Haleakala National Park is asking for public input on a proposal that aims to reduce invasive mosquitoes that harm endangered forest birds on Maui.

The public has until Jan. 23 to submit feedback online or by mail on the 254-page document, which outlines how the national park and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources plan to work together to stop native forest birds from dying of avian malaria.

“These non-native invasive mosquitoes are the only insect that transmits avian malaria in this area,” the document reads.

Avian malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases are some of the greatest threats to native forest birds in Hawaii, according to the National Park Service. Throughout the islands, the birds’ presence has declined, the federal government says, and several species are on the verge of extinction — including the kiwikiu and akohekohe, which are only found on Maui.

In January, the National Park Service is planning to host a couple of virtual meetings so residents can learn more about the plan to get rid of the mosquitoes. You can find the information for each meeting below. Officials say the meetings will have the same content, so residents only need to attend one:

• To attend the meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., visit: https://tinyurl.com/2p2p22b5
• To attend the meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., visit: https://tinyurl.com/nhfewvb7

Residents can also learn more about the project online and how to give feedback on it here.

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by grants from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation and the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation.