Mosquitoes
The State of Hawaii and its multi-agency partnership Birds, Not Mosquitoes plan to release up to 775,992,000 bacteria-infected mosquitoes per week on Maui. This project would continue for at least 20 years.
These BioPesticide Lab-Altered Mosquitoes are already being released in East Maui and on Kaua’i.
These mosquitoes are an experiment that could harm the health of Hawai‘i’s people, wildlife, and ecosystems. Millions of these experimental Wolbachia-bacteria-infected mosquitoes are being released into our environment, and there have been no studies done on the potential significant impacts and serious health risks to our islands. No environmental impact statement (EIS) has been completed for any island. Hawai‘i Unites’ court case to stop the mosquito releases on Maui and require an EIS brought forth several significant concerns, including:
- Accidental release of female mosquitoes that bite, breed, and spread disease (EPA guidelines allow for the release of one female for every 250,000 males; just one female released can produce 160,000 more females through breeding of the generations in her lifespan; 3,103 females are allowed to be released weekly on Maui – up to 6,000 mosquitoes released twice weekly per acre in the 64,666-acre project area: 6,000 x 2 x 64,666 = 775,992,000 mosquitoes divided by 250,000 equals 3,103 females weekly)
- Peer-reviewed studies showing Wolbachia bacteria can cause increased pathogen infection and disease-spreading capability in mosquitoes
- Horizontal transmission of Wolbachia bacteria to wild mosquitoes and other insect vectors of disease
- Population replacement of wild mosquitoes with lab-altered mosquitoes (as few as three females released can cause population replacement)
- Wind drift of released mosquitoes to unintended areas
- Lack of documented biosecurity protocols and pathogen screenings for the imported mosquitoes
- Risks to the health of people and animals, and the potential for the plan to cause the extinction of the native birds it is meant to protect
Peer-reviewed studies have shown Wolbachia to cause mosquitoes to become more capable of transmitting avian malaria and West Nile virus (bird and human). Southern house mosquitoes transmit human diseases, including West Nile virus, elephantiasis, encephalitis, and potentially Zika virus. Male mosquitoes transmit bacteria and pathogens to females. Pathogen screenings for these lab-altered mosquitoes are unknown, and that information is being withheld from the public. There are no mitigation measures in place for the imported mosquitoes if something goes wrong. The potential for population replacement of wild mosquitoes with the lab-altered mosquitoes could cause significant impacts.
Tropical disease and vector expert Dr. Lorrin Pang testified as an expert witness in our case and affirmed that this mosquito experiment has not been studied enough for the State of Hawai‘i and its agency partners to move forward. Dr. Pang has decades of experience as a leader in mitigating mosquito-borne diseases. He has authored over 75 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, over 40 of which are focused specifically on mosquito-borne illnesses. He has mitigated mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue and Zika, for over two decades as a public health leader on the Hawaiian Islands. Dr. Pang’s statement and curriculum vitae have been submitted previously by Hawai‘i Unites to the EPA as reference materials in our opposition to EPA approval of the use of these mosquitoes in Hawai‘i. The EPA has failed to address Dr. Lorrin Pang’s serious concerns about horizontal transmission of introduced bacteria, biopesticide wind drift of lab-altered mosquitoes into unintended areas, superinfection of mosquitoes with multiple bacteria strains, increased pathogen infection and disease-spreading capability in mosquitoes, and the experimental nature of the release plan.
The mosquitoes currently being released in the millions on Maui and Kaua‘i are experimental. Southern house mosquitoes lab-infected with Wolbachia bacteria have never been documented as used for stand-alone field release anywhere in the world.The 64,666-acre East Maui project area is the largest Wolbachia mosquito release of any kind globally to date, and Kaua‘i’s 59,204-acre project area is the second largest.
Mass release of these mosquitoes began on Maui in November 2023. The State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources and their partnering agencies have produced no public data on the results of these mosquito releases. There has been no indication that the plan is even working for its intended purpose. Wolbachia Incompatible Insect Technique is a novel tool for conservation purposes and its degree of efficacy in remote forest landscapes is unknown. There has been no data released to show that the safety of this product is even being evaluated. Deviations from the approved plan have also been occurring since the releases began, exacerbating concerns about adverse impacts, including noise disturbances, disruptions to wildlife habitat, and the potential for collisions, accidents, and wildland fires.
