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| A bill being considered at the state Legislature would follow up on the GMO ban in Hawai`i County by prohibiting the planting of GMO engineered seeds or plant parts in open fields statewide. Photo by Julia Neal |
GMO FOOD LABELING COULD BE THE WAY to reduce polarization in the debate over genetically modified organisms, according to west Ka`u state Rep. Richard Creagan.
Creagan, who studied agriculture at University of Hawai`i following a career as a physician, said yesterday that labeling could go a long way toward making peace. “Most of the people feel that labeling is important. Most of the people want to know what they eat.” He said that all foods, including milk from cows fed with GMO grains and grasses, should be labeled. “It is important to honor people’s concerns about what they want to eat.”
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| Rep. Richard Creagan |
Several bills have been introduced in the state Legislature that would require labeling. Senate Bill 3084 would require all GMO food retailed in Hawai`i to be labeled starting July 1, 2015. “The label shall indicate that the genetically modified food has been genetically modified or contains genetically modified organisms or ingredients,” the bill states. It would require the state to adopt standards for labeling GMOs, with misdemeanor penalties for violations. It would also establish a subsidy program to help with GMO labeling, which would be funded by fees related to using pesticides.
A separate piece of legislation, SB2926, would require non-GMO packaged food to be labeled.
Another GMO-related measure, Senate Bill 2955, introduced by west Ka`u Sen. Josh Green, would require mandatory disclosure of pesticides and GMOs by commercial agricultural entities that purchased or used in excess of five pounds or 15 gallons of any single restricted use pesticide. It would require all commercial entities with any GMO to submit annual reports to the state. It would create pesticide buffer zones and require an environmental and public health impact study to address concerns related to large-scale commercial ag entities using pesticides and GMOs.
Senate Bill 2738 would follow up on the GMO ban in Hawai`i County by prohibiting the planting of GMO engineered seeds or plant parts in open fields statewide. The bill states that “growth in genetically engineered agricultural production has been swift and pervasive throughout the nation. The quick acceptance of the new technology by American farmers may, however, pose serious consequences for conventional agriculture – consequences that scientists do not yet fully understand. Those consequences have created doubt within the farming community and Congress about the wisdom of growing genetically engineered agricultural products.”
House Bill 2187 would provide a non-GMO tax credit for qualified agricultural costs.
To weigh in on any of these bills and to follow the Legislature, see capitol.hawaii.gov.
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A separate piece of legislation, SB2926, would require non-GMO packaged food to be labeled.
Another GMO-related measure, Senate Bill 2955, introduced by west Ka`u Sen. Josh Green, would require mandatory disclosure of pesticides and GMOs by commercial agricultural entities that purchased or used in excess of five pounds or 15 gallons of any single restricted use pesticide. It would require all commercial entities with any GMO to submit annual reports to the state. It would create pesticide buffer zones and require an environmental and public health impact study to address concerns related to large-scale commercial ag entities using pesticides and GMOs.
Senate Bill 2738 would follow up on the GMO ban in Hawai`i County by prohibiting the planting of GMO engineered seeds or plant parts in open fields statewide. The bill states that “growth in genetically engineered agricultural production has been swift and pervasive throughout the nation. The quick acceptance of the new technology by American farmers may, however, pose serious consequences for conventional agriculture – consequences that scientists do not yet fully understand. Those consequences have created doubt within the farming community and Congress about the wisdom of growing genetically engineered agricultural products.”
House Bill 2187 would provide a non-GMO tax credit for qualified agricultural costs.
To weigh in on any of these bills and to follow the Legislature, see capitol.hawaii.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
THE GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES bill, introduced by east Ka`u Sen. Russell Ruderman, is up for a public hearing today at the state Capitol. Also introduced into the House of Representatives, both bills state that “Hawai`i’s farms and farmers reflect the heritage and diversity of many cultures and people. They are the cornerstones of the state’s goals for food security, sustainability and self-sufficiency and are essential for producing local food for local consumption.
THE GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES bill, introduced by east Ka`u Sen. Russell Ruderman, is up for a public hearing today at the state Capitol. Also introduced into the House of Representatives, both bills state that “Hawai`i’s farms and farmers reflect the heritage and diversity of many cultures and people. They are the cornerstones of the state’s goals for food security, sustainability and self-sufficiency and are essential for producing local food for local consumption.
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| Sen. Russell Ruderman |
“The number of small farms in Hawai`i has grown substantially during the last ten years, reflecting agricultural landscape and model shifting from plantations to smaller farms with diverse cropping and marketing systems that create new local food sources and increased employment. There is also a renewed interest in planting school gardens and enabling children to eat and enjoy food grown on campus. This contributes to their school cafeteria system and teaches economic, science, and cultural lessons through an agriculture-based curriculum.”
The bills also refer to Good Agricultural Practices regulations and programs in other countries, including Thailand, Canada and Kenya and programs of the U.S. federal government.
According to Ruderman, Good Agricultural Practices would reduce potential for on-farm food-borne illness and include considerations and methodologies for farm sizes, practices, techniques, materials and crops.
The idea is to keep food on organic and other small farms safe without the oversight so expensive that farms are driven out of business.
The measure would launch training for Hawai`i farmers to learn and implement Good Agricultural Practices in a cost-effective and efficient manner, the bill states.
Included would be voluntary verification of on-farm implementation of Good Agricultural Practices, state certification and a consumer program to teach home practices for treatment and handling of fresh and processed agricultural food products.
Those wanting to testify on the measure from Ka`u can log into capitol.hawaii.gov and click Submit Testimony. Bill number is SB2762.
