catch frogs with gloves or plastic bags.

NEXT: TREATMENT: afternoons 4-6 PM

* sift baking soda

* run bottles

* run leaf blowers

FINALLY: Follow - up.

Experience is the best teacher. Ask landowner/leaseholder how it sounds different. Invite suggestions from your volunteer crew about what works well and what doesn't. Make adjustments for next time.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

Fundraiser 9/3 6 PM

2009-09-04T09:15:00.001-07:00

Awesome turnout for our the community coqui control fundraiser on Thursday 9/3 at Yano Hall in Captain Cook. Over 100 residents came out to support the Honaunau Ke'ei Coqui Watch & the Captain Cook Coqui Association. There were so many people, the meeting took on an energy of it's own, with several guest speakers.

The good news: after all the money collected for Honaunau Ke'ei in the past two weeks, and then making adjustments for outgoing supplies, we now have $745 remaining.

Mahalo to all our friends and neighbors who support us with time, energy and donations to Keep Kona Quiet.

Motivated MONDAY 8/31

2009-08-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

Meet your neighbors motivated for coqui frog control this Monday, 8/31 4 PM at the Painted Church parking lot in Honaunau, just off HWY 160. We have a team of 6 so far and we are inviting 6 or more to join us. We are clearing the area just makai of the church. Wear long pants and shirt. Bring your machette to cut brush. We will be getting our afternoon exercise from 4 -6 PM!

TREATMENT TUESDAY is 9/1 at 4 PM

Meet again in the Painted Church parking lot to treat area. Volunteers needed to support your community coqui watch! Join us for an hour or two to sift baking soda and refill bottles.

e-mail: keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com your plan to participate!

If can, can. If no can: Consider making a snack or goodies once a month to renew the crew. Support the team with needed supplies with tax-deductible $donations$ Gifts accepted at the South Kona Green Market, this Sunday 8/31 and the FIRST Sunday each month. Learn the ACTION plan to KEEP KONA QUIET at the

Community Coqui Control Meeting

Thursday 9/3 6 PM

YANO HALL - across from Manago Hotel in Capt. Cook

FUNdraiser * party & potluck * info & action plans

This meeting is sponsored in part by the Island Naturals Mauka with their generous donation of snacks and drinks for the party.

Last week - a team of ten treated area near Honaunau Post Office. Keep up the good work.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet!

A hui ho!

Mahalo & Aloha, Kathryn

ACTION plan week of 8/24

2009-08-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

ACTION plan week of 8/24

This Sunday, Cindy, Linda, Michael, Chuck and Marci met at Honaunau Post Office to mark trees to define boarder of coqui habitat.

THIS TUES 4:30 meet the action team to help treat the area. Wear long pants and closed toe shoes. If can, bring dusk mask and buckets. 6:30/sunset time bring a snack to refresh the crew.

NEXT WEEK:

treat area near the Painted Church on Painted Chruch Rd. details to follow.

FUNdraiser 9/3 6 PM

2009-08-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Neighbors of South Kona,

Our enthusiastic and committed volunteers have been gathering information for the most efficient supplies they need to get the job done for South Kona’s community coqui control. Your donations, large or small, support the renewed effort to Keep Kona Quiet!

Every contribution helps!

Join us at Yano Hall, in Captain Cook, across from Manago Hotel
Thursday September 3, 2009 at 6PM
with your cash or checkbooks.
* Meet your neighbors for party and potluck.
* Create ACTION plans for COMMUNITY coqui control in South Kona.

Your tax-deductible donations support these established non-profit 501c3 organizations: Captain Cook Coqui Association & the Honaunau Ke’ei Coqui Watch.

Fundraising objective for September 2009: $1800 to $4000 or greater.