As of February 2025, mosquitoes are now also being mass released on Kaua‘i. Additionally, aerial spraying of Bti larvicide on Maui and Kaua‘i in combination with the aerial release of bacteria-infected mosquitoes is now occurring. This combination of products is not part of the approved plans, and no studies have been done on the impacts of these activities to our environment. The agencies involved have not addressed concerns about potential data falsification due to the use of two different mosquito suppression products within each project area.
The agencies releasing these lab-altered mosquitoes have admitted that the plan does not include monitoring the effects of the experimental mosquitoes on forest birds.
No studies have been done to evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of these mosquito releases. These lab-altered southern house mosquitoes, and the Wolbachia bacteria they’re infected with, are life forms, and there is no way for this experimental project to be self-contained. The release of these mosquitoes could cause the extinction of endangered native birds, and it may impact human health.
Mosquitoes for this biopesticide are foreign organisms that originate from Palmyra Atoll. Wolbachia bacteria for this biopesticide are foreign organisms that originate from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
These mosquitoes are a dangerous experiment, and the continued release of this insufficiently studied product is a reckless assault on our natural environment. Hawai‘i Unites opposes the exploitative use of sacred lands of the Hawaiian Islands as testing grounds for the profit-motivated biotech industry to execute the mass release of their experimental Wolbachia-bacteria-infected mosquitoes. Conservation efforts must focus on more environmentally sound approaches like habitat and stream flow restoration, which would honor the ‘āina, the culture, and the ancestral connections of the native birds rather than putting them at further risk of extinction. We stand in firm opposition to all actions that dishonor the ‘āina and the ancestors.
Hawai’i Unites v. BLNR/DLNR: Hearing to Stop Lab-Altered Mosquitoes on Maui 7/21/23
Hawai’i Unites and Tina Lia v. Board of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai’i, and Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai’i: Day one of our hearing on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction to stop the release of millions of bacteria-infected mosquitoes on sacred lands of Maui, Hawai’i. Plaintiff Tina Lia, founder of the environmental nonprofit Hawai’i Unites, testifies. Tropical disease and vector expert Dr. Lorrin Pang, expert witness for the Plaintiffs, also testifies on the potential significant impacts of this project and the lack of study of the risks to the health of the people, wildlife, and ‘āina.
Children’s Health Defense: ‘Ground Zero’ Lab-Altered Mosquito Release (2/14/24)
Hawaii Unites’ Tina Lia talks with Michael Nevradakis, PhD on CHD’s The Defender In-Depth about the mosquito release experiment in Hawaii and our David and Goliath battle in court
Hawaii Unites Founder Tina Lia Speaks at Iao Theater on Maui 7/11/23
Tina Lia, founder of the environmental nonprofit Hawaii Unites, gives an overview and update on the State of Hawaii and its multi-agency partnership’s release of billions of lab-infected mosquitoes. All islands are being targeted with this corporate experiment.
The State DLNR has been funded to build out the insectary in their Hawaii lab where they intend to mass produce Wolbachia-infected and genetically modified pgSIT CRISPR technology mosquitoes for release on the islands. Plans are to continue the mosquito production and release project in “perpetuity” (forever).
Help us continue documenting the truth about this dangerous agenda that may cause the extinction of endangered native birds and could affect public health.
Your tax-deductible donations support the work that we’re doing to protect the ‘āina.
Join our Mailing List:
Subscribe for Updates
Sign the Petition:
Demand an Environmental Impact Statement
for the Experimental Mosquito Release on Maui
Read the Final Environmental Assessment:
Suppression of Invasive Mosquito Populations to Reduce Transmission of Avian Malaria to Threatened and Endangered Forest Birds on East Maui (3/24/23)
On March 24, 2023, the State of Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) voted unanimously to approve the Final Environmental Assessment for the BioPesticide Mosquito Experiment on Maui and to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Hawaii Unites, per HAR §13-1-29, requested a contested case hearing prior to the board action. The board infringed on the public’s right to open governmental processes, and our request for a contested case hearing was denied. We requested an investigation by the Office of Information Practices (OIP) into the BLNR for violation of the Sunshine Law HRS §92-7. On December 16, 2025, the OIP issued a Memorandum Opinion stating, “BLNR’s actions during its remote meeting on March 24, 2023, were part of an adjudicatory function exempted from the Sunshine Law by section 92-6, HRS.”
Hawaii Unites submitted a complaint to the State of Hawaii Office of the Ombudsman. We requested an investigation into the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) for interference with the public’s ability to testify at the March 10, 2023 meeting.
