Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Feb. 23, 2015

STATE SENATE WATER & LAND Committee meets Wednesday to consider a bill that would allow agricultural tourism uses or activities, including certain overnight accommodations, conducted in conjunction with a bona fide farming operation in the agricultural district. SB 1073 defines bona fide farming operations as having been in operation for not less than two years and receiving the majority of their annual gross income from sale of agricultural products grown by the farming operation on the property for which an agricultural tourism use is proposed.
      The bill has already passed the Senate Tourism & International Affairs and Agriculture Committees.

      In his testimony, state Ag Board Chair Scott Enright said the Ag Department “strongly supports this measure that allows bona fide farmers the opportunity to generate additional income by offering agricultural tourism activities including overnight accommodations. Under this measure, agricultural tourism and overnight accommodations would be allowed if they are clearly secondary and accessory to ‘bona fide farming operations’ and requires the counties to enact ordinances to regulate it.”  

      Luis Salaveria, Director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, said, “Supporting agricultural tourism and the offering of overnight accommodations as part of an agricultural tourism operation is fully consistent with the promotion of economic development advocated by this department and contributes to the goals of increased food security and food self-sufficiency for the state of Hawai`i.”  

      Ka`u resident and Hawai`i Farm Bureau President Chris Manfredi said the organization supports the intent SB 1073.
      “We support the strong position of ensuring that agricultural tourism operations are subordinate to bona fide agricultural operations,” Manfredi wrote. “We continue to believe that other loosely related activities that merely use agriculture as a justification belong in the rural district. Moreover, counties should be encouraged to move in this direction, thereby protecting agricultural lands. This measure also seeks to define ‘bona fide farming operations’ to insure that agricultural tourism operations are subordinate to legitimate agricultural production. 

      “We believe that the details of agritourism is a Home Rule issue, and we request that the requirement that a county adopt ordinances regulating agricultural tourism operations remain in statute. Counties may differ in their opinions of what they allow. This should be duly respected and falls within the purview of county zoning code.”
      Public testimony is due by 2:45 p.m. tomorrow to be included at the hearing. See capitol.hawaii.gov.
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HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH will receive $9.43 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support programs for pregnant mothers and families with young children.
      “A child’s development is more critical in the first few years of life than at any other time,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. “These funds will provide more Hawai`i families with access to in-home visits from nurses and social workers, ensuring parents have the support they need for their child’s healthy development.”

      Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “The steps we take to support our youngest keiki often create a foundation for success in school and in life. These grants will be paid back many times over, as families who participate in home-visiting programs enter school better prepared. I was proud to vote to create the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting grants as part of the Affordable Care Act and am pleased that Hawai`i families continue to benefit from this valuable program.”
      Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, “This grant … will help working families in Hawai`i by providing the resources necessary to improve child health in a cost-effective way. By funding local home-visit programs, we are helping families prevent child injuries, reduce emergency department visits and improve economic self-sufficiency. The programs sustained by this DHHS grant promote the well-being of our keiki.”
      The Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program supports pregnant women and families with children up to five years old. Hawai`i Department of Health first received an MIECHV grant in 2010. It was used to establish the Hawai`i Home Visiting Network, which is made up of ten community-based organizations that offer various home visiting programs.
      Hawai`i Department of Health will use the funds to provide voluntary home visits to low-income parents to learn about health, child development, school readiness and referrals to other services.
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USGS HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY scientist Mike Poland shares what he has discovered over the past decade about Hawaiian volcanoes and earthquakes, as well as the scientists who work at HVO, at After Dark in the Park tomorrow. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donations support park programs. Park entrance fees apply.

RANGER NOAH GOMES SHARES THE TRADITIONAL skill of lei making Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Free; park entrance fees apply. 

DR. CLAIRE HORWELL CONDUCTS A VOG SURVEY at Ka`u Farmers Market Wednesday. She is studying ways people protect themselves from vog and how those methods relate to official advice. For more information about her research, see https://www.face-book.com/groups/421925067973152/.