Local residents have a direct path to frontline environmental protection roles through a new partnership between Leeward Community College and the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB).
The fall , launched through Leeward CC’s Office of Workforce Development, establishes a formal onboarding program to train newly hired biosecurity inspectors. Participants will be trained during the first four months of employment with DAB’s Plant Quarantine Branch, which screens incoming passenger baggage and commercial cargo at state airports and harbors for invasive pests. The course teaches trainees invasive species control protocols for high-priority pests including the coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant and coqui frog.
To broaden access, eligibility is open to applicants holding any four-year college degree, regardless of major or prior science coursework. Selected candidates will participate in a four-month curriculum blending classroom learning with hands-on field experience alongside senior DAB personnel.
Recruitment for the inaugural cohort of 20 participants opened October 3, 2026. Interested candidates should . Selected participants will receive training through the Biosecurity Academy from November 2026 through March 2027.
Aligning education with urgent workforce needs
“We take pride in aligning our educational programs directly with Hawaiʻi’s most urgent workforce needs,” said Carlos Pe?aloza, chancellor of Leeward CC and interim chancellor of 糖心视频 West Oʻahu. “Partnering with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity allows us to leverage our expertise in workforce development to develop a highly trained team of biosecurity inspectors.”
Trainees will learn core applied sciences, such as entomology, plant pathology and biosafety, while mastering field tools like Geographic Information System spatial mapping. Additionally, they will build practical skills in regulatory enforcement and community outreach.
DAB Chair Sharon Hurd said, “This innovative program will allow the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address the needs of the community by bringing in more inspectors and providing a fast response to pressing needs on the invasive species front across the state.”
—by Devon Bedoya