Gifts of $400 or more go to:

$800 Maryama high power blower for big jobs

$ 25 - 45 per hour to hire professional landscapers to clear brush in invested areas

Donatations of $100 or more buys:

$95 for a 50lb bag of citric acid

$35 for a 50lb bag baking soda

$10 - $20 donations buys helpful items:

(2)12 lb baking soda bags at Cosco * headlamps * batteries for flashlights * buckets, bowls & sifters * survey tape * gas to refill blowers * garden gloves * latex gloves for hand-catching * dust mask/particle respirators * ear protection * advertising to promote awareness and inspire action.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

through COMMUNITY Coqui Control.

CONACT Kathryn Andren

Honaunau Ke’ei Coqui Watch 2009

keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com

(808) 328-8533

Professionals share COQUI control information

2009-08-22T09:58:00.001-07:00

I had a very pleasant and informative conversation last week with Noah, who owns a professional coqui business. He recommends community groups purchase a Marayama blower for coqui treatments.

Why is it important to take action sooner than later?

Coqui Information from his web-site:

Sounds
If you can hear the sound of one coqui, the odds are extremely high that you already have more than one frog and a resident population. Females and juveniles live on the ground and are silent. A mature male is the only coqui that sings, and he does so from dusk to dawn. By comparison, the sound of a leaf blower is about 75 decibels. The sound of a coqui can reach up to 95 decibels. He does this to attract females and to warn other male coqui of his territory. During the day, males are on the ground, as well, protecting the eggs.

We are not an extermination service.
To best understand this, it is necessary to know some fundamentals of the coqui biology.
Coqui are native to Puerto Rico where they are kept in check by natural predators, which include snakes and tarantulas. Hawaii obviously doesn't have these species so the frogs go unchecked. This is compounded by the fact that females lay clusters of eggs approximately every 2 1/2 weeks; each cluster or "clutch" of eggs numbers between 30-75 eggs. The mortality rate is only 2%, which means that 98% of these eggs will hatch. Given that on any given day a female can be laying eggs, their numbers can increase exponentially at a very rapid rate and become overwhelming if left unabated.

http://www.kaohicoquicontrol.com

Ka ohi Coqui Control
P.O. Box 567
Holualoa, HI 96725

Phone: (808) 329-6220
Fax: (808) 327-3773

Email: info@coquicontrolhawaii.com

Call today for a free consultation 808.329.6220

Aloha from Kathryn. Good Luck catching coqui.

Mahalo for doing your part to KEEP KONA QUIET.

NEW Meeting Dates

2009-08-19T18:50:00.000-07:00

Community Coqui Control

New Meeting Dates:

NEXT MEETING:

Yano Hall Sept 3, 2009 6 PM

Info & ACTION plans, FUNdraiser, party & potluck

PAINTED CHURCH

St. Benedict's Meeting Hall Tues. Oct 6, 6 PM

Team building and How - to demos.

Visit us at South Kona Green Market,

8/30 and the FIRST SUNDAY of each month.

Community Coqui Control ACTION This Week

2009-08-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

Community Coqui Control ACTION This Week

Today is "Motivated Monday", August 17, 2009. We learned from our last two visits in the field, it is very important for landowners to clear the property near coqui habitat. Taking the time or hiring a professional to get the job done right makes a big difference before our coqui volunteer teams enter new areas.

This week MONDAY 7 PM meet at Honaunau Post Office, South Kona. 3 groups of 3 are needed to cover Post Office, and 2 more properties down the road on HWY 160. Project tonight - listen and locate frogs. Bring your flashlight, wear long pants and closed toed shoes. We are marking potential trees with survey tape for coqui habitat.

Thanks to landowners on HWY 160 for permission to enter their land, and being responsible to take care of the aina by being proactive for coqui control.

TUESDAY 4:30 - 6:30 PM meet on HWY 160 at Mary Amos place on HWY 160 across from Dragonfly Ranch. 3 or more treatment teams of 3 to work leaf blowers and refill supplies.

Mahalo to all who are participating in the community effort to KEEP KONA QUIET. Spread the word for coqui prevention and let us know when you can help.

