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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN AWEEMC 2019/08/06 2018-2020Committee on Agriculture, Water, Energy, and Environmental Management 7th Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii August 6, 2019 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Agriculture, Water, Energy, ORDER: and Environmental Management was called to order at 1:34 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Chair Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member Ms. Karen Eoff, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member CHR. RICHARDS: Before we get started, remote sites also. We have quite a few testifiers, which is great. It would appear that bees are a very popular thing to talk about today, which makes us all very happy. Ordinarily we have three minutes for testifiers, I will ask and we will give you the three minutes. I'm going to ask you to stay very close to the three minutes. Because of the number of testifiers that we do have, I will ask if everybody's either reading the same support or if you can abbreviate it just to keep things rolling along I will ask you to do that. Or if you have a spokesman for yourself that be great too. If you still want to have your three minutes, we will definitely grant you to do that. STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: The following individuals registered to speak and came forward when called by the Chair: Barry F. Puett: (Representing Queen Breeders) Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. Tom Cumming: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. AWEEMC-7 Kailyn Kim: (Representing Ho'Ola Honey Bee Relocation Project) Carey Yost: August 6, 2019 Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. Erick Cramer: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. James Klyman: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. Mike Nelson: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), comment. David P. Thomas: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. (Representing Hawaii Island Honey Company) Robert F. Cary Res. 219-19 (Comm.364), in support. (Representing Kona Queen Company) Jay Turkovsky: Comm. 391, comment. Devin Magallanes: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support (Representing Island Princess Macadamia) Scott Nelson: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. (Representing Hamakua Apiaries) Peter Genier: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. (Representing Hawaii Harvest Honey) Amy Domeior: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. (Representing Rare Hawaiian Honey Company) Harry Holms: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support (Representing (Big Island Bees Association) Page 2 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 Iris Carter: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. (Representing Michael Krones, Hawaiian Queen Company) Cherie Griffore: Comm. 391, comment. Michael Domeier: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364) in support. (Representing Volcano Island Honey Company) Garnett Puett: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. (Representing Captain Cook Honey Ltd.) Ray Olivarez, Jr: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. (Representing Olivarez Honey Bees Inc.; Big Island Queens) Sarah M. Marshall: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. Nancy Seifers: Comm. 391, comment. Louis Merkin: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. (Representing U.S. Honey Bee, dba Kona Queen) Tristan Winpenny: Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. (Representing Hawaii Harvest Honey) Eileen O'Hara: Comm. 391; and (Representing Vacationland Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), comment. Hawaii Community Association) Sharon Willeford: Debra Smith: (Representing Vacationland Homeowners Association) Daniel H. Smith: Cary Dizon: (Representing D Farm Honey) Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. Comm. 391, comment. Comm. 391; and Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), comment. Res. 219-19 (Comm. 364), in support. Page 3 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 CHR. RICHARDS: Thank you. Now we're going to close public testimony. So with that, thanks everybody for participating. Mr. Clerk, what we're going to do is we're going to stick to the agenda, because I know Water Department has been sitting here for some time. So go ahead, let's take it from the top. COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 391: REQUESTS A PRESENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY REGARDING WATER SUPPLY, WATER QUALITY, INFRASTRUCTURE POTENTIAL, AND FUNDING POSSIBILITIES IN THE LOWER EAST RIFT ZONE From Council Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, dated July 19, 2019. Motion to Close File: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to close file on Comm. 391. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy. CHR. RICHARDS: So with that, Keith, are you guys ready to go or do we have to get—are you guys all set up? MR. OKAMOTO: I think so. CHR. RICHARDS: Okay, terrific. Alright so let's just dive right into this. MR. OKAMOTO: Alright, awesome. (Note: At this time Department of Water Supply Manager Keith Okamoto, Deputy Kawika Uyehara, and Engineering Division Chief Kurt Inaba came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. OKAMOTO: Thank you. Good afternoon Chair Richards, Council Members, appreciate the opportunity. Got a lot of education this afternoon on bees so hopefully I can provide you maybe a small portion of information on water systems in Pahoa and the Kapoho area. So anyway, I've got the real brain chills at the department with me. This is my right and left hand. Kawika Uyehara, our Deputy, and Kurt Inaba our Engineering Division Head. Again, I'm Keith Okamoto, Manager, Chief Engineer for the Department of Water Supply. Page 4 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 (Note: At this time, Mr. Okamoto provided a PowerPoint presentation to the members of the Committee. For viewing of the presentation, see the DVD copy of the meeting proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is made a part of the record, see Comm. 391.1) CHR. RICHARDS: Hang on a second. Keith? MS. LEE LOY: Sorry. I heard you say earlier, just go ahead and jump in, right? MR. OKAMOTO: Okay. MS. LEE LOY: So, I just kind of want to walls back to the other slide when we talked about potable or non -potable water. And then you mentioned that, you know, the non -potable use is corrosive. But I also heard some of the testimony as it relates to farming. So just to put it on the table, potable water for drinking, can we use non -potable water for irrigation for agriculture? MR OKAMOTO: I guess from our perspective, that's a definite maybe—no. See we're not farmers, so we don't know what kind of water quality is needed for farming. We understand that certain plants or grasses can handle higher salt content than would be acceptable for us to drink, like seashore paspalum and things like that. Other agriculture needs such as, I don't know food crops or flowers or things like that, I'm not sure what those plants would be tolerant of. MS. LEE LOY: And then I'm asking this question because I know we're doing it over in Kailapa, where they don't have the best water quality. But they blend