When Kawika Riley surveys the beaches and forested hills of the Hawaiian islands, his eyes are drawn to a dangerous interloper: flammable invasive grasses.

Two years ago, such grasses fed devastating wildfires that tore through the island of Maui, killing more than 100 people and causing $5.5 billion in damage.

“What you’re seeing when you see those grasses grow is literally your risk and vulnerability increase,” said Riley, a coalition leader with environmental group Care for ‘Aina Now.

But managing the environment, such as controlling invasive grass growth, is expensive.

Hawaii has a gap of more than $560 million a year in conservation funding — a growing concern for the tourism mecca of surf, reefs and sacred mountains.

Now, under a first-in-the-nation law, Hawaii will implement a

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