HONOLULU -- State agriculture officials identified some unwanted hitchhikers on a shipment of granite from China.

Officials said the shipment of boulders imported from China came in to Kalaeloa two weeks ago.

The boulders are to be used for construction on a breakwater seawall, officials said.

The trucking company alerted customs about finding spiders in the cargo hold. Customs officials, in turn, called state agriculture inspectors

"In this case, the shipment had already been off-loaded, and there was very little we, or customs, could do at that point," state entomologist Darcy Oishi said.

The state said it sought help from entomologists from the Bishop Museum to identify with what it was dealing.

The spider is believed to be a type of comb-footed spider from the theridiidae family, a venemous spider that is not native to Hawaii.

Entomologists said they determined it wasn't medically or economically dangerous.

"We can check out if it does pose a danger, or if it's a risk to Hawaii, and then we can respond accordingly," Oishi said.

With alien species, a big concern is the fear that some non-native speciescould gain a foothold, Oishi said.

"Hitchhikers come in every day, and a lot of Hawaii Department of Agriculture doesn't get to see (them)," Oishi said. "We regulate primarily agricultural products, but this is another avenue for introduction of species."

Agriculture officials said anyone who comes across anything unusual should call the state hotline at 643-PEST.