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August 6,I024 2p.m.
Hawai'i County Building
To: Hawai1County Cmuncil's Policy Committee omHealth, Safety and Well -Being
JenmKagiwada, Chair
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Matt Kmnea|i'i-K0aiwfe|der, Vice -Chair
From: GnassrootInstitute mfHawaii
Jonathan Helton, Policy Researcher r-
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RE: Bill 144--RELATING TOZONING RESTRICTIONS FOR APIARIES AND BEEKEEPING
Aloha Chair Kagiwada, Vice -Chair Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder and other members of the Committee,
The GrassrooiInstitute ofHawaii would like hooffer its support for Bill 144, which would amend the countvt
zoning regulations on beekeeping and apiaries.
|nparticular, the measure would amend the definitions of"lives1ook," "livestock production" and "aninna|"to
promote beekeeping; describe generally accepted management practices for beekeeping; reduce setbacks for
apiaries; and make them a permitted use in all zoning districts
Taken together, these changes would represent amajor positivechanQeinhovvtheCountyregulates
beekeeping, which is at least a $20 million industry in Hawaii County alone.'
Apiaries -- defined in the bill assites where one ormore colonies ofbees are kepL-- currently are regulated
under the same county rules as piggeries and pen feeding of livestock.
These rules mean anyone wanting to have a beehive must get approval from the state Department of Health
and the County planning director and follow strict County setback laws, including having all hives l,DOOfeet or
more from any roads — a requirement that ices the ability of many prospective beekeepers to manage hives.'
'June 2C\ZOZ4meeting ofthe Leeward Planning Commission. See the 12,i�l�%��
2 Ibid.
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Bill 144 says its intention is to make clear that apiaries in Hawai'i County are covered by the state's Right to
Farm Act, which generally protects farmers from complaints against their farms relating to nuisances such as
noise or smell if their farms are "conducted in a manner consistent with generally accepted agricultural and
management practices.i'
Under the bill, beekeepers would no longer have to follow the 1,000-foot limit and could instead follow less
strict setbacks of 25 feet from any property line or 15 feet for apiaries behind a flyover barrier.
This bill is a prime example of how relaxing overly broad regulations could assist Hawaii's entrepreneurs.
Hawaii Island beekeepers already supply 30% to 35% of all queen bees on the mainland and 75% in Canada.'
With many U.S. honeybee colonies in a precarious position,' Hawaii's beekeepers could play a major role in
helping feed the United States and the world.
The measure also represents a major opportunity for the Council to boost a growing industry that could truly
help diversify the island's economy. The increased biodiversity that more bees would bring could improve
pollination to support Hawaii's local flora and fauna as well.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton
Policy Researcher
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
3 Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 165 165-4 Right to farm., accessed Aug. 4, 2024.
4 See footnote 1.
s Seth Borenstein, "N rl n n' i r r lin ili I i " Associated Press,
June 22, 2023.
1050 Bishop St. #508 Honolulu, HI 96813 808-864-1776 info@grassrootinstitute.org