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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Nalei Pate-Kahakalau <br /> P.O. Box 1764 <br /> Honoka'a, Hawai'I 968727 <br /> (808) 775-0867 <br /> haloa@kalo.org <br /> <br /> <br /> Jan 18, <br /> 2008 <br /> <br /> Aloha mai esteemed Hawai'i Council Members <br /> <br /> My name is Nalei Pate-Kahakalau and I am an educator and a <br /> <br /> taro planter in Waipi'o Valley. This testimony is in <br /> strong support of Resolution 462-08, which urges the <br /> <br /> Hawai'i State Legislature to pass S.B. 958 S.D.1H.D.1., <br /> which imposes a ten year moratorium on developing, testing, <br /> <br /> propagating, cultivating, growing, and raising of <br /> genetically modified taro in the State of Hawai'i. <br /> <br /> <br /> As a native Hawaiian practitioner, who views taro as a <br /> <br /> kinolau of the god Kane, the creator, god of freshwater, <br /> sunlight and new beginnings, I feel it is imperative that <br /> <br /> absolutely no experiments occur in the State of Hawai'i, <br /> which may cause harm to our most important plant, the taro. <br /> <br /> According to one of our cosmogonic genealogies, taro is <br /> also our older sibling Haloanakalaukapalili. As our older <br /> sibling kalo is responsible for taking care of us kanaka, <br /> <br /> while at the same time, we younger siblings are responsible <br /> for taking care of the taro. This reciprocal relationship <br /> <br /> has existed since the beginning of time. <br /> <br /> <br /> Please pass Resolution 462-08, so that taro can be <br /> protected until we find out more about genetic engineering <br /> <br /> and the potential hazards it may have not just for taro, <br />