To find legislation of issue, see capitol.hawaii.gov and type in keywords to find various proposed bills in the House and Senate.
The bills also refer to Good Agricultural Practices regulations and programs in other countries, including Thailand, Canada and Kenya and programs of the U.S. federal government.
According to Ruderman, Good Agricultural Practices would reduce potential for on-farm food-borne illness and include considerations and methodologies for farm sizes, practices, techniques, materials and crops.
The idea is to keep food on organic and other small farms safe without the oversight so expensive that farms are driven out of business.
The measure would launch training for Hawai`i farmers to learn and implement Good Agricultural Practices in a cost-effective and efficient manner, the bill states.
Included would be voluntary verification of on-farm implementation of Good Agricultural Practices, state certification and a consumer program to teach home practices for treatment and handling of fresh and processed agricultural food products.
Those wanting to testify on the measure from Ka`u can log into capitol.hawaii.gov and click Submit Testimony. Bill number is SB2762.
To find legislation of issue, see capitol.hawaii.gov and type in keywords to find various proposed bills in the House and Senate.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Mayor Billy Kenoi |
DIRECT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS to Hawai`i Island from Japan and other locales may not resume soon, according to county officials who are working on federal approvals. The direct flight from Japan ended at Kona airport in 2010 when Japan Airlines cancelled its route. Since then, the customs processing facility at the airport has been largely unmanned, and tighter security requirements by the federal government are required to reopen. According to a story by Nancy Cook Lauer in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald, “state and county officials are working with the federal government to get a five-year exemption from meeting security standards at Kona International Airport in order to reopen an international inspection facility. ...”
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection currently has limited staff, screening general aviation and cruise ship arrivals and some cargo shipments to the area,” the Tribune-Herald story states. “At issue is the airport’s design, featuring iconic tiki-hut style outdoor passenger holding areas that convey a Hawaiian atmosphere, but do little to address Customs’ security concerns at the airport,” Cook Lauer writes. “The airport does not meet Customs’ airport technical design standards for passenger processing facilities, said Brian Humphrey, director of field operations for Customs San Francisco office in a Dec. 24 letter to Hawai`i County Mayor Billy Kenoi. ‘Unfortunately, I cannot approve the request for a five-year exemption,’ Humphrey said in the letter, adding he’s referred the matter to Customs headquarters.”
According to the story, Mayor Bill Kenoi “remains optimistic. He told Stephens Media Hawai`i on Monday that he met briefly last week with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who assigned the topic to an assistant secretary. He also discussed it with U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat representing Hawai`i’s 2nd District, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, and other members of the congressional delegation. Kenoi was in Washington for the United States Conference of Mayors winter meeting.” The mayor also gave credit to Gov. Neil Abercrombie for working on the issue.
See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.
According to the story, Mayor Bill Kenoi “remains optimistic. He told Stephens Media Hawai`i on Monday that he met briefly last week with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who assigned the topic to an assistant secretary. He also discussed it with U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat representing Hawai`i’s 2nd District, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, and other members of the congressional delegation. Kenoi was in Washington for the United States Conference of Mayors winter meeting.” The mayor also gave credit to Gov. Neil Abercrombie for working on the issue.
See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Geochemists gather gas samples at Halema`ma`u. Photo from USGS/HVO |
WATER HAULERS AND OCEAN VIEW RESIDENTS plan to meet at Ocean View Community center this Thursday at 7 p.m. to discuss proposed fees on water trucks serving the community.
The fees are proposed by Ocean View Road Maintenance Corp. to help take care of the Ocean View roads where the water trucks travel to service home water storage tanks. The idea is that a $1,200-per-year fee would offset wear and tear on the roads. Some Ocean View residents argue that adding the fee would make the cost of water go up and that they already pay substantial fees to take care of the roads as landowners. The Ocean View Community Association takes a neutral stand on the issue and is hosting the meeting for better understanding of the costs of maintaining the roads and the cost of water hauling, which is necessary for many Ocean View households.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U HIGH BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS hosted Pahoa yesterday. Junior Varsity won 64 – 48, with Jovan Padrigo scoring 20 points.
Varsity lost 56 – 66. Chance Emmsley-Ah Yee scored 15 points.
Ka`u hosts Kealakehe Thursday for the Trojans’ last home game of the season.
JEFF SUTTON AND TAMAR ELIAS, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geochemists, offer an update about volcanic gases, especially those related to the 2008‐2013 activity at Halema`uma`u Crater, and talk about vog – how it forms and what they’ve learned about its effects on our island environment. An optional “gas-tasting” party follows the talk that begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
KA`U HOSPITAL URGES RESIDENTS to complete its Community Health Needs Assessment at surveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX. The deadline is this Friday, Jan. 31.
SEE THE DIRECTORY 2014 ONLINE. For an online, page-turning version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.
For a pdf version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.pdf.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Varsity lost 56 – 66. Chance Emmsley-Ah Yee scored 15 points.
Ka`u hosts Kealakehe Thursday for the Trojans’ last home game of the season.
JEFF SUTTON AND TAMAR ELIAS, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geochemists, offer an update about volcanic gases, especially those related to the 2008‐2013 activity at Halema`uma`u Crater, and talk about vog – how it forms and what they’ve learned about its effects on our island environment. An optional “gas-tasting” party follows the talk that begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
KA`U HOSPITAL URGES RESIDENTS to complete its Community Health Needs Assessment at surveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX. The deadline is this Friday, Jan. 31.
SEE THE DIRECTORY 2014 ONLINE. For an online, page-turning version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.
For a pdf version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.pdf.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
