That which you cannot change is wisest to accept. Or, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
Hawaii County government has come to accept that the coqui frog is now a permanent resident of Hawaii island. If you believe the hype against these tiny, harmless frogs, you would think life here must now be miserable because of them, since they are said to emit a shrieking noise at night akin to a table saw, leaf blower or jet engine and are supposed to be destroying the environment.
Actually, this is still paradise, only paradise with tree frog sounds.
The coqui frog’s two-toned "co-KEE" is usually mistaken for bird sounds, not loud mechanical noise, and is endearing to many listeners. And the only damage has been caused by spraying acid and caustic lime to kill the frogs, which also kills geckos, insects and plants.
Despite fears expressed by eradicators hoping for more funding, tourism has not suffered here because of the coqui. In my experience, tourists love the exotic tropical sounds of chirping tree frogs. In fact, millions of people live with coqui frogs and love the sound so much that the frog has become the national animal of its native Puerto Rico.
Tens of thousands of Hawaii island residents now live with coquis. It is important to come to peace with the frogs if you live with them. They are now the sound of the night.
However, while the frogs have clearly set up permanent residence on Hawaii island, they are still considered illegal aliens throughout the rest of the state. This means continued attacks on the frogs with propaganda characterizing them as a noise nuisance and habitat destroyer.
These are not just exaggerations designed to create public support for a multimillion dollar Frog War. These attacks also degrade the image of Hawaii Island to the world and to its residents.
For a state so reliant on tourism, it’s plain stupid to announce to the world that the Aloha State sprays the jungles with acid to burn tree frogs to death because some people don’t like the sound of chirping frogs. Not only do we sound cruel and heartless, it also means that tourists should stay away from the coqui-"infested" Hawaii island if they want a good night’s sleep. This hurts tourism.
It’s all about perception. If the government and its media outreach convince residents and tourists that the coqui is a plague, then our world will feel plagued. But when you have no choice, what benefit is there to degrading our beautiful island? To bad-mouth the coqui is to now bad-mouth Hawaii.
And the entire state has no choice. Ten years of an expensive, failed Frog War has shown that the coqui is here to stay. The inter-island quarantine for coquis is only slowing the inevitable and is harming the small farmer.
Once people change their attitudes and accept the frogs, their sound becomes endearing and they begin to realize why coquis are so enjoyed and loved by millions of people. And as frogs die worldwide at extinction rates, we can take pride in the health of our environment that it can support these "coquis in the coal mine," who want nothing more than to eat our bugs and sing to their mates.
While there are some who prefer the quieter nights of the past, many living with the coqui have come to enjoy the sound. In any event, we have no choice. Accept and learn to enjoy the frogs, or be at constant war with your environment.
