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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0600.000 1996-1998 1 Hawaii Farm Bureau F P D F R A T I O ? 343 Ruse Sweet Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 Phone: (808) 848-Z07~~ ~ Fax: (808) 848-1921 E-~taiL HFBF ©aloha.~et November 5, 1997 Honorable James Arakaki Councilman County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Councilman Arakaki: Pursuant to the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation's Annual Meeting held on October 29-30, 1997, I herewith transmit copies of Resolutions which was adopted by our House of Delegates. Sincerely, i Gz~s~t « Wendell Koga Executive Director (000 ~o.--_ RCS . i :~.et. U;:ee_ ~ 2 4 199I_ --~r.- Hawau Farm Bureau r e a r ~t g r i n s 2343 Rox Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 Phone: (808) 848-2014 Far: (808) 848-1921 E-Mail: HFRF @ aloha.ner RESOLUTION ON PRIVATIZATION OF CURRENT GOVERNMENT SERVICES WHEREAS, the state's economy has been a troubled one for the past seven years and, WHEREAS, the number of commercial bankruptcies in the state have reached record numbers in the past two years, and WHEREAS, many committees organized by the private and public sector in recent weeks and months appear to have concluded that the flow of additional dollars is desperately needed to kick start the economy and, WHEREAS, similar committees have apparently reach the conclusion we must "right size" government in the state and toward this end eliminated duplication of services by the state and several counties and, WHEREAS, it appears that more workers aze required to carry out tasks while on the public payroll than would be needed were these tasks turned over to the private sector, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT MEMBERS OF THE Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation urge policymakers within the state govertment and the several county governments to seriously examine the contributions privatization of various government services might make to improve the state's economy and stream the operations of the state and several county governments and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the state administration, state legislature, the several county administrations and county councils move actively in an effort to identify areas where duplication of services between the state and counties can be eliminated and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the state administration, state legislature, the several county administration and county council identify azeas of current government service that would be good candidates for privatization, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this activity be completed and a recommended course of action set forth before the conclusion of the 1998 session o: the State Legislature. A'~~ BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF HAWAII, THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE STATE HOUSE, THE 1~'LAYORS OF I-LA~VAII COUIv'TY, MAUI COUNTY, KAUAI COUNTY, ,AI`'D THE CITY A'`'D COU':~,'TY OF HONOLULU AI`'D THE CHAIRS OF THE COUNCILS OF I-LA~VAII COL`!``TY, '~1AUI COU'N'TY, KAUAI COUNTI' AN'D THE CITY AND COUNTI' OF HONOLULU. -~~i- Hawaii Farm Bureau F t D E R d T 1 0 N 2343 Rwe Scree[ Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 Phone: (808) 848.2074 Fax: (808) 848.1921 E-Mail HFBF @ aloha.nc[ RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE AND THE COUNTY OF HAWAII CONSIDER THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HAMAKUA/NORTH HILO FOR THE ADDITIONAL LAND NEEDED FOR FAMILY FARMS AND RANCHES. WHEREAS, with the bankruptcy of the Hamakua Sugar Company in 1993, more than 40,000 acres of former cane land became available for alternative agricultural uses in the districts of Hamakua and North Hilo on the Island of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, in settlement of debts owed to the Western Land Bank and the County of Hawaii, 29,500 acres were sold to Kamehameha School/Bishop Estate (KS/BE) and approximately 4,500 acres were deeded to the County of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, most of the remaining land leased by Hamakua Sugar were reclaimed by their respective owners, including about 5,100 acres of land belonging to the State of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, in an effort to rebuild their depressed local economy, Hamakua/North Hilo farmers and ranchers have expressed a strong desire to lease available public lands to start up, expand and/or diversify their agricultural operations; and WHEREAS, against widespread opposition from the people of Hamakua/North Hilo, the State and County governments are planning to lease almost all of the available public lands in the district for 55 years to Oji-Marubeni Corporation of Japan; and WHEREAS, the commitment of these public lands to Oji Marubeni would, in effect, eliminate the only option our farmers and ranchers now have to lease available agricultural land in Hamakua/North Hilo other than lands owned by the KS/BE; and WHEREAS, the Hamakua County Farm Bureau acknowledges that pulp timber forestry is an agricultural activity but would prefer that such large scale mono-cultural projects utilize available private lands rather than scarce public lands in Hamakua/North Hilo; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the delegates to the 1997 Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation's (HFBF) Annual Convention join the Hamakua County Farm Bureau and the people of Hamakua/North Hilo in urging the State and the County of Hawaii to reconsider their plans of leasing public lands in Hamakua/North Hilo. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State and the County of Hawaii consider the wishes of the people of Hamakua/North Hilo for the additional land needed for family farms and ranches before any plans are concluded to utilize these public lands for other uses. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the HFBF declare its support of the people's desire to utilize the land for a diversity of agricultural uses. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that true copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Honorable Benjamin Cayetano, Governor of the State of Hawaii; Michael Wilson, Chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; the Honorable Stephen Yamashiro, Mayor of the County of Hawaii; and the Honorable James Arakaki, Chairman of the Hawaii County Council.