Patrick Conant
Dear Yoshioka family,
I am a retired successor (Entomologist) of Ernie at the Hilo office of HDOA. Every Entomologist I know of that knew and worked with him will miss him much, including UH staff and USDA. He was the Go-To authority on the field status of biological control of weeds for many target weeds. He knew each natural enemy of Lantana and gorse among many others. He knew things none of the rest of us did! Consequently, whenever he dropped by the HDOA office I would ask him a question about some long ago released insect natural enemy and he would tell me all about it from memory.
I am sure the entire staff of the HDOA Biological Control Section, USDA and UH Extension Service, both retired and working, that met Ernie, will miss him. He was one of a kind!
Pat Conant,
Retired Entomologist, HDOA