Read the Complaint Submitted by Hawaii Unites to the Office of the Ombudsman 3/13/23
Watch the Eight-Hour BLNR Meeting 3/10/23
(Agenda Item C2 Mosquitoes starts at 6:58:57)
(Hawaii Unites testimony starts at 7:53:56)
Read All of the Written Testimony Submitted for the Meeting
Read the Office of the Ombudsman’s Response to our Complaint 9/5/23
Read the Office of the Ombudsman’s Response to our Complaint 3/1/24
The Office of the Ombudsman found that the BLNR did not provide us the correct link to livestream its meeting on March 10, 2023, and that the BLNR did not provide us the correct telephone number to provide testimony by telephone at its meeting on March 10, 2023; but found that the BLNR was not acting unlawfully by rearranging the mosquito agenda item to the end of the meeting and making testifiers wait through the entire eight-hour meeting to testify with no notification of when the agenda item would be discussed.
The Office of the Ombudsman did not address our complaint that the BLNR was heard joking and laughing about the postponement of the mosquito agenda item we were testifying on.
The Tenpenny Files, On Your Health: Dr. Sherri Tenpenny ft. Tina Lia & Lorrin Pang (5/15/23)
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny talks with Dr. Lorrin Pang and Hawaii Unites’ Tina Lia about biopesticide mosquitoes planned for release on Maui
Scott talks with tropical disease expert Dr. Lorrin Pang, retired scientist from the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Barry O’Keefe, and Hawaii Unites’ Tina Lia about the planned biopesticide mosquito experiment on Maui
KKCR Kauai Community Radio: Out of the Box – Interview with Dr. Lorrin Pang 1/26/23
Tropical disease and vector expert Dr. Lorrin Pang talks with Scott Adam and Tina Lia about risks of the state’s planned biopesticide mosquito release experiment. He also explains more about conflicts of interest.
BioPesticide mosquitoes for this project originate from Palmyra Atoll. Wolbachia bacteria for the project originates from Kuala Lumpur.
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture applied for an EPA Emergency Exemption for use of this biopesticide, proposing “a new use of a microbial pesticide which has not been registered by EPA.”
HDOA EPA Application for Emergency Exemption
Hawaiian Honeycreepers Targeted by this Project:
- Kiwikiu (Maui Parrotbill, Pseudonestor xanthophrys): Endangered
- ʻĀkohekohe (Crested Honeycreeper, Palmeria dolei): Endangered
- ʻIʻiwi (Scarlet Honeycreeper, Drepanis coccinea): Threatened
- Maui ʻAlauahio (Maui Creeper, Paroreomyza montana newtoni): Threatened; only lives on Maui
- Hawaiʻi ʻAmakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens)
- ʻApapane (Himatione sanguinea)
Mosquito Species Planned for Import into Hawaii and Some of the Diseases they Transmit:
- The Southern House Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) transmits avian malaria parasitic disease to birds and West Nile virus to both birds and humans. It transmits elephantiasis, St. Louis encephalitis, and Western equine encephalitis to humans, and is a potential vector of Zika virus. It also transmits avian pox and heartworm.
- The Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) transmits dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika virus to humans.
- The Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) transmits dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika virus, and yellow fever to humans
On 6/28/22, The Hawaii Board of Agriculture approved the addition of all three mosquito species to the List of Restricted Animals, Part A: for Research and Exhibition. Partners in this project are speaking openly about the State of Hawaii’s plans to target human health using Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. According to the Maui Environmental Assessment, approvals are already in place for ground release of lab-reared mosquitoes using cars, trucks, or ATVs to control mosquitoes of public health concern.
Federal documents for this project reveal that plans for the state include lab research and development in Hawaii, gene drives, next generation tools, synthetic biology control tools, novel technology deployment, and precision-guided Sterile Insect Technique (pgSIT) (CRISPR technology). Genetic Modification of Forest Birds using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing is discussed in the EA. While “technology for this approach is not available for near-term implementation,” development and deployment of this “tool” does appear to be a goal at the federal level. One of the labs that the state would be importing the biopesticide mosquitoes from, Verily Life Sciences, is a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google). Read more here:
U.S. Department of the Interior Strategy for Preventing the Extinction of Hawaiian Forest Birds
Two of the authors of the following article, Atkinson and LaPointe, are with the USGS in Hawaii. USGS is a partner in Birds, Not Mosquitoes – the multi-agency partnership planning the biopesticide mosquito experiment on Maui.
This article is promoting “facilitated adaptation” of ‘i’iwi honeycreepers. Facilitated adaptation means genetically modifying the birds to be resistant to malaria using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and releasing them into the wild: