EDITORIAL
The time to fight weed at Kawainui is now

In Hawai'i, we have become accustomed to frequent and dire warnings about the dangers of bringing exotic and foreign species into the Islands.

While most people accept the importance of keeping unwanted species out, the issue sometimes can become rather abstract.

For a reality check, visit Lake Wilson in Wahiawa or Kawainui Marsh on the outskirts of Kailua. What you will see at Lake Wilson is an almost frightening invasion of a species of water weed known as Salvinia molesta. The weed, which was brought into Hawai'i as an aquarium plant, has almost totally choked off Lake Wilson.

Once it becomes completely established, it in effect suffocates the lake, killing off fish and other forms of aquatic life.

At Lake Wilson, officials have been fighting a losing battle against the aggressive plant. A somewhat happier story took place at Ka'elepulu Pond in Enchanted Lake, where local residents removed the weed when it first showed up and have maintained a constant watch for its reappearance.

That should be the first line of defense at Kawainui Marsh. Unless it is intercepted, it will soon spread to the remaining 10 or so acres of open water left in Kawainui.

Much of the marsh has already been clogged with other foreign and invasive species. If Salvinia is allowed to spread, it could amount to what would be a death blow.

While no one wants to see manmade Lake Wilson succumb, it would be far more tragic to lose Kawainui. The 800-acre marsh is an important environmental, archaeological and cultural site. Long term, supporters hope to see the creation of a major regional park, with waterways, bird sanctuaries and cultural and historical exhibits.

Some have suggested importation of a certain kind of weevil that eats the Salvinia. That idea should be approached very cautiously; Hawai'i has had more than its share of bad experiences bringing in one species to eradicate another.

It's time, now, for the state, the city and interested citizens to attack and remove as much of this weed before it becomes firmly established in Kawainui.

As the Lake Wilson experience demonstrates, we cannot afford to wait.