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Murashige, Laura
From: Alan Takemoto [alan.takemoto @gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 8:30 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us; bford @co.hawaii.hi.us; mwillie @co.hawaii.hi.us; n
ypoindexter @co.hawaii.hi.us; jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi @co.hawaii.hi.us; p. ,
gilalan @co.hawaii.hi.us; zkern @co.hawaii.hi.us; dkanuha @co.hawaii.hi.us; ZC
keoff @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: djluka905 @hawaii.rr.com N
CO CD-<
Subject: Bill 79 - Oppose
Bill 79 - Oppose.doc *'CI
Dear Council members: ea , 3.?e
tr.
On behalf of Douglas Luka, County President of the South Oahu County Farm Bureau, please find
attached and below testimony in opposition to Bill 79. Its our understanding Bill 79 is up for decision
making tomorrow, May 29th. Mahalo!
SOUTH OAHU COUNTY FARM BUREAU
c/o 2343 Rose Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96819
May 29, 2013
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY & MASS TRANSIT
TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO BILL 79
Dear Committee Chair Brenda Ford and members of the committee:
My name is Douglas Luka, County President of the South Oahu County Farm Bureau, which represents
about 200 farmers and ranchers covering from the farmers in the valley of Hawaii Kai to the most
productive agricultural lands in central Oahu.
We are strongly opposed to Bill 79 which will place many of our Big Island farmers and ranchers at a
great disadvantage depriving them of the necessary tools to address the on-going pest and disease
problems facing all of Hawaii's agriculture. It removes the option of using science as a tool for farmers
and ranchers to remain viable.
We import approximately 90% of the products into Hawaii that brings in many of the alien pests and
diseases that threaten our local agricultural production. The papaya ring spot virus, banana bunchy
top, coqui frog, coffee berry borer are just a few examples that have major negative impacts to the Big
Island farmers. Farmers need all the tools to combat the ever increasing pest and disease pressures to
remain competitive.
The agricultural biotechnology is heavily regulated by the federal and state government. USDA, FDA,
EPA and the State Department of Agriculture directly oversee and regulate agricultural biotechnology
in Hawaii and abroad. They have the expertise, knowledge and resources to oversee a complex and
Comm. No. 27/• G
Ref.To: P/LS'W
5/28/2013 Ref. DateJUL 0:2 21313-__
Page 2 of 2
highly technical industry.
Bill 79 discourages farming on the Big Island and State of Hawaii overall. While our organization is on
Oahu, we are concerned how this bill will negatively impact our Big Island farmers as well as how this
will negatively impact Hawaii's agricultural industry overall. Please oppose Bill 79 and hold this bill in
committee.
Sincerely,
Douglas Luka, County President
South Oahu County Farm Bureau
5/28/2013