HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0021.100 2014-2016Murashicle, Laura
From: Ramona Herlihy <ramonaherlihy@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 201411:10 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony on Resolution 22-14
Attachments: R Herlihy - Testimony on Resolution 22-14.pdf, ATT00001 htm
Aloha,
I have attached my testimony regarding Resolution 22-14 to be discussed at the Council Meeting this - —
Wednesday December 17th, i included it below as well. Mal to
December 15;2014
Aloha Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Council,
I am writing to you as a Hawaiian, a mother, an organic farmer, and a lifelong resident of the Hamakua
Coast. It took a momentous amount of organization and dedication for our Big Island community to voice its
desire to ban genetically modified (GM) crops on our island. Our esteemed mayor Billy Kenoi, chose to honor
the integrity of our `aina and respect the health of our residents by signing Bill 113 into law. I hope that after
considering all the testimonies and taking to heart the eloquent words of Mr. Kenoi in his letter to the Council
upon signing Bill 113 into law, you will choose to vote in favor of Resolution 22-14 and advise the Corporation
Council to appeal the ruling of Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren.
Think of young Hawaiian farmers like me, who are just getting into farming and trying to build a
sustainable lifestyle and gain food sovereignty in my community by growing local, organic food. I feet blessed
to be starting an organic family farm with my husband and father on Kapulena lease land through the Hatill
Agricultural Coop. I decided to pursue farming because I want to grow the vegetables my family eats on a
regular basis and share any abundance with my family and friends. I want to practice my Hawaiian culture and
honor my ancestors by growing kalo, Walla and ulu and other staple foods that sustained generations of
Hawaiians without the need of excessive pesticides or genetic alteration. I consciously choose to eat local and
organic food and would like to grow and successfully sell the same quality of food without the fear of
contamination from GM crops or concern for the health of my family.
Currently, there are no Hawaii state laws regulating GM crop cultivation, with the one exception of a
Department of Health provision, therefore a county ordinance should be the prevailing law. Without Ordinance
13-121 in place, we leave the door open for corporations to use valuable Big Island agricultural land to
cultivate, propagate, develop and test GM crops and plants without oversight or regulation. Allowing this to
happen is against the best interest of our island and its residents and will lead to pollution and degradation of
our unique and precious ecosystems and natural resources.
Please stand up for our `aina, stand up for our keiki, stand up for our future generations of farmers, stand
up in solidarity with the Kauai County Council and allow an appellate judge to make a definitive decision on
this serious and significant issue. This ruling not only affects farmers (both conventional and organic) but also
every person who lives here or visits our island so it deserves consideration by a higher level court. It is the
pono choice to follow through with upholding the ordinance that our island residents fought so hard to pass.
Thank you for taking the time to read my testimony and I truly appreciate all the hard work all of you do
every day for our beautiful island.
Malama pono,
Ramona Herlihy
Comm. No. 21 • i N
Ref. Tor GoK
Ref. Date �t 7 O14
Pa'auilo Resident