Mahalo and Aloha.

South Kona Success Stories

2009-08-11T00:41:00.000-07:00

Renewed efforts for community coqui control in South Kona has neighbors talking:

Aloha Coqui Watchers,

I was SUCCESSFUL thanks to the kokua of fellow community members.

I used a 5# sack of Baking Powder and spread it around the base of two banana trees in different locations.

Next day, NO MORE COQUIS.

I heartily recommend the use of the Baking Powder as it is highly effective and relatively non-toxic to vegetation and farm animals.

Once again, a BIG THANKS to our caring community.

In Peace, R.R. Honaunau

Good luck catching the little guys. We got the three on our property. I hear a few more up in the forest above our farm. We'll keep listening and get them as they travel makai. K.K. Honaunau

My neighbor came over to show me HOW SIMPLE it is to control coqui with baking soda applications. I then felt empowered to take responsibility, do it myself and be part of the solution. K.C. Honaunau

Remember - success starts with you. Ask for help and take action. Thank you for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet!

Aloha & Mahalo.

YES WE CAN Keep Kona Quiet - What can you do?

2009-08-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

Who is the community coqui watch? It's friends and neighbors volunteering time to Keep Kona Quiet. The gift of coqui control in our community is creating more opportunities to work together with our neighbors. YOU can help!

A small donation of your time, even 2-4 hours a month, makes a BIG difference when we work together.

YOU can help "in the field":

early evenings, meet in teams of 3 to listen and locate invasive frogs in trees.
on 'dry' mornings or afternoons, meet in teams of 2 or more, to treat the ground near infested coqui habitats.
make it a habit to spread the word with friends or share community coqui watch information the First Sunday of the Month at the South Kona Green Market education table to let our neighbors know - YES WE CAN Keep Kona Quiet.

Do you prefer to be behind the scene?

tax-deductible DONATIONS are kindly accepted for necessary supplies
make a tasty lunch or snack for community volunteers out in the field!

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet. e-mail Kathryn: keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com

The Honaunau/Keei Coqui Watch is a 501c3 and kindly accepts tax-deductible donations.

Support our sole mission: to preserve and protect the environment of Honaunau and Ke’ei ahupua’a through coqui control.

Mahalo for doing your part to Keep Kona Quiet

Apathy is the Frog's Friend

2009-08-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

I have been volunteering now just about four weeks for community coqui control in my neighborhood. Personally, I have been learning so much from friends and neighbors who have been on the watch the past FOUR years here in South Kona. Why do I care? I HEAR THEM NOW. A din, about a half mile down the road.

Remember, apathy is the frog's friend. Neighbors active in the community coqui watch report invasive coqui habitats CAN be managed and controlled. It takes willingness, dedication and cooperation. It's up to you. Create "block buddies" with your closest neighbors to create frog free zones. Others feel, there's no need to do anything if I only hear 'one or two'. However, that's the BEST time to act before they spread! Grad students studying coqui report the best way to manage coqui in your area is through active prevention. Now is the time for action.

Information & Education from the Hawaii Invasive Species:

http://www.hawaiiinvasivespecies.org/pests/coqui.html

Research and Reasons for Hawaii Coqui Frog Control

2009-08-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Why is coqui control important? Find your answers here:

Coqui are not native to the Hawaiian islands and have no natural Predators. Problematic frogs trouble people, environment

http://www.hear.org/AlienSpeciesInHawaii/species/frogs/index.html

Coqui are a small frog that make a big NOISE
The WHO reports the danger of noise as a health hazard here:

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs258/en/

Coqui control effort in Oahu from KHNL news:

Hawaii Island residents complain that at night, they can no longer watch television with the windows open, talk on the telephone, or sleep. In 2005, Pacific Business News reported that the presence of coqui frogs was starting to be required information on real estate disclosure forms.
http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?s=6067513

What is the cost of coqui control? Explore new methods for a big problem:

Why we need alternative methods and more research: The cost of coqui control.

