Hawaiʻi is using drones in an effort to control invasive coqui frogs, but the latest state update does not report a successful drone eradication. The plan targeted steep, remote forest near Kuliʻouʻou Ridge on Oʻahu, where officials said hose-based spraying was impractical. As of September 30, 2026, drone attempts to apply citric acid in steep areas had not yet produced the desired results, and hand capture remained central to the local response.
Which frog is Hawaiʻi trying to control?
The target is the coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui), a small, nocturnal species native to Puerto Rico. Hawaiʻi’s Department of Agriculture says it was accidentally introduced to the islands around 1988. Males call at night, while frogs shelter in leaf litter during the day. Officials cite concerns that coqui eat insects and spiders and compete with native birds and other fauna. Their loud nighttime calls are also a public nuisance; a 2025 Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) account reported calls reaching up to 95 decibels, an agency figure rather than an independently assessed measurement in the cited material.
Coqui are established and widespread on Hawaiʻi Island, where eradication is no longer considered practical. State efforts instead focus on controlling populations and preventing spread to islands and areas where they are not established, including Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Maui.
Where was the drone plan supposed to be used?
In September 2024, DLNR reported that the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture had confirmed coqui calls roughly 200 meters below the summit of the Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail on Oʻahu. Follow-up surveys led officials to estimate that about 13 acres of forest were infested. The site’s steep slopes, remote location, and variable weather made the traditional hose-based spray approach impractical. DLNR said its field staff planned to use drones to carry citric-acid treatment and had contracted Hilo-based Aloha ʻĀina Drones for the work. The announcement described a plan, not a completed eradication.
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Did the drones work?
Not to the degree officials wanted, according to DLNR’s September 30, 2026 update. The state said attempts to apply citric acid with drones in steep areas had not yet yielded desired results. It did not publish a drone efficacy percentage or a measured figure for frogs killed by drone treatment, so the available official information does not support a claim that drones eradicated the Kuliʻouʻou frogs.
The update said the Waimānalo Coqui Frog Task Force had hand-captured 3,847 invasive frogs since its establishment in September 2024 and continued to rely mostly on hand capture. That figure describes the task force’s captures over two years; it is not a measure of drone performance or proof that the infestation has been eliminated.
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Why consider drones instead of spraying from the ground?
The main practical reason was access. A hose-based system can be difficult to use across steep, remote terrain, while a drone may be able to carry treatment into areas that are hard for crews and ground equipment to reach. That potential advantage does not establish that drone delivery is effective in a particular site: DLNR’s later update says steep-area attempts had not yet met expectations.
Ground work also offers direct opportunities to find, collect, and log frogs. In DLNR’s 2025 account, volunteers listened for calls around sunset and at night, searched for frogs, and sometimes used long tubes as refuges or traps. They recorded the sex and life stage of captured frogs and logged capture locations to help track the population. If frogs were heard but not seen, staff could spray foliage with citric acid.
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How do the control methods compare?
| Method | Where it can help | Limits and considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Hand capture | Useful when crews can reach frogs; captures can be identified and their locations recorded. | Requires personnel to reach and search the site, often at night when frogs are calling. |
| Capture tubes or other refugia | PVC pipes or bamboo can provide places where frogs shelter and can be found for removal. | Requires placement and follow-up; it is one component of control, not a universal substitute for other methods. |
| Citric-acid spray from the ground | Can treat foliage where frogs are suspected, including when they are heard but not visible. | Hose delivery may be impractical on steep, remote slopes. The solution can also harm sensitive plants. |
| Citric-acid application by drone | May help carry treatment into terrain that is difficult to reach with a ground hose. | DLNR reported in 2026 that steep-area attempts had not yet yielded desired results; no efficacy percentage was published. |
| Habitat modification | Removing frog-friendly habitat can form part of a broader control effort. | State guidance lists it as a tool but does not present it as a stand-alone replacement for capture or treatment. |
What is citric-acid treatment, and what are its risks?
Hawaiʻi’s Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) describes 16% citric-acid solution as a treatment that can affect coqui at adult, juvenile, and egg stages. The state’s guidance describes preparing a solution from commercially available anhydrous citric acid and applying it where pests are suspected, with repeat applications suggested about every two weeks and treatment timed for early evening as males begin calling.
Citric acid can damage sensitive plants, including orchids, air plants, anthurium, calathea, mock orange, and streptocarpus. DAB advises testing a small area for plant sensitivity or rinsing plants with fresh water about an hour after application to limit damage. Concentrated citric acid can irritate or corrode, so handling and application require care.
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DAB says citric acid is an EPA minimum-risk active ingredient and that it does not register minimum-risk products. Its guidance says there is no product label or product list for citric acid and directs readers to CTAHR and DAB publications for mixing instructions. This does not mean every retail citric-acid product is state-approved.
DAB also notes that pesticide application by drone requires specific FAA licenses and that pesticide labels must be followed. That general requirement is not permission for a homeowner to conduct aerial treatment simply by buying a drone.
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How is the drone effort different from earlier frog-control operations?
Two earlier operations can be confused with the Kuliʻouʻou plan, but neither demonstrates that drone treatment worked.
- Waimānalo, 2022: A joint HDOA and DLNR release scheduled helicopter application—not drone use—of a 16% citric-acid solution over a four-acre site. The infestation had been detected in April 2021, and HDOA staff had removed about 500 frogs by the time of the announcement.
- Wahiawā, 2003–2007: A separate nine-acre infestation detected in June 2003 was treated with citric acid. The last frog was heard in November 2006, and HDOA declared eradication in August 2007. The state release reported a total campaign cost of about $235,000. This ground-treatment history is not evidence of drone efficacy.
What should residents do if they hear or find coqui?
For suspected coqui in an area where they are not established, residents should report the sighting or calls to Hawaiʻi’s relevant state agriculture or invasive-species authorities rather than attempting aerial pesticide application. At a property where coqui are present, state-listed approaches include hand capture, refugia such as PVC pipe or bamboo, citric-acid or hot-water spraying, and reducing suitable habitat. Treatment choices depend on access, whether frogs can be located, and the risk to plants and other organisms; follow current state guidance before applying any treatment.
Quick Recap
Sources
- DLNR, September 30, 2026: Coqui Frog Task Force update and drone status
- DLNR, September 25, 2024: Kuliʻouʻou infestation and drone plan
- Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity: Coqui frog information and control methods
- Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity: Pesticide and citric-acid guidance
- HDOA and DLNR, April 18, 2022: Waimānalo helicopter plan and Wahiawā history
- DLNR, February 10, 2025: Coqui field practices and volunteer work
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