Ka‘ū News Briefs,Tuesday, January 21, 2020

KUPU, which has offered numerous youth training and stewardship programs involving Kaʻū, received special recognition in Gov. David Ige's State of the State address today. Photo from KUPU

"A NEW URGENCY FOR THE ʻĀINA" was proclaimed today by Gov. David Ige in his State of the State address. "Like our host culture, we sustain our environment by protecting it," said the governor, speaking at the state Capitol. More from his speech:
     "Stewardship of the ʻāina has always been a central part of public policy here in Hawaiʻi. It is embedded in our state motto and in the awareness of our children from an early age. The life of our lands has always depended on right thinking and a love of this place we call home.
     "But there is a new danger threatening the ʻāina, and it comes from climate change. No one need tell us how global warming is directly impacting our lives or the lives of: Families who live along the North Shore of Oʻahu, or those who suffered from recent historic storms on Kauaʻi, or the people of West Maui, who were affected by unprecedented high tides, or those affected by devastating wildfires on The Valley Isle."
     Ige pointed out that "recently, Time Magazine named Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg its Person of the Year for 2019. She is a passionate and compelling youngster who believes we all have a part to play in preventing climate change. She sets an example for all of us. "
     Ige challenged "our own young students to think about Greta's message to us. The adults in this room often talk about sustainability and the future. But for those under 21, it is more about your future than ours. It is never too early to take ownership of it.
     "Because it's as much about everyday activities as it is about large or sweeping public policy. We can work with the Legislature to permanently set aside 10,000 acres in conservation under the State's Legacy Land program, as we have over the last year and a half. We can mandate 100-percent clean energy usage by 2045. But without your involvement, public policy is just that: a policy written on a piece of paper. It is your support and daily participation that transforms those policies into meaningful actions.

The state's Legacy Land Conservation Program, which has helped to conserve many thousands of acres in Kaʻū,  was mentioned by Gov. David Ige today as he declared, "A New Urgency for the ʻĀina." Image from Legacy Land Conservation Program

     The governor gave the example of KUPU, the nonprofit youth organization "dedicated to making a difference in their communities," which has participated in many land and ocean stewardship projects in Kaʻū. He thanked John Leong, Director of KUPU, and asked a group from KUPU to
"stand and be recognized for their contributions to making a difference in Hawaiʻi."
     He said the KUPU volunteers "are only a few years older than those of you who are still in school. The future will be here faster than you think. But you don't have to wait for that day to come. These young folks have shown how you can make a difference right now."
     The governor began his speech by reminding everyone that on Jan. 1, "We welcomed the dawn of not only a new year, but a new decade. For those under 30, that may not seem like a big deal. But for those who grew up without the internet — when The Lord of the Rings was a book you read and not a movie you watched — time has a way of sneaking up on us.
     "Could any of us have imagined the changes and discoveries that have already taken place in this century? Smart phones, 3-D printers, Facebook, and self-driving cars. And it seems that each year, change happens faster and faster.

The transition from sugar to small farms in Hawaiʻi received mention in the State of the State address today. This Kaʻū Coffee Farm was started by local coffee pioneers Francis and Trinidad Marques. Photo by Julia Neal

     "How do you keep up with it all? If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit, we can't. We go along with the flow and hang on for dear life.
     "But the issues that concern our families haven't changed for as long as I can remember: Finding a job that pays the bills, dealing with Hawaiʻi's high cost of living, and taking care of our family."
     The governor praised ALICE, the study sponsored by the Aloha United Way, which reported that a family of four in Hawaiʻi needs a combined annual income of $77,000 "just to survive... to pay for food, housing, health care, childcare, and taxes.
     "If you asked working families in Hawaiʻi whether they make $77,000 a year, many would answer, 'no.' If you asked families who made $77,000 whether that was enough, I suspect the answer would still be, 'no,'" said Ige.
     The governor detailed the 2020 Hawaiʻi Legislature package of bills that is based on the ALICE Report. See yesterday's Kaʻū News Briefs for the story.
     The governor cautioned, however, that "Great things do not happen overnight. To paraphrase Robert Kennedy, they begin with a vision to see things, not as they are, but as they might be."
     He talked about transformation of agriculture in Hawaiʻi, saying that "large plantations that exported sugar and pineapple to smaller more diversified farms that grow food for local consumption is such a vision. But it has taken a while.
     "The transition of our visitor industry from a sector that focuses on growth to one that embraces sustainability is just beginning. It, too, will take time. In fact, the shift to sustainability in many of the things we pursue—including energy, economic development, and the environment—will continue long after we are gone. That is why we cannot lose sight of those broader goals, no matter the obstacles, changes in administration, or how long the process."
     See more on the State of the State in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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