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The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity has received a $382,325 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support pesticide compliance and enforcement activities during fiscal year 2027.
The funding will support two inspectors and one chemist in the department’s Pesticides Branch, which enforces state and federal pesticide regulations, investigates illegal pesticide sales and use, and provides pesticide safety education.
If federal funding remains available over the next two fiscal years, the grant could total nearly $1.25 million. The department has received similar federal grants through a cooperative agreement with the EPA since 1974.
"This funding is pivotal in our mission to ensure pesticides are used in a safe, responsible manner across the state," said Esther Riechert, Pesticides Branch manager.