Maui Invasive Species Committee

What Maui Invasive Species Committee does

Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) is a nonprofit organization established in 1991 as the Melastome Action Committee and rebranded in 1999, operating as a project of the University of Hawai'i-Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. The organization prevents, detects, and controls high-threat invasive plants and animals across Maui County, with four specialized field crews focused on miconia and other invasive plants, little fire ants, and coqui frogs, plus an education and outreach team. MISC delivers services at no cost to property owners using integrated pest management approaches that include ground-based treatment, helicopter-delivered baits and herbicides (notably a world-first aerial treatment method developed with the Hawai'i Ant Lab for little fire ant infestations), and the LFA Detector Dog Program featuring Freddie, a Labrador retriever trained at Australia's Craig A. Murray Dog School.

The organization's business model is grant-funded and donation-supported rather than revenue-generating. Funding flows from County of Maui, State of Hawai'i, and Federal government grants, supplemented by private foundation support and tax-deductible individual donations processed through the University of Hawai'i Foundation. Services are provided free to Maui County residents and property owners; the organization also funds and supports the sister Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC) on the adjacent island. MISC operates through a community-led go-to-market motion that combines direct field crew operations with a distributed community reporting and self-treatment network, where 80% of little fire ant detections originate from resident reports via the 643PEST hotline and online portal. The committee governance structure formally incorporates state, county, federal, and conservation partners including Hawai'i Department of Agriculture, Haleakalā National Park, The Nature Conservancy, and East Maui Watershed Partnership.

Name

Maui Invasive Species Committee

Legal name

Maui Invasive Species Committee

Website

https://mauiinvasive.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maui Invasive Species Committee is a nonprofit project of the University of Hawai'i-Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit that detects and controls high-threat invasive plants and animals across Maui County via four specialized field crews, community engagement, and free resident services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Control (Nuisance Animals) for Agricultural Operations (AFACAGAH)

Keywords

• Invasive species control
• Environmental conservation services
• Pest management programs
• Native ecosystem protection
• Watershed conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Pāʻia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: MISC receives funding from County, State, and Federal grants as a grant-funded program committed to transparency and accountability.
2. Private Donations: Tax-deductible financial donations from private individuals and businesses supporting efforts to protect Maui County from invasive species. Donations can be made by check (payable to University of Hawaii Foundation) or online through UH Foundation.
3. Private Foundation Grants: Support from private foundations as mentioned in funding sources for programs including the LFA Detector Dog Program.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

MISC is a nonprofit project of the University of Hawai'i-Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit that prevents, detects, and controls high-threat invasive plants and animals across Maui County. Core offerings include field-based survey, treatment, and removal of priority species (miconia, pampas grass, ivy gourd, little fire ants, coqui frogs, coconut rhinoceros beetle), a community coqui control program that distributes citric acid and equipment to residents, and education/awareness programs delivered through schools, workshops, and public events.

Product overview

Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) is a non-profit organization that operates as a project of the University of Hawai'i-Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, providing invasive species control services rather than a traditional technology product. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected field-based programs: Invasive Plant Detection and Control (covering miconia, pampas grass, ivy gourd, and other priority plants via ground and aerial methods); Invasive Ant Response including the LFA Detector Dog Program with Freddie; Coqui Frog Response with associated Community Coqui Control Program enabling resident DIY treatment; Community Education and Awareness through classroom programs and awards; and Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Emergency Response. Supporting services include citric acid and sprayer distribution, pest reporting via 643PEST, and resources and training for community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 coqui populations eradicated from Maui between 2004-2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Hawai'i-Pacific Cooperative Studies UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMISC is a project of the University of Hawaii-Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. This academic partnership provides scientific expertise, administrative support, and research capabilities for invasive species management.
• County of Maui - Office of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner providing funding support and coordination for invasive species response efforts.
• County of Maui - Department of Water SupplycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner supporting invasive species efforts to protect Maui's water resources and watersheds.
• Hawai'i Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner providing regulatory authority, border inspection services, and technical expertise for invasive species response.
• Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for land and natural resource management coordination.
• Hawai'i Invasive Species CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coordination body for invasive species efforts providing funding and strategic direction.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for protecting Haleakalā National Park from invasive species threats.
• US Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner for wildlife protection and conservation efforts.
• US Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for forest protection and invasive species management on forested lands.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization partner for protecting natural areas including Waikamoi Preserve.
• East Maui Watershed PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed partnership focused on protecting East Maui's forests and natural resources from invasive species.
• Maui Forest Bird Recovery ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization dedicated to protecting Maui's native forest birds from threats including invasive species.
• Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'icoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCUH handles MISC hiring and employment administration as the HR partner.
• Hawai'i Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for biosecurity at transportation hubs including airports and harbors.
• Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization covering Molokai with five staff members. MISC funding supports MoMISC operations.
• Hawai'i Ant LabcoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloped the non-toxic gel bait used for LFA aerial treatment. Provides technical expertise for ant identification and control.
• Craig A. Murray Dog SchoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationQueensland, Australia training facility that trained Freddie, MISC's LFA detector dog.
• Coordinating Group on Alien Pest SpeciesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coordinating group that helped fund the LFA detector dog program.
• Mālama Hāmākua MauiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnership for coqui frog control volunteer events on public land.
• Hawai'i Department of Agriculture (Border Prevention)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInspects material coming to Maui to prevent new introductions of invasive species including coqui frogs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hawai'i Department of Agriculture - Plant Quarantine Branch: State agency with regulatory authority and port-of-entry inspection responsibilities for invasive species prevention, overlapping with MISC's biosecurity mission. Represents the broader governmental incumbent in the same space.
• Hawai'i Invasive Species Council (HISC): Statewide council under the Department of Land and Natural Resources that funds and coordinates invasive species efforts across all islands, including MISC. Functions as the strategic and funding umbrella for MISC and sister ISCs.
• Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS): Statewide coordinating body for invasive species efforts in Hawai'i, of which MISC is a member. Operates broadly across all islands and policy levels, providing strategic coordination and funding — a higher-level incumbent in MISC's same ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC): Sister invasive species committee covering O'ahu with the same priority species focus, grant funding structure, and UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit affiliation — directly comparable across operations, staffing, and funding model.
• Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC): Sister invasive species committee covering Kaua'i, sharing the same Hawaii-wide ISC model with priority species control, community reporting systems, and UH-affiliated nonprofit governance — the closest structural and operational peer to MISC.
• Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC): Sister invasive species committee covering Hawai'i Island, operating under the same Hawaii Invasive Species Council coordination framework with similar field crew, community engagement, and grant-funded nonprofit model — directly comparable in mission, structure, and operational scope.
• Moloka'i/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC): MISC's sister organization covering Moloka'i, with five staff funded through MISC. Operates under identical governance and program structure, making it the most operationally similar peer at smaller scale.

Others

• Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU): MISC's parent institution within the University of Hawai'i, providing administrative and scientific infrastructure for invasive species and conservation projects statewide. Directly relevant as the umbrella under which MISC operates.
• National Park Service - Haleakalā National Park: Federal partner of MISC responsible for invasive species management within Haleakalā National Park boundaries. Operates adjacent invasive species programs with similar technical approaches but federal-employee staffing model rather than nonprofit.
• The Nature Conservancy - Hawai'i Program: Major conservation NGO partner of MISC operating in Hawai'i including Waikamoi Preserve. Comparable as a Hawaii-focused conservation organization with overlapping goals around watershed and native species protection, though broader in scope and operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mauiisc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maui-invasive-species-committee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maui Invasive Species Committee