HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 412 Draft 01 2006-2008 ~l~
COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 4'x-2
A RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMPT THE WORLD TRIATHLON
CORPORATION TO UTILIZE "100% KONA COFFEE" AS THE "OFFICIAL
COFFEE" FOR ALL FUTURE WORLD TRIATHLON CORPORATION SPONSORED
EVENTS IN KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII.
WHEREAS, the World Triathlon Corporation, Tarpon Springs, Florida annually holds
the Ford IronMan World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, attracting competitors from
over 46 countries and spectators from around the world; and
WHEREAS, the community of West Hawaii has actively supported the Ford IronMan
World Championship in Kona for the past 27 years, providing approximately 5,000 thousand
volunteers each year, thereby directly facilitating the World Triathlon Corporation's ability to
accrue millions of dollars of revenue; and
WHEREAS, the community of West Hawaii, including but not limited to the Districts
of North and South Kona, tolerates additional traffic congestion on race day to support the Ford
IronMan World Championship and other qualifying races; and
WHEREAS, the Districts of North and South Kona on the Island of Hawaii produce
"Kona Coffee", which is:
1) known around the world for its unique flavor and aroma,
2) an economic mainstay and cultural tradition of Kona,
3) honored by many around the world for its rich history that includes a 178-year heritage
of growing this premier coffee, and
4) by and large, produced by small coffee farmers who depend on their coffee harvest for
their livelihood; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii is the only location in the United States of America where coffee is
grown, our "100% Kona Coffee" is a true gourmet product, and the Ford IronMan World
Championship provides a forum for the Kona coffee industry to display our gourmet product to
visitors from all over the world; and
WHEREAS, it is critical that the World Triathlon Corporation support the local
economy and contribute to the sustainability of Kona's coffee fanners and growers of other crops
unique to Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, in 2007, the World Triathlon Corporation promoted a Guatemalan coffee as
the "official coffee" of the Ford IronMan World Championship in 2007, indicating a lack of
understanding of our community, its gourmet coffee, its coffee farmers, and its heritage; and
WHEREAS, the World Triathlon Corporation did remove the Guatemalan coffee from
its shelves, and the Kona coffee industry has acknowledged and accepted the apology offered by
the World Triathlon Corporation; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, that in
the future, the World Triathlon Corporation shall be respectful of Kona's coffee farmers, our
agricultural community, and our unique crops and products by using only "100% Kona Coffee"
as the "official coffee" for any Ford IronMan World Championship or any Irorunan qualifying
race held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii that is sponsored by the World Triathlon Corporation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the World Triathlon Corporation should offer
"100% Kona Coffee" on its website with the other products it sells; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the County Clerk shall forward certified copies of
this resolution to the corporate offices of the World Triathlon Corporation located in Tarpon
Springs, Florida.
Dated at , Hawaii, this day of , 2007.
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL ME BER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii AYES NOES Aes Ex
Hilo, Hawaii FORD
HIGA
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by HOPFMANN
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the IKEDA
County of Hawaii on
JACOBSON
NAEOLE
ATTEST: PILAGO
YAGONG
YOSHIMOTO
Reference: C-793/HSEDC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 412 O'"I
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