HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1127.007 2016-2018 P/@Duna l
COMM. 1127
Joseph Kekedi
PO Box 1609
Pahoa, HI 96778
(808) 936-4191
joekekedi@gmail.com
10th October 2018
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Council Chair Valerie Poindexter
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Hawaii County Council .
25 Aupuni Street ®,
Hilo, HI 96720
RE: In Support of Resolution 728
Aloha Council Chair Poindexter and Members of the County Council,
20 years ago I discovered the joy of growing orchids. This beautiful product
has fed my children and sent them through school. I grew 2 nurseries into a
commercial enterprise in the jungles of Puna that granted us a fairy tale of
a lifestyle.
I, like most farmers, have kept to myself because I have learned to be
sustainable with the resources that are available to me. I never would have
imagined being here to ask for your help.
I had a farm next to Greenlake Mountain, protected by a deep crater. I
thought I was safe from the lava flow, but Mother nature proved me wrong.
On June 2nd, my friend had to rescue me at the Pohoiki harbor, while my
farm was being swallowed by molten lava.
•
Comm. No. 1121 •1
Ref. To: P 1 COU fl I
Ref. Date OCT 1 7 2013
This disaster has drastically changed my life. Even though I have lost
greatly, I live life with no regrets. My memories are mine and I still am
healthy in the afternoon years of my life. I deeply love farming and want to
continue being a farmer.
The Federal government has a program under the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) called the Noninsured Crop Disaster
Assistance Program (NAP). The program is designed to help farmers in a
time of disasters, but the cap on the amount of assistance provided to me
and my fellow farmers has left us with limited funds to return to farming.
The Federal government has lifted the cap for farmers in other natural
disasters. With your support and the support of the State and the Federal
Delegation, farmers like myself can have a similar chance to recover from
this unique disaster.
Big Island farmers need your help and I appreciateyour efforts to lift the
cap.on the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
Mahalo,
Joseph Kekedi