HILO, Hawai'i — A man claims he has a possible solution to rid the Big Island of the pesky and noisy coqui frogs, but says the county isn't interested.

Mark Munekata, a former biological technician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said baking soda appears to eradicate the tiny frogs and he's been studying the potential frog-killing idea.

But Karen Shiroma, project manager for the county's Coqui Frog Control Program, protested moving forward with Munekata's study because he would need a special certification and experimental use permit.

Coqui frogs, and their unique nocturnal chirping, are beloved in their native Puerto Rico. But in Hawai'i, where there are no snakes or other natural predators of the amphibians, the frogs have multiplied rapidly and become a nuisance. Thousands of coqui frogs pack forests and private gardens on the Big Island and Maui, generating a deafening roar some residents compare to the sound of jet planes.

Shiroma said her office has not looked into the baking soda idea since it was discussed months ago.

Munekata initially said he would seek the certification, but on Tuesday indicated he decided against it because it appears Shiroma is not interested.

The County Council had approved granting the Hawaii Economic Development Board $3,000 to pay for Munekata's experiments with funding from Hilo Councilman Stacy Higa's contingency relief account.

Higa said he's unsure whether politics are playing a part in Munekata's experiment getting derailed.

"My understanding is the coqui frog coordinator wouldn't do anything," he said. "I'm not happy about it. ... We had a viable solution there."

Higa said residents should be very upset if baking soda turns out to be the solution.

Shiroma said it's unlikely the county will ever be able to rid the island of coqui frogs completely without using some sort of biological means.

Munekata disagreed. Current measures to eradicate the frogs, including spraying them with citric acid, hot water or hydrated lime, are not as effective as baking soda, he said.

He's also determined a non-chemical way to eradicate the frogs but that he will not share that secret with the county, until it addresses the baking soda method.

———

Information from: West Hawaii Today, www.westhawaiitoday.com