HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0786.023 2022-2024 P/PC145W
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KELLY O'DAY U . S . Honey Bee , LLC 8000Mg_o%
PRESIDENT PO BOX 768
KELLY@KONAQUEEN.COM CAPTAIN COOK, HI 96704
April 2, 2024
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TO: Policy Committee on Health,Safety,and Well-Being
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Dear committee members, c ;
I support Bill 144-24 as written. " ' -
It is important that the committee understands the key role that the Hawaii beekeeping
industry plays in U.S.and North American agriculture. U.S.and Canadian beekeepers rely
upon our state's production of mated queen bees to replace their winter colony losses
which still average approximately 30%annually. There is simply no other place that has
the climate to produce the needed stock as consistentlyand early in the agricultural
production season as Hawaii.
Our company supplies approximately 1/3 of the supply of queen bees purchased by the
mainland U.S. and nearly half of the queen bees purchased by Canadian beekeepers.These
queen bees enable the early replacement of bee colonies and in turn helps to ensure that
the agricultural production is not disrupted by the lack of pollination services later in the
season. We have many private landowners who allow the use of their land in support of
this endeavor. The current regulations are antiquated,and this new Bill addresses the
concerns of the community while also making it possible to continue our support of the
Agricultural industry.
As commercial beekeepers,we have been careful to place our colonies in locations where
they do not cause problems for the surrounding properties.We follow the industry's best
management practices by providing water and consistent management of these apiaries. In
closing, I am asking for the committee's support of this Bill because it provides the needed
guidance for the small-scale and new beekeepers while also protecting the ability of our
industry to continue to support the U.S.food supply chain.
Thank you,
Kelly 0'Da
President
Comm. N
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