Kaʻū News Briefs Feb.12, 2024

Hawai'i Farmers Union United and many hemp startup organizations are asking for testimony to oppose a bill that they claim would be a setback to the emergence of a stable hemp industry in Hawai'i. See more below. USDA photo

LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH MORE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO ASSIST COFFEE AND ORCHARD CROP INDUSTRIES goes to public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 3:30 p.m. at the 2024 Hawai'i Legislature.

Agricultural Extension Agents Andrea Kawabata and Matt Miyahara are asking for the Kaʻū community's help in supporting the measure. In a statement released Monday, they noted that Kaʻū's state Senator Dru Kanuha and colleagues introduced measure SB2060 Relating to Agriculture. It would establish an Educational Support Associate position within the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources' Kona Cooperative Extension "to support your coffee and orchard crop industries."
The Tuesday hearing includes video conferencing. Those who plan to submit written testimony are urged to do so as soon as possible. Read more and submit testimony here:

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2060&year=2024

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OPPOSITION TO A BILL ON HEMP IS ENCOURAGED BY HAWAI'I FARMERS UNION UNITED. The organization sent out a message on Monday asking for testimony against SB3335 at the Hawai'i Legislature.
The statement says that "Hawai'i hemp farmers are asking for your support to ensure years of work in the legislature, which resulted in the passage of a pro-farmer and pro-hemp bill last year, HB 1359, Act 263, are not lost." Farmers Union asks for testimony to the Senate Committees on Health and Human

Services, Judiciary, urging removal of all hemp elements from SB 3335 relating to medical and recreational cannabis that is a pathway for recreational marijuana.
Farmers Union stated," This bill will turn Hawai'i's hemp industry into an import sector, wiping out Hawai'i farmers and processors. Removing hemp from this bill will not stop the bill from creating a pathway for recreational cannabis if that's what the legislature wants. Please review the following zoom meeting on YouTube for more details on why co-mingling regulatory structures for a federal approved crop, hemp, with a federally illicit scheduled substance, marijuana, results in losses and impact to all hemp industry sectors (food, fiber, fuel, CBD, etc.): https://youtu.be/HehmZ3ntLCE?si=-OvxpWMv78wW19f1."
Hawai'i Farmers Union contends that the "Hawai'i hemp industry has an agricultural mission that is moving Hawai'i towards greater sustainability, producing a variety of value-added products in addition to hemp cannabinoids: food, building materials (some of which are being trialed in affordable housing pilot

projects), plastics pilots to replace plastic cutlery, textiles, fuel, etc. Furthermore, the Hawaii hemp cannabinoid sector is focused on producing high quality health products, mirroring the success of noni, lion's mane, olena (turmeric), etc. and Hawaii CBD products are tested to the highest standards in the U.S. for hemp products ensuring they are free of herbicide, pesticides, metals, mycotoxins, etc. and all hemp product manufacturers in Hawai'i are expected to follow good manufacturing practices."
Farmers Union theorizes that the "Legislature is exploring regulating hemp with marijuana because the state has not enforced on imported hemp products that are not legal in Hawai'i and not made by Hawai'i farmers, high THC hemp gummies and smokeable products.
"The recreational marijuana bills will not fix this enforcement issue or touch the imports, but this bill will penalize Hawai'i hemp farmers and put their business services at risk, banking, insurance, etc. The hemp industry has proposed three regulatory pathways that will address this problem without threatening the greater Hawai'i hemp industry."

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Eli Crook working for a half-nelson pin against opponent from Kohala. Photo by Coach Ray Mazyck

THE TROJAN WRESTLING TEAM TRAVELED to Konawaena for their last season tournament before the BIIF Championship on Feb. 17. The Trojans started off the first round hot with 4 out of 5 participants getting wins. Seniors Stephen Alder and La’akea Kajiwara-Ke both won their first matches by pin in the first round. Freshman Eli Crook was able to secure a big pin in the third round of his first match of the day.

Stephen Adler facing off against opponent from Kamehameha.
Photo by Coach Ray Mazyck

In the semi-finals round Ocean Nihipali-Sesson was able to secure a pin against Waiakea to advance into the finals where he had to medical forfeit, defaulting for 2nd place at the tournament. Stephen Adler, La’akea Kajiwara-Ke, and Eli Crook all had tough semi-final matches and all 3 ultimately lost their match, dropping them into matches to compete for 3rd place. La’akea caught a forfeit to take 3rd, while Stephen and Eli both wrestled hard against tough opponents and lost both taking 4th place in their respective weight classes. Rain Nihipali-Sesson had a rematch against the Kealakehe girl and had a much closer match, almost securing a pin against her opponent. The Kealakehe girl was able to fight back and pin Rain for the second time on the day.

“The level of growth these wrestlers have had this season is monumental, said Wrestling Coach Ray Mazyck. "In all my 25 years of wrestling experience I’ve never seen this amount of growth within three months of training. These first year Trojan wrestlers are showcasing the results of their hard work and dedication, and frankly it’s impressive.”

Next weekend Trojans travel back to Konawaena for the BIIF Championship to compete for their spot in the State Tournament in O'ahu Feb. 23-24. The Coach said, “Next week is what we have been training for all season, top 5 wrestlers from each weight class qualify for state. I have faith that all of our wrestlers will earn their slot in the state tournament. They just have to show up and do what they’ve been training to do.”

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