HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0393.175 2012-2014 COU, TY CLERK
TO: J.Yoshimoto, HI County Council Chair
Karen Eoff, Member 2013 NOV -5 PH I_ 45
Brenda Ford, Member
Greggor Ilagan, Member
Dru Mamo Kanuha, Member
Zendo Kern, Member
Dennis'Fresh'Onishi, Member
Valerie T. Poindexter, Member
Margaret Wille, Member
FROM: Karen K . Umehara
SUBJECT: Testimony Against HI County Council BILL 113
My name is Karen K. Umehara. I am before you, once again,as a private citizen. I am not a scientist and
therefore cannot speak with that learned wisdom as others before me and others to follow me. I do
believe that I speak simply as a representative of the many senior citizens on this island —whose lives
are to be affected by the passing of Bill 113.
Many of us had family members who have labored in `olden days' agriculture. My grandfather worked
the sugarcane fields. I can't even describe the sugarcane fields to my granddaughter as gone from our
islands history. I also grew up with fields of pineapple now made to become more of a tourist stop.
Almost every home grew papayas in their backyard and able to enjoy every morning. Papayas were
abundant on Oahu till the papaya ringspot virus hit the fields. So papayas were started on this island
where the volcanic soil and perfect weather conditions brought the industry back. The foresight of
scientists and researchers well aware of the possible demise of the papaya industry became saviours of
the ill-fated industry when hit again with the papaya ringspot virus here on Hawai'i island. The
introduction of genetically-modified organisms (GMO) namely the Rainbow papaya saved the industry
to the status of being world-renown as the best tasting papayas! This should be recognized as, "One of
the Good Things of Hawai'i (Island)".
Every day, rain or shine our papaya growers tend to their fields; ranchers and farmers to their livestock,
pastures and farms doing what they love. We are the benefactors of their labor: they put food on our
table. The word `Sustainability' has been often spoken as what this island, our State should strive for.
We should be supporting our islands economy; not support other countries: "Buy Local" ... "Farm Fresh"
... "Island Beef"—how much longer can we claim "Fresh Island Dairy Milk"?Allow them to survive with
technology that has been proven safe.
I do not wish to tell our growers,farmers, ranchers what to do and how to do their jobs because I can't!
As I opened with I am not a scientist, definitely not! Why are you dictating what they do best? I am not a
grower, farmer or rancher — all of you are not (commercially) either. You need to listen to these
growers,farmers and ranchers. Meet them on their turf! Talk with them at their comfort zone. Make it
a two-way street that they not always are the one to have to come to your office. They ... we, can
dictate to you because we elected you into office and at that time had faith in you to do your job given
the best proven resources available to you to make good decisions for a better Hawai'i Island.
Lastly, please take into consideration forming an Ad-Hoc committee which seems to be the best
directive for this Council. If not, I sincerely ask that you `Kill Bill 113"I Thank you.
ovAd,y th i t g vizc ytc'r y for fhe'Irian m.io-k,of e,v fen,for 9oud,mew to-do-wotki.A.g." J FK
Comm: N����i 7� Crr
Ref. To: C..1J1
Ref. Date NUV 0 5 2013