New to Bonsai Japanese maple

Hello,
I'm new to bonsai and have a few questions I hope you all can help me with. I live in Hawaii and recently purchased a Japanese maple from a local nursery. I really love the look maples and after doing some research I found that Japanese Maples are really hard to grow in Hawaii's climate. Im not sure the species. So I guess what I'm asking is can it be done?
I also noticed the leaves are beginning to get holes and some leaves are turning brown and the new buds are drying out and dying. I found some tiny white bugs in the soil and on the leaves but not sure how to address the issue. I read on the internet that maples are really sensitive to insecticides so is there any other way to get rid of these little white bugs?
As I said earlier I'm new to bonsai and would really appreciate any help from you folks.
THANKS!

You might try simply not watering it so much. The bugs often are a symptom of wet soil -- as are the bad leaves.

"J" welcome. You did not indicate if you are new to bonsai or not. But, there are some really fine folks involved with bonsai in Hawaii. Here is a link to the Hawaii Bonsai Association a great source of informtion and especially contacts they are your best bet to solve your challenges. Hawaii Bonsai Association

Have any of you heard of a Japanese maple species by the name of "JOJI"? The nursery I purchased the tree from advertised that it is a "JOJI" Japanese maple and it is the only species that can thrive in Hawaii. I've done tons of research and have not found anything on this "JOJI" they speak of. HELP ME PLEASE.

Hi,

I think it may be difficult for a temperate tree to grow in a tropic climate because they need their winters. This is an evolutionary trait that has happened over the course of thousands of years.

I think you should try to re pot it into modern substrate, that way you can never over water it but then you also have to fertilize heavily and water every day thoroughly. Unless you get any period of time that gets close to freezing, which I don't think it does in HI, then your tree is doomed.

On the bright side, just get a bunch of tropicals and watch them thrive. Just because you can't have any temperate trees doesn't mean you can't bonsai. With your conditions you can have lots of trees that folks in the temperate regions can't have.

Good luck

Thanks for all the helpful responses really appreciate it

if an insecticide is necessary try permethrin. It does not hurt my Japanese Maples. Spray in the evening when the bees are not active. Permetrin is widely available here in MD - I do not know if there are restrictions in HI.

Can you join a bonsai club? Best way to learn and progress and figure out which species to use.

Best of luck, keep growing.

Augustine,
Joining a bonsai club is unfortunately not an option with my work schedule and child. Which is why I'm trying to dive into this awesome hobby via the internet lol. Thanks for the advice and I will definitely look into permethrin.