HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0882.001 2006-2008
K Angel Pilago +iv o. N Phone No.: (808) 327-3642
Council Vice Chair Fax No.: (808) 3294786
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Council Member, District8 E-Mail: kapilago@co.hawaii.hi.us
HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai `i
Kailua Trade Center
75-5706 Hanama Place, Suite 109 rZ,s
Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740
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DATE: December 24, 2007 3 - -
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TO: Pete Hoffmann, Council Chair
And Council Members _
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FROM: K. Angel Pilago, Council Member
RE: Resolution No. 462-07 (Urging the Hawaii State Legislature to pass S.B. 958,
S.D. 1, H.D. 1, Relating to Genetically Modified Organisms)
Regarding the above Resolution urging that the Hawaii State Legislature pass Senate Bill 958,
S.D. 1, H.D. 1, a copy of S.B. 958, S.D. 1, H.D. 1 is attached for information and reference.
KAP/mpd
Att.
Comm. No. 6 L. f
Ref. To: E M C_
Ref. Date DEC 24 777-
Hawai`i County Is An Equal Opportunity Provider And Employer
THE SENATE 958
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007 S.B. NON S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII H.D. 1
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
1 SECTION 1. Kalo (colocasia esculenta), the Hawaiian word
2 for taro, is a culturally significant plant to the kanaka maoli,
3 Hawaii's indigenous peoples. According to the kumulipo, the
4 Hawaiian creation chant, kalo grew from the first-born son of
5 Wakea, the sky father, and Papa, the earth mother, through
6 Wakea's relationship with his and Papa's daughter, Hoohokulani.
7 This son, named Haloa, was stillborn and buried. From Haloa's
S grave grew the first kalo plant. Wakea and Hoohokulani named
9 their second son Haloa, after his older brother. From the
10 second Haloa came the genesis of man. Kalo provides the kanaka
11 maoli's life-giving sustenance, poi, and is seen as the older
12 brother of mankind.
13 Over three hundred kalo varieties may have existed at the
14 time of the arrival of European explorers. Today, there are
15 approximately seventy varieties of taro and, of these, the
16 majority are unique to the Hawaiian islands due to the
17 horticultural skills of native Hawaiian farmers.
SB 9 5'I8 H D1 LA~IRI IBS~ ~~0II 7 -~~3pp 2 6mm2 . dolllc
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Paget ^.B. IV w,O. S958
J S. D.1
H.D. 1
1 The important cultural relationship between kalo and the
2 kanaka maoli continues today in the cultivation of kalo and
3 ohana, the Hawaiian word for family. The cut stalk of the kalo,
4 called the huli, is planted to become the next generation. Huli
5 means to turn or turn-over. When "ohana" is broken into root
6 words, "oha" is the smaller taro corms growing from the older
7 part of the taro plant that is used to feed one's family and
8 "ana" is a conjunctive word connoting regeneration or
9 procreation.
10 Therefore, kalo intrinsically ties the interdependency of
11 the past, the present, and the future, the essence of
12 procreation and regeneration, as the foundation of any
13 sustainable practice. Kalo expresses the spiritual and physical
14 well-being of not only the kanaka maoli and their heritage, but
15 also symbolizes the environmental, social, and cultural values
16 important to the State. This relationship is symbolized in the
17 use of the kalo plant upon the crown of King Kalakaua and today
18 in the logo of the office of Hawaiian affairs and many
19 commercial enterprises throughout the State.
20 The purpose of this Act is to recognize the importance of
21 the kalo in the heritage of the State by creating a ten-year
22 moratorium on developing, testing, propagating, cultivating,
SB958 HD1 LRB 07-3262.doc
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Page3 ^.B. Iv w'O. S958
J .D.1
H.D. 1
1 raising, and growing of genetically modified taro in the State
2 of Hawaii.
3 SECTION 2. Genetically modified taro; moratorium. (a)
4 Until June 30, 2017, no genetically modified taro shall be
5 developed, tested, propagated, cultivated, raised, or grown in
6 the State.
7 (b) As used in this section:
8 "Genetically modified" means alterations to a life form or
9 its living progeny at the nucleic acid level, using the
10 techniques collectively referred to as recombinant DNA
11 technology.
12 "Recombinant DNA technology" means the transfer of genes,
13 regulatory sequences, or nucleic acid between hosts by the use
14 of vectors or laboratory manipulations and includes the
15 insertion, excision, duplication, inactivation, or relocation of
16 specific genes, regulatory sequences, or sections of nucleic
17 acid. This term does not apply to a material or an organism
18 developed exclusively through traditional methods of breeding,
19 hybridization, or nondirected mutagenesis.
20 SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007, and
21 shall be repealed on June 30, 2017.
SB9I~5~p8 ppHDmm1 ~LItlRBmm ~~pp07-3262.''rydoc
S. B. NO. 958
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Report Title:
Genetically Modified Organisms; Taro; Moratorium
Description:
Imposes a 10-year moratorium on developing, testing,
propagating, cultivating, growing, and raising genetically
engineered taro in the State. (HD1)
SB~~pp958nnHD1 LRB 07-3262.doc