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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP HSEDC 007 11/19/2007 2006-2008 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DATE: November 19, 2007 RE: Comm. 793/Res. 412-07 PLACE: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa 78-128 Ehukai Street Kailua-Kona, Hawaii TIME: 1:40 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Human Services and Economic Development, to which was refereed Resolution 412-07, via Communication No. 793, reports as follows: Resolution 412-07, transmitted by Council Member Brenda Ford, via Communication No. 793, dated October 29, 2007, encouraging and prompting the World Triathlon Corporation to utilize "100% Kona Coffee" as the "Official Coffee" for all future World Triathlon Corporation sponsored events in Kailua-Kona. Brenda Ford motioned to file Resolution 412-07 and Bob Jacobson seconded. Ms. Ford noted the testimony received from several Kona Coffee growers and noted the fact that her husband grows Kona coffee. The problem, as she understands it, is the decision not to utilize "100% Kona Coffee" at World Triathlon events, including the Kona event, was not made locally. The local World Triathlon Corporation and local Ironman representatives were not a part of the decision-making process. Unfortunately, the decision to utilize Guatemalan Coffee instead of Kona Coffee was a poor decision and insulting to local farmers, Ms. Ford said. It caused an uproaz in the Kona Coffee farmer community, she added. Ms. Ford drafted the resolution at issue, not to be punitive to the World Triathlon Corporation, to request when a race is held here that they support 100% Kona Coffee. The resolution is not intended to threaten World Triathlon Corporation, she said. There are other products on Hawaii Island that could be promoted, Ms. Ford noted. One thing Hawaii can provide is premier, 100% Kona Coffee. Ironman needs to educate themselves whenever they have a race somewhere, find out about the community and help promote local products, she said. Had the Ironman headquarters in Florida called the local Ironman office, the incident involving the announcement of Guatemalan coffee as the official Ironman coffee while the Ironman event was being held in Kona would have never happened, Ms. Ford said. She hopes Ironman representatives will develop a sensitivity to other products that may be Hawaii made that they could promote, she said, noting that this island community offers tremendous support to Ironman. Hawaii County Council Chairman Pete Hoffmann said he wholeheartedly supports the idea, but wondered why the Council doesn't broaden the resolution to other events other than just Ironman and to other products other than just Kona Coffee. He would be just as supportive of another resolution that gets everyone on board and creates a package for any organization wishing to hold an event here. It's just a thought and a question, he said. He had no problem voting for Ms. Ford's resolution, he just thought it was too narrowly focused. HSEDC RPT NO.: 7 ~ . Ms. Ford said her resolution was narrowly focused because the impact was on a specific group within our island community. She thought it was appropriate that Ironman be specifically tazgeted and, with another resolution, they could tazget other groups such as the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Dominic Yagong agreed with both Ms. Ford and Mr. Hoffmann. He believes the resolution needed to pass out of committee level on November 19, knowing the issue of Kona Coffee and the Ironman event is fresh in everyone's mind. He added that he likes the temperament shown in the resolution. Mr. Yagong noted it refers specifically to the Kona Ironman event. There is no doubt in Mr. Yagong's mind that Kona Coffee needs to be front and center when an event is held here, he said. This is the kind of stuff that the Hawaii Visitors Bureau and the Hawaii Tourism Authority need to be on top of, Mr. Yagong said, noting events such as the Pro Bowl and the Aloha Bowl that also occur here. We need to put our foot down even stronger to say we have other things to offer other than a place for people to come, he said. We have agricultural products second to none, Mr. Yagong noted. He commended Ms. Ford for a wonderful resolution and thanked her for her leadership. Even with all the haka ka that happened, he appreciated Ironman's immediate reaction to pull the Guatemalan Coffee from the shelves. Mr. Jacobson supports Ms. Ford's resolution and believes putting it forth immediately makes sense. He said Mc Hoffmann's idea for the issue to be carried into other azeas resonates well with him. Mr. Jacobson suggested that Ms. Ford's resolution be sent to the Depaztment of Reseazch and Development, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and the Hawaii Visitors Bureau so they can get an idea of what is the expectation of the Hawaii County Council, not only for the World Triathlon, but other events that occur here. He thinks a letter should be drafted to those organizations, so they know where the County Council is going with their resolution. Ms. Ford said she would do that. Mr. Yagong said Mr. Jacobson's suggestion is fantastic. He suggested an amendment to Ms. Ford's resolution to include in the Be It Finally Resolved clause that the resolution be sent to the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. He thinks it is important for the Department of Research and Development to receive the resolution as well. Mr. Yagong thinks everyone should know what the County Council is doing. Your Committee unanimously recommended that Res. 412-07 move up to full Council level with a positive recommendation. Absent from the meeting were Council members Stacy Higa, Donald Ikeda and J Yoshimoto. tce AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted, FORD X HIGH x COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES HOFFMANN x AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IKEDA X JACOBSON x t NAEOLE x EMIL~E, CHAIR PILAGO x YAGONG x HSEDC REPORT NO. 7 YOSHIMOTO x ADOPTED: DECO 5 1O