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2009/03/02/editorial4.html

If using baking soda for coqui control is “user friendly” and cost effective, why is it not approved’? USDA study on the efficacy baking soda:

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/coqui/documents/USDA_coqui_frogssodiumbicarb.pdf

Where are the facts? Extensive coqui frog research here:

Coqui Frog information from the USDA

http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/pi/pq/coqui

CTHAR - one of the most extensive web-sites with research for coqui frog control

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/coqui/bibliography.asp

Community Coqui Control Solutions and Hawaii County Resources

2009-08-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

Community Reports Coqui Control Solutions:

Neighbors discussed several methods for coqui control at the coqui watch meeting and at the South Kona Green Market education table. Some found applying baking soda very effective.** Apply by hand to the base of trees, disperse more evenly with a kitchen sifter or with a friend using a leaf blower. One neighbor reports using “lime bombs”; throw high in trees to reach coqui infested banana or lahala. Finally, others report catching coqui by hand. Three people are needed to locate the sound. Catch using thin plastic gloves, turn inside out, tie and put in freezer.

**While baking soda is relatively more ‘user friendly’ than lime, and more cost effective than citric acid, more research still needs to be done. See CTHAR report here:

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/coqui/documents/USDASodiumbicarbonatereport.pdf

Currently the only approved method for coqui control by the USDA at this time is citric acid.

What can you do? Success starts with you!

A North Kohala resident shared Hawi is coqui ‘frog free’ due to the dedication of community efforts. Other residents in West Hawaii formed the “Quiet Nights Coalition”. Once a month a team of 7 - 8 men from local families spray the Kawanui neighborhood with citric acid. With organization and motivation, you and your neighbors can create ‘frog free zones’ in your community.

1. Learn, Listen and Locate.

Listen for coqui on your land or in the surrounding neighborhood. Get out under the stars on a dry evening with 2 or more friends & neighbors to locate coqui sound. Learn about coqui frogs on line at http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/coqui/control.asp

2. Make your mark. (note this has 2 parts!)

Mark potential trees or discern the edge of property lines where they may live. Then, mark the Honaunau Ke’ei community map at the South Kona Green Market, the on FIRST SUNDAY of each month. http://www.skgm.org/Welcome.html

3. Ask for help and take ACTION!

HAWAII COUNTY Resources:

* Mel Wassman 933-3347 with Big Island Invasive Species Committee.

Report NEW coqui infestations or share your concerns.

* Jason 961-8065 on the HI County Spray team. Request a one time FREE citric acid application.

ACT NOW before budget changes in Spring of 2010!

SOUTH KONA Community coqui watch volunteers:

* E-mail keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com to request resources, donate funds or to volunteer in South Kona.

The Honaunau/Keei Coqui Watch is a 501c3 and kindly accepts tax-deductible donations. Support our sole mission: to preserve and protect the environment of Honaunau and Ke’ei ahupua’a through coqui control. Share your comments and questions to Kathryn by e-mail at keepkonaquiet@yahoo.com

Welcome to the Hawaii Coqui Frog Blog: Creating Community Connection Through Coqui Control

2009-07-31T15:12:00.000-07:00

The Hawaii Coqui Frog Blog - Inspired by a Community Coqui Watch Meeting

This is an invitation to YOU, Hawaii residents to share your personal experience of Hawaii coqui control here. We welcome your success stories, suggestions and struggles toward the goal of community coqui control. Thank you.

Do you hear the coqui frogs in the evening? With the encroaching spread of coqui habitat to West Hawaii, more residents are becoming concerned and aware of invasive coqui calling noise. On July 14, 2009 over 45 neighbors gathered at the Paleaku Peace Gardens** in South Kona for the Honaunau/Keei Coqui Watch. The sole purpose of this community coqui watch is to preserve and protect the Honaunau Ke’ei ahupua’a through coqui control.

