A high-surf advisory remains in effect until at least 6 p.m. today for the east shores of all islands, including Sandy Beach on Oahu.

The National Weather Service said surf along east shores will be 6 to 9 feet, down from 10 to 14 feet Sunday.

The waves are the result of strong tradewinds and a short-period north swell, the weather service said.

HAWAII ISLAND

$500,000 for rapid ohia death included in Ige’s budget plan

Gov. David Ige’s proposed budget includes a $500,000 line item that specifically addresses rapid ohia death, a disease that has killed thousands of indigenous trees.

That money will give the Hawaii Invasive Species Council $5.25 million for the fiscal year, West Hawaii Today reports.

That’s up from $4.75 million the previous year.

In a typical year the council receives about $10 million in grant requests.

The Hawaii Ant Lab, albizia control and rat lungworm disease education are other Hawaii island programs funded in part by the council.

Franny Kinslow Brewer, communications director for the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, one of the organizations that receives HISC grants, said the level of appropriations is a constant concern.

“That’s always a problem because we never know how much HISC is going to get,” she said.

During the 2016 session 37 bills relating to invasive species were introduced. Just four passed, with a fifth being added directly to the supplemental budget.

Twenty-seven of the bills that did not pass did not receive a hearing.

But this year the recent implementation of a state interagency “biosecurity” plan is expected to help more of those bills through the Legislature by providing a concrete guide to actions that need to be taken, lawmakers say.

“That’s my hope,” said state Rep. Nicole Lowen (D, Holualoa-Kailua-Kona-­Honokohau). “I think we want to try to get a better handle on a broader perspective.”