When most people think of Hawaii, they think about the great weather, pristine beaches and friendly locals. But there’s something that most people don’t think about until they move to Hawaii and are confronted with the problem. That problem is termites. These insects have been wreaking havoc in Hawaii for decades.
Types Of Termites Found In Hawaii
Depending on what island you’re located on, there could be a few different types of termites in your area. Termites are distinguished between wet wood and dry wood termites. The most well known termite is the Formosan subterranean termite, a wet wood termite. The Formosan termite lives underground and prefers wet areas. This termite causes a great deal of damage and can completely destroy a home within 6 months if left untreated.
Formosan Termite
Common signs of an underground or wet termite infestation:
- A sagging door or floor
- Leaks in the roof
- A warped wall
- A hollow sounding beam
- Discolored or blistered paint
- Depressions in wood
- Moisture collecting in unusual places
- Springy floors or steps
- Mud tunnels or flight slits
- Carton material found in wall voids
- Interruptions in power or communications
- Wood rot (may attract termites)
Another common termite is the West Indian dry wood or the dry wood termite, which prefers dry areas and is only second to the Formosan termite in the damage it causes to Hawaii housing.
Common signs of a dry wood termite infestation:
Piles of frass, or droppings (Looks like a little pile of sand)
Small kick out holes (about 1mm in diameter)
Hawaii Termite Prevention And Control
The best way to avoid termites is prevention. One of the easiest ways to prevent termites is to limit wood to earth contact on your home. The subterranean termites will burrow into wood that is touching soil very quickly. Any wood to ground contact provides an expressway to the rest of your home.
Patch any nail holes or other damage to wood immediately upon discovery. Remove plants that are touching the outside of your house, especially in areas where the plants are touching wood surfaces.
For rehab projects on older homes, try to buy wood products that have been pressure or chemically treated to prevent termites. These products usually cost a little bit more, but in Hawaii with the amount of termites, the cost is worth every penny. The effects usually last 7-10 years so be sure to retreat the wood to keep it from being infested.
If you think your home is infested you should call a pest control professional and ask for a termite inspection. I called around to some local companies and for a 1,500 square foot home, the average price was between $350-$400.
Termite Treatment Methods
One of the most common termite treatment methods used to be a liquid pesticide treatment. Exterminators would spray it around outside of the house. But, due to environmental studies, these tactics were found to be unhealthy for humans and the environment. Some of today’s most common treatments include:
Termite Baits – Baits are placed around the home and will gradually kill off a colony by spreading small amounts of pesticides across the colony.
Borate Treatment – This treatment is much like a coat of paint on wood. The best time to use this is during construction or rehab projects.
Fumigation – Fumigation only works on dry wood termites and requires a tent (those red and orange circus-like tents you see around town). You will have to leave the home during this process and it is the most expensive.
Microwave – This is used to heat the wood in the home to 120°F. The termites and larvae can’t survive and the infestation ceases immediately.
My termite guy uses Mother Earth — works well and is safe for people & pets.
All of these treatments should be done with the advice of a professional. Contact your local exterminators to determine the cost and time frames associated with the treatment you request. If you are buying a home in Hawaii or rehabbing a property, make sure to get a professional termite inspection.
We hope this information presented here will help protect your current and future home!