** Visit the Paleaku Peace Gardens in South Kona, Hawaii http://www.paleaku.com/

Coqui “Wakes up” Community

The coqui are an invasive species to Hawaii, small frog that makes a big noise, all - night - long. In some areas, such as mauka of the Mormon Church on Hwy 11 near the Bong’s market, noise levels have been recorded between 70 - 90 decibels. This is the level of moderate-to-heavy street traffic or the din in neighborhoods along aircraft corridors. Above 75 decibels risks hearing loss. The World Health Organization recognizes noise as a serious health hazard. Prolonged or excessive exposure to noise may lead to sleep loss, provoke annoyance responses or hearing impairments.* Some Hawaii residents report they get used to coqui sound, or suggest humans should adapt to this noise, the same way people in more densely populated areas ‘get used to’ increased highway traffic. However, more residents here in South Kona are looking for resources and solutions to keep the night quiet.

Visit * World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs258/en/

Community Comes together for Coqui Control Efforts

While the coqui seem to be on the island to stay, residents can do their part to keep coqui away in their neighborhood! Education and empowerment encourages community action over apathy. Volunteers have decided to meet once a month at the South Kona Green Market education table to discern the needs of our local community. July 19, 2009 was our first outreach event.

Residents had the opportunity to make their mark on the Honaunau Ke’ei ahpua’a map. Then, they could see how close the coqui habitats are spreading in their neighborhood. Local residents left inspired to talk more with their neighbors to work together to control coqui noise.

Join us next Sunday, August 2. http://www.skgm.org/Welcome.html

Next Community Outreach:

Sunday August 2, with special guest Farbia Bogzaran Ph.D. at South Kona Green Market

Farbia Bogzaran Ph.D. is a professor and founding director of the Dream Studies

Program at JFK University in California. She worked in sleep laboratories

and studied the science of sleep for many years and has volunteered to

investigate the effect of Coqui noise on sleep pattern. She will share

with us the health hazard of disturbed sleep.

Keep Kona Quiet: Honaunau Hawaii Coqui Frog Blog

January Update

Coqui Sounds in Puna

2010 Update

June update - Neighborhood reports

Hitchhikers

May Update

From West Hawaii Today: The Frog Whisperer

April Update

Compassionate Communications for Community

Baking soda for Coqui Frogs

by Peter SurTribune-Herald Staff Writer

'Agent Green' touted as among the most effective

TONIGHT Neighborhood Watch & Community meeting

Step into Spring

Hawai'i County Coqui Programs end in April

Coqui frog control back in local news

Mahalo - Thank you for your donations

No Rain, No Frogs? Reminders for Coqui Control

More Coqui Research

Buy Tickets in Advance for Benefit

DEC events & updates

NOV 2009 update

12/18 Holiday Concert

TAG * TREAT* REPEAT

Show your support 10/31 for coqui control at Pua Plantasia

OCT '09 Update

"LEAP" Frog TONIGHT at SKEA in Honaunau

Frogs, Friends, Food & Film

"LEAP" Frog event at SKEA

FROG Squads working in KONA PARADISE

Commitment - what it takes for COQUI control

New Regional Coordinatiors

Meeting OCT 6th @ 6PM

Sunday at GREEN Market

Mahalo for FUNdraiser

Meeting 6PM on OCT 6th

Easy steps for Coqui Control

Fundraiser 9/3 6 PM

Motivated MONDAY 8/31

ACTION plan week of 8/24

FUNdraiser 9/3 6 PM

Professionals share COQUI control information

NEW Meeting Dates

Community Coqui Control ACTION This Week

South Kona Success Stories

YES WE CAN Keep Kona Quiet - What can you do?

Apathy is the Frog's Friend

Research and Reasons for Hawaii Coqui Frog Control

Community Coqui Control Solutions and Hawaii County Resources

Welcome to the Hawaii Coqui Frog Blog: Creating Community Connection Through Coqui Control

by Peter Sur
Tribune-Herald Staff Writer