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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0786.035 2022-2024From: Malia Everette Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 1 1:S6 AM To: Council Testimony Subject: Support for Bees, Pollinations and Beekeeping in Hawai'i Aloha friends! am writing to support Bee Bill 144. I am a small scale beekeeper. Though I have an ainabased educational travel company, living in Hawaiian Acres on a 3 acres parcel I also grow about 50% of my family's food and this includes our 3 hives. I know our hives support the fruit trees and pollination within about 2 miles from their home/hives. I am dedicated to helping beekeepers in Hawaii raise bees successfully. Especially with climate change and the use of toxic 'Cides" the importance of healthy food bioiversity, now and in future, the timing of this bill is imperative to help our pollinators and thus our backyard, or small scale agroecology thrive. As shared by my Master Bee instructor, Why this bill is important: Environmental Benefits - Honey bees play a crucial role in pollinating plants. By allowing beekeeping on smaller properties, we increase the population of pollinators, which helps sustain local ecosystems and agricultural production. Biodiversity - Bees contribute to an area's biodiversity by helping maintain various plants. Plant diversity supports a broader range of native wildlife, promoting a healthier and more balanced ecosystem. Educational Opportunities - Beekeeping can be an excellent tool for children and adults. It provides hands-on learning experiences about biology, ecology, and the importance of pollinators. Schools, community groups, and families can use beekeeping to foster a deeper understanding of the natural world and environmental stewardship. Health and Wellness - Beekeeping allows for the production of local honey, which has many health benefits, such as helping with allergies, providing a natural sweetener, and containing antioxidants. Access to fresh, local honey can contribute to the community's well-being. Therapeutic Activity - It can be a therapeutic and stress -relieving hobby. Engaging with bees and nature has reduced stress levels and promoted mental health. Economic Benefits - Beekeeping can become a source of supplemental income by selling honey, beeswax, and other bee -related products. This can be beneficial for families looking to djversify their income streams. Comm. No 1, U - OS Ref. To: Rul Ref. Date %_� 6 2024 Support Local Agriculture - Bees improve crop yields through pollination, enhancing local agricultural productivity. This benefits individual gardeners, local farmers, and the broader community by ensuring a more extensive food supply. Community and Social Benefits - Foster a sense of community as neighbors and local groups come together to support and learn from each other. Sharing honey and knowledge about beekeeping can strengthen social ties and a sense of communal achievement. Urban Greening - Encouraging beekeeping in smaller properties can lead to more urban green spaces. People may plant more flowers, trees, and gardens to support their bees, contributing to urban beautification and green initiatives. Regulation and Safety - With proper guidelines and education, beekeeping on smaller properties can be safe and manageable. Beekeepers can learn best practices to ensure their hives are healthy and non -disruptive to neighbors. Many cities have successfully integrated urban beekeeping with minimal issues, demonstrating that it can be done responsibly. Support for Small -Scale Beekeepers - Allowing beekeeping on smaller properties supports hobbyists and small-scale beekeepers who might need access to more extensive tracts of land. This inclusivity ensures that beekeeping is not just a privilege for those with extensive properties but is accessible to a broader range of people. Permitting beekeeping on 20,000 square feet or fewer properties offers many benefits, from environmental and economic advantages to educational and community -building opportunities. Supporting urban and suburban beekeeping can enhance biodiversity, promote sustainability, and foster a greater citizen appreciation for nature. Proper regulation and education can mitigate potential risks, making this a worthwhile and beneficial practice for all. '00 R Malia Everette Founder and CEO AltruVistas P: 415.735.5407 m: 510.290.0573 o: 808-968-8544 A :P0 Box 711366, 18-1350 Volcano Road Mountain View, HI 96771 T, W, TH, F, S 9-6 pm (HST) Transformative Travel for a Better World 163 Anton Recio Havana, Cuba Altruvistas is an award winner of Newsweek's the Future of Travel Awards 2021 https://www.newsweek.com/future-travel-awards-2021/trips-tour-operators 2019 Finalist AFAR Trips That Do Good httDS://www.afar.com/maRazine/the-worlds-best-trir)s-and-destinations-afar-travelers-awards-2019 "Ahuwale ka Po'okela I kau Nana is ha'i. " "It is through the way you serve others that your greatness will be felt. " - Hawaiian Proverb A1truVistas Transforming Travel (short of our ethos in Hawai'i) https://vimeo.com/234400665 AltruVistas inspires you to engage your passion, explore the issues you care about, share with communities around the world, and build dynamic philanthropic relationships. Altruvistas promotes transformational philanthropy in the travel industry through three program areas: 1. AltruVIsta Funds- Our Meso-financing program's mission is to provide communities the financial tools they need to improve their lives and benefit from the tourism sector. 2. AltruVista Fellows- Our professional fellowship program matches community grantees with emerging or service -seeking tourism professionals to implement community development programs, support the capacity building of the community and bridge cultural norms. 3. AltruvVista Journeys creates privately branded trips for others using the pillars of experiential education, philanthropy and social responsibility. While AltruVista Funds and AltruVista Connects are run through our Foundation our AltruVista Journeys are powered by our LLC. Through socially responsible and ecologically conscious tourism, AltruVista Journeys insightfully adapts your vision, your mission, or curriculum and crafts it into a unique transformational experience. We offer our services and professional expertise to foundations, organizations, membership associations, educational institutions, businesses, travel agencies and "VIPs" with the desire to create their own incomparable brand of travel worldwide. Altruvistas Journeys provide a natural interlocutor between the desires of the global traveler and the socio-economic needs of some of the world's most remote, heritage -rich communities, natural and cultural sites. Share your ideas, learning or donor goals with us and together we will craft an immersion journey for you. Let us take care of the logistics and customer service while you relax with the confidence that you are offering a one -of -a -kind, privately branded tour solely for your members who will never be solicited. Our goal is to provide you with ethical, comprehensive, educational and philanthropic travel -planning services so that you can have the adventure of a lifetime: a culturally insightful, engaging, comfortable, and worry -free journey that synergistically benefits the local economy, your hosts, important causes— and even highlights the good work you are doing in the world!