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Murashige, Laura ~q Z f
rawcohi@cs.com
From:
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 6:17 PM tOQ9 RPR 21 fill
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us r p
Subject: Testimony in opposition to Resolution 67-09
• I oppose Resolution 67-09 because it seeks to prevent the Department of Land and Natural Resources
from fulfilling its mandate to protect and manage our Forest Reserves.
• Most, if not all of the designated Forest Reserves are ceded land. These lands are held in trust by the
State of Hawai'i for the benefit of Hawai'i's people and future generations.
• The Forest Reserves are valuable as watersheds for drinking and irrigation water, habitat for rare and
endangered Hawaiian species, and sources from which selected forest products can be grown and
harvested, such as koa.
• Cattle grazing is not compatible with the purposes for which the Forest Reserves in Hawai'i were
established.
• Grazing cattle inhibit the regeneration of koa and other native plants used in reforestation efforts.
• If the DLNR thought that cattle grazing was the best use of this land, the DLNR certainly would have
pulled this area out of Forest Reserve status and put it under the Land Division for leasing to private
ranchers. But, the DLNR has not done so, therefore, we hope you will support and work with the DLNR
to protect the20Forest Reserve and watershed.
• There are appropriate areas in Hawai'i for cattle grazing. We commend responsible ranchers who graze
in these areas, fence their animals in, provide adequate pasture and watering holes, and ensure
humane harvesting and slaughtering of these animals.
• Aerial shooting of wild cattle, if done carefully, is a safe and humane way to remove cattle. A
sharpshooter shooting from a helicopter is more humane than most slaughterhouses and more humane
than some hunters using poorly trained dogs for pigs, sheep, goats, and deer.
• If the County is willing to pay for the timely and complete removal of wild cattle from this area using an
alternative method, we would support that. Regardless of which method is used to remove these
cattle, the owner of the cattle should be billed for all expenses incurred by the state or the county. We
should also do everything in our power to discourage private landowners from feeding at the public
trough at the expense of public trust lands and the people.
• The fact that grazing cattle is incompatible with the regeneration of native Hawaiian forests is not
responsible for the continued decline of the cattle industry in Hawaii. Other factors, such as the cost of
land, feed, en ergy, labor, and transportation, and market demand are critical to whether the industry
continues or not.
While I am not a resident of Hawaii County, I am a citizen of Hawaii and the health of our
natural resources is of paramount importance to me. Please do not let this bill stand in the way
of sensible conservation and restoration of our natural resources. Preserve the beauty of your
county.
Aloha,
Reg White
1540 S.King St.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96826-1919
(808) 222-9794
RawcoHl@cs.com
Email message sent from CompuServe - visit us today at http://www.cs.com Comma. No. If a2 •IS-
Ref. TO:PT~ Gff
Ref. Cate APR 22 2009
4/21/2009