HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.196 2024-20261
9#Waimea I Pa'auilo Store
Vffl A Hawaii Limited Liability Company
November 4, 2025
Chair Holeka Goro Inaba
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
via email: counciltestimony(ahawaiicountygov
Re: Testimony in Opposition to Bill No. 83 relating to Plastic and Polystyrene Waste
Dear Chair Inaba and Council Members:
My name is Miles Saito, and my family owns and operates Earl's Waimea and Pa`auilo
Store, a small, family -run food business on Hawaii Island. I am writing to express strong
onnosition to Bill No. 83 (Draft 2) because it will impose costs that family food businesses like
ours simply cannot afford. If passed, this bill would likely force us to shut down.
My family has been serving our community since 1949, and have been selling bentos,
bento rolls, musubi, and plate lunches made by local people, for local people for over 30 years.
At Earl's, we believe that everyone deserves a good and affordable meal. That's why we've
intentionally kept our prices low without sacrificing home -cooked quality. We do this while also
employing local residents and supporting local suppliers.
Some may say our business model isn't profitable, but it's what good neighbors do.
While I appreciate the intent to reduce waste and protect our island environment, I
believe Bill No. 83 fails to adequately consider and protect locally owned family food
businesses.
1. Lack of affordable and reliable alternative food containers and serviceware
There are no affordable and reliable alternative food containers and serviceware for our
business to use to sell our bentos, bento rolls, and plate lunches. The products currently
available cost more but are poor and inconsistent in quality. The containers we've tested with
our food products leak, warp, and easily break. We could say, "who cares" and pass the costs
and the poor quality on to our customers. But that's not what good neighbors do, q
Comm. 4
Ref. To.
Ref. Date - k2O2
P.O. Box 2744 1 Kamuela, Hawaii 96743 1(808) 887-16001 saitos005@1rawaiiantel.net
Page 2 of 2
Opposition to Bill No. 83 (Draft 2)
2. We cannot absorb another maior cost.
Between rising food, shipping, utilities, and wage costs, we cannot absorb another major
cost. Some have said alternative food containers and serviceware are modestly more expensive,
but this perspective fails to understand that this equates to thousands of dollars in additional
expenses each month. Raising our prices wouldn't be fair to our customers. Closing our doors
wouldn't be fair to our employees.
Moreover, as written Bill No 83 is unclear in its definitions and enforcement. Would our
bentos and bento rolls qualify as pre -packaged food and be exempt? If so, how would our bentos
and bento rolls differ from our plate lunches? These uncertainties would undoubtedly lead to
inconsistent interpretation and enforcement (e.g. fines) by the County at the cost of our business.
We understand and support the goal of this bill, but that goal must be pursued in a way
that small family businesses can survive without undue financial hardship or threat of closure.
This bill is not yet ready to become law. The Council needs to get it right.
3. Suggestions
a. Defer Bill No. 83 until the Council can better balance the interests of protecting
the environment and reducing waste with the interests of small family businesses.
b. Phase in the requirements over a number of years, with clearly defined
exemptions for small, family -run food businesses.
c. Facilitate and encourage manufacturers and distributors to provide affordable and
reliable containers to Hawaii Island, with food business feedback.
d. Provide cost -offsets or grants to help small'family food businesses transition.
Small family food businesses like ours help keep local traditions alive through the flavors
of the food we share with our community. Please do not allow Bill No. 83 (Draft 2) to become
the reason we have to close our doors.
Sincerely, -
Miles T. Saito
cc: CM James Hustace, District 9
james.hustace@hawaiicounty.gov
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