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August Z1,2OJ4,11a.mn.
Haxvai'iCounty Building
To: Hax*ai'i County Council
Heather Kimball, Chair c�c
NoUekaGomoInaba, Vice -Chair
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Jonathan Helton, Policy Researcher
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RE: Bill 144--RELATING T]ZONING RESTRICTIONS FOR APIARIES AND BEEKEEPING ~�
Aloha Chair Kimball, Vice -Chair Inaba and other members of the Council,
The Gn*ssmootInstitute ofHawaii supports BLM 144, which would amend the countv's zoning regulations on
beekeeping and apiaries.
In particular, the measure would amend the definitions of "livestock," "livestock production" and "animal" 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 a major positive change in how the County regulates
beekeeping, which is at least a $20 million industry in Hawaii County alone.'
Apiaries — defined in the bill as sites where one or more colonies of bees are kept — 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 1,000 feet or
more from any roads — a requirement that ices the ability of many prospective beekeepers to manage hives.'
zJune D\ZUZ4meeting ofthe Leeward Planning Commission. See the ��2�,QLMAL�.
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."'
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.4
Withmany U.S. honeybee colonies in a precarious position,5 Hawaii's beekeepers could play major role in
helping feed the United States and the world.
The measure also represents amajor opportunkvfortheCound|toboosta8rovvngindustrythatcou|dtruk/
help diversify the island's economy. The increased biodiversity that more bees would bring could improve
pollination tosupport Hawaii's local flora and fauna aswell.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton
Policy Researcher
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
'Hawaii Revised Statutes, ChaDter 165, 165-4 Ri2ht to farm., accessed Aug. 4'2OZ4.
^ See footnote 1.
" Seth Borengein,^ Associated Press,
June 2Z,2OZ3.
znsnBishop St. osou Honolulu, m96uzs 808*641776 info@moomotinstitute.o,m