Our Mission

To unite Kaua‘i in protecting our palms, agriculture, and natural environment through early action, trusted information, and strong community partnerships—guided by aloha and aware of the urgent threat CRB now poses to our island.

CRB Action Kaua‘i is a grassroots, community-driven initiative working alongside public agencies, business owners, local groups, and residents. We share clear, practical information so people can take informed steps that fit their needs, values, and situations. Even as this threat grows, it has revealed one of Kaua‘i’s greatest strengths: our ability to come together. Many voices—residents, farmers, business owners, visitors, kūpuna, and experts—are contributing to this effort, united by aloha, kuleana, and a shared love for our island home.

What We Stand For

Please take a moment to reflect on these Hawaiian values and consider their wisdom as we face this challenge together. Kaua‘i holds strong, passionate beliefs about how to protect the ʻāina—and sometimes those differences run deep. It seems in times like this that aloha, collaboration, and compassion are not optional, they are the way we succeed against CRB.

Aloha: Kindness, compassion, and respect guide our process and work.
Mālama ʻĀina: Everyone must act with care for the land, the water, and the wildlife.
Mana‘o: We welcome diverse viewpoints, experiences, and approaches. We know our community includes both those who use injectables and those who strongly oppose them. By coming together with openness and respect, we can create practical safeguards that minimize potential harms while supporting everyone’s efforts to protect Kauai’s palms.
Laulima (Collaboration): Working with a broad spectrum of expert opinions and community input strengthens our collective response. We meet people where they are, offer fact-checked information, and help guide every choice, including the most sensitive ones, toward what is safest for our families, our pollinators, our water, and our ʻāina. Not everyone will choose the same tools, and we cannot protect this island if we are fighting one another.
Pono: Our process and guidance reflects a commitment to clarity, honesty, and responsibility. The website content has been reviewed by independent experts in the CRB field. The site will continue to be reviewed and updated as new ʻike and research emerge.
Mahalo: We acknowledge the many people and organizations who have worked tirelessly for years to protect this island—including the Kaua‘i Chapter of HFUU and President Natalie Urminska, the advocates of E Ola Kākou Hawaiʻi and Nākaiʻelua Villatora, Poʻo Pani, dedicated public servants like Councilmember Fern Holland, and many others whose devotion springs from deep aloha for Kaua‘i.

Our Values & Process

Coordinator

Merlyn first moved to Hawaii in 1961 and has lived on Kaua’i full-time for the past 25 years. A co-founder of Island School, Merlyn spent 35 years managing large residential communities, fostering collaborative solutions between landlords and tenants. Merlyn has propagated and shared dwarf coconut palms throughout Kaua’i and founded CRB Action Kaua‘i to support community education, collaboration, and early action to protect the island from CRB.

Merlyn W. Ruddell

Advisory Group

Lance Thomas
Certified CRB Dog Handler and Owner/Operator of Mr. Lance’s Steam

Ian McCabe
Leading Asia Pacific Public Affairs and Govt. Relations Expert with extensive experience working with non-profits in the US and Asia

Fern Anuenue Holland
County Council Member & Pesticides & Public Health Campaign Director & Environmental Scientist for Hawai’i Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA)

Ray Maki
Owner, Permaculture Kaua’i, Hawaii Nexus,
50-year organic farmer

Sabra Kauka

Kumu of Hawaiian Studios & Hula, Island School. Practitioner of Kapa, Lauhala, & Feather Arts; Longtime leader in Hawaiian Culture & Community Sterwardship