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From: Rachel Laderman COUNTY CLERK
Sent: Friday, July 5, 2024 4:30 PM COUNTY OF HAWAI'IRECEZVE,
To: Council Testimony Time �;� ,t'►1 By
Subject: No on Bill 121 - study first! Date JUL 2024
To: [Hleather Kimball and County Council
Subject: Urgent Need for Comprehensive Study on Bill 121's Economic Impact
Chairperson Heather Kimball
Hawaii County Council
County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Aloha Chairperson Kimball,
Bill 121 as drafted will have a very negative impact on the economy of Big Island, particularly on small
farms and people with modest incomes! It should definitely be studied first! Our situation is a typical
example.
We are farmers on Ag land with one permitted cabin we Airbnb, situated on an unfarmable area of
our land (was previously a gravel mine). We are retired and on a limited income, and now farm cacao
and have a small tree -to -bar chocolate business. The Airbnb provides guests with a farm stay, a
chance to see small farming in Hawaii, learn about local plants and wildlife, and learn about the
importance of growing versus importing food as well as the challenges of farming here. Guests have
a wonderful experience (we have been "superhosts" for 5 years), often saying it is the favorite part of
their trip. We are ahead of the curve on regenerative tourism - guests that stay here do not need to
buy water bottles, food in throw -away takeout containers (since they can cook here), and a myriad of
other small plastic throw -away items that tourists usually pet when they stay in typical hotel situations.
Our Airbnb in no way compromises our ability to provide food from our farm, in fact, it greatly supports
and enhances it. We are farming on otd rock quarry land not suited to acres of plowed fields, so our
plantings have to be in smalt terraced groves where we have intensively improved the soil. We also buy
wet cacao beans, honey, coconuts, and other local produce from other farmers, supporting small
farming in this area as part of our chocolate business. The Airbnb provides us with a diversified, steady
income that helps cover the ups and downs of running a small farm business.
Bill 121 would remove the ability for small farms such as ours to subsidize farming operations with one
transient accomodation rental This goes directly against the County`s legislated intent to support small
agriculture via the "Right-to4arm" law, which was intended to stop "the premature removal of lands from
agricultural use" and ensure future investment in agriculture. This sounds great -we need all the help we
can get to keep farming! Small farms in Hawaii face many difficulties in producing income from product
sales, including high land prices and taxes (we pay over 14% of our earnings in county and state taxes),
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pressure from invasive species, high cost of building and meeting permitting requirements, high cost of
labor, and much more. However, TARs placed on or near farmland actually help fund agricultural
practices and build support for buying local. Our TAR helps us improve the degraded soils that were here,
creating a vibrant and fertile farm that shares aloha with island residents as well as out-of-state visitors
who gain appreciation for what it takes to supply local food.
Please protect our right to farm by opposing Bill 121, which would penalize, stigmatize, and even shut
down small farms that are providing for the public good.
Mahalo,
Rachel Laderman
31-1081 Kulike Place, Hakalau 96710
3607049971