COM 0604.051 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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' ~1R~.. Dakini Enterprises ~1e_._~_~'!~'r~!? P.O. Box 1786 oa,~ - `a Pahoa, Hawaii 96778 (808) 969-9282 September 1, 1998 Dear Councilman Yagong: Enclosed with this communication is a letter from the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, (HOFA), that addresses the organization's stance on the County's impending decision regazding the County acreage in the Hamakua district. After receiving your communication announcing the public meeting on August 28s' in Honokaa, I contacted the main HOFA office and asked that the Board of Directors issue a statement on the matter. Unfortunately, I did not receive their response until after the public meeting in Honokaa. Since the County Council has not yet made a decision regarding the land, I feel it is still appropriate to submit this written testimony and hope that it will be shared with all Council members. I am also enclosing a brochure on the upcoming annual HOFA meeting and conference which takes place on Maui this yeaz (the organization's annual meeting is held on a different island each yeaz). The organization and its organic certification program have continued to gain momentum over its five years existence, with the primary funding coming from membership dues and certification fees. HOFA has grown through the dedication of volunteers and has attracted some highly competent individuals to assist in administering to the needs of the State's organic fazming industry. The success and sustained existence of HOFA is largely due to the fact that it has a wide membership base -people truly wish to support sustainable forms of agriculture which do not use practices and techniques that pose threats to both human health and to the environment. And through legislative action supported by HOFA at the State level, the organic farming industry is now recognized as a bona fide commodity group. Although I am no longer growing organic produce for the local markets due to my full-time position coordinating solaz electric programs and developing new business offerings for HELCO, I continue to produce cut-flower orchids for both local and export markets. I have been an active member of HOFA since its inception and currently serve the certification committee as both an evaluator and farm inspector. We receive approximately two requests for certification a week from farms azound the State and the growth in the number of local organically producing farms pazallels the growth of the organic industry nationwide. Clearly, we need to make the County agricultural lands available for the development of more small and medium size farms engaged in sustainable diversified agriculture. Although well acquainted with the standazds required for organically certified farming, I also have considerable experience in conventional agriculture systems and can assist in directing our current agricultural businesses towards more sustainable methods of production and marketing. I understand that the County is not equipped to administer leases, but see no reason why the County Council can not establish an appropriate mechanism for doing so. The County of Maui currently administers agricultural pazk land in Kula under different terms and conditions than the agricultural pazk lands leased through the State's Department of Agriculture. Additionally, as I am working on several solar electric projects involving County parks, I would like to inject my incredulous reaction to our Mayor's proposal to expand the existing parks. Ahalanui County Pazk in Puna has been mentioned as a candidate for expansion, but in the nearly five yeazs since it was created few of the promised amenities have been added. The park was opened lazgely through the action of community groups and the creation of a public pavilion and ~~I , LCr_ . .