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June 7, 2001
Nancy Pisicchio, Council Member
Chair, Committee on Human Services and Sconomic development
Hawaii County Council
77-5399 Nalani Street, Suite 1-A
Kailua-Kona, HI 95740
®ear Ms. Pisi
Please accept this letter as introduction of The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory to
the Committee for Human Services and Sconomic Development. We grow and
process Hawaiian chocolate here on the Sig Island. Our mission is very simple...to
keep it Hawaiian from the tree to the consumer. We are extrerly proud of our
product inasmuch it rightfully is the first of its kind, the first and only genuine
Hawaiian/American chocolate!
Our small factory represents the first inter-island marketplace where prospective cocoa
growers can market cocoa beans. Likewise, we have rekindled an industry that we
hope eventually will become a major agribusiness for the County of Hawaii as well as
the State of Hawaii.
In the interest of our mission to produce a very special product and-~~ sincere desire
to make a most positive contribution to Hawaii, it is imperative that the integrity of this
growing and processing business be protected. To accomplish this, the following are
essential:
1) A State of Hawaii Quarantine: This will safeguard Hawaiian cocoa trees by not
allowing any offshore beans into the State without a rigid protocol in place to make
sure they are free of certain pathogens which can cause great damage to the cocoa
and other crops. Simply put, diseases affecting many of Hawaii's agricultural cro s
Corrim. No.
File No. ~
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are here because they have been allowed.
2) Certification: This will certify that all Hawaiian cocoa is grown as genuine/100%
Hawaiian and processed in Hawaii. A seal of certification should be displayed on all
genuine Hawaiian grown and processed cocoa products to insure the consuming
public of its integrity and authenticity. Violators should be subject to litigation with
appropriate monetary penalties and confinement.
3) Isaw enforcement: Amore active investigation and enforcement of current laws
governing theft of agricultural products from posted Iands.The thefts of agricultural
products should be stopped now before they become an epidemic. Paper trail records
can easily and readily Ise checked to verify the proper acquisition of all cocoa seed
and cocoa plant stocks.
We respectfully request your assistance regarding our needs and those of the
community and look forward to meeting with the committee to further discuss them.
With Aloha,
Bob Cooper
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