some of the water quality with more potable water, and they don't use it for drinking, but they use it for irrigation purposes. Is there an option to take maybe some of this non -potable water and blend it, so at least we would have irrigation water for farming? Is that a possibility? MR. OKAMOTO: Possible, likely would be difficult just based on the—again the fact to blend would mean we have a transmission or distribution system to connect to. And right now our system is basically cut off by the inundated areas. So as you can see from this, yeah, I don't know if you can see the laser pointer. But this is the trunk line by mile marker two, coming from Pahoa that feeds this makai area. So basically we need to find a connection point to get back to our waterline up in this area, where I think was kind of known as the triangle. So that would be the challenge, to blend. Possible yeah, but right now probably not feasible because of the temperatures, yeah. MS. LEE LOY: Okay, thank you, Keith. CHR. RICHARDS: Go ahead, continue. Page 5 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 (Note: At this time, Mr. Okamoto continued with the presentation to the Committee.) MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Chair, if I may? CHR. RICHARDS: Go ahead. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. And I just want to mahalo you guys, because I wanted to create a conversation space there's lots of questions. I get a lot of inquiries, calls, and emails from constituents. And so I wanted to make sure you had the ability to put out the the best available information to date, out into the public sphere. So now that we're on the subject of the testing of that one private well, does Water Supply have plans for additional testing? Are you going to be working with other agencies to test water quality in the area? Is that a requirement of your 428 submittal? MR. OKAMOTO: No it's not a requirement our 428 submittal. If it's prudent and make sense to do, we'll do it. We can continue to work with this private well owner, and continue to test his well. Because that's a source that can pump water out of the ground. In other areas, you know, if you don't have a hole in the ground with something to pump it out of the ground then you'd have to basically create one. We're not at that point where we're going make that investment at this time. We did attend a meeting that was held by HVO (Hawai`i Volcano Observatory). It sounds like they do have some maybe other mechanisms to see if there is fresh water in the area. And you know, we'd like to participate in that effort, and see what come out of that. And if it does appear from those efforts, that there seems to be a pocket of fresh water then maybe we can make that investment and drill another hole. Normally when we drill holes it's really to eventually turn it into a production well, so we don't normally just drill holes for monitoring. That's something we need to probably discuss internally, probably approach our board to see if we can carve out some funds for that if it gets to that point. But yeah, we're always looking to see. If there's a possibility, we'll go participate. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Couple other questions. Aunty Nancy brought up the Kipuka next to PGV (Puna Geothermal Venture), any thought about a water meter for that particular area, and how we could potentially get that done. Is that something you might be able to explore? MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah, we can take a look. So again, the challenge is the lava still being hot. So what we've done with PGV is, if you notice at the triangle area where our waterline used to kind of go down little bit over a mile down 132. But when the lava crossed, we cut and plugged just mauka of that. So were able to keep a short segment live, and were able to provide a new water meter to PGV form that short segment. So that's another possibility we can do for anybody in Page 6 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 the area, is we can drop a meter where the water main is. And then at that point though it's kind of up to them how they route their line to their property and how they protect it or maintain it in the conditions that are out there right now. So it's a possibility. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, thank you. We like knowing what our options are. You know that the county opened Pohoiki, Isaac Hale Beach Park. Just wondering what your thoughts and recommendations are for any potential for temporary water solutions for the area. I know catchment was brought up, but we still need electricity to distribute the water through the existing infrastructure. So any comments about that? MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah, that's a tough one. I know we've been in discussion with P&R (Parks and Recreation), and we made them aware of the situation on the private well water conditions. And that we wouldn't advise them to use water from that well, to even the toilets in the bathrooms over there. Just because it would just cause the copper to corrode and what not. Yeah, that's another tough one. You know, can go back old school like how we used to, when we used to go surf. You've got to bring your own water. You know, toilets I understand there's porta-potties out there. We try to rack our brains around that matter, you know, trying assist P&R. We really couldn't come up with something that's feasible for a long-term permanent solution at this point, yeah. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. That's helpful. I mean this was a very sobering presentation, but it's good to know that you're not shutting the door completely on water restoration for the area. It seems to me that we're in a holding pattern, waiting for the risk assessment, for the comprehensive plan for that data to come in to really help your long-term decisions and next steps. MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thanks you guys, appreciate it. CHR. RICHARDS: Alright. So Keith you pau presentation? MR. OKAMOTO: I think pau enough. I just have this last slide. But basically it sums up already what we've kind of said, I think, yeah. And no, we're not going bottle water. CHR. RICHARDS: Okay, so with that I'm going to open for further questions from the Council. Council Woman Lee Loy. Page 7 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, thank you. Thank you, Keith, Kawika, you guys. Civil Engineers, smart buggas. You know for the 428 monies, what I heard you say is you guys put in a cost estimate, hopefully it will come in. But it didn't necessarily have to go to that area, and can be used in other areas. Is that accurate? MR. OKAMOTO: Yes. MS. LEE LOY: So at some future date, we could actually take the 428 monies, rehabilitate another system, which would then free up monies. So when the Pahoa area is ready the department could actually put resources towards rehabilitating or repairing that infrastructure. MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah. MS. LEE LOY: I just have another question regarding the 428 monies. Could it be used to drill a monitoring well or a test well? MR. INABA: Kurt Inaba. Yeah, so with the 428 our understanding is that FEMA has requirements for project, so we still need to submit as we go along each project. And they would have to approve that. So as far as a monitoring well, I not too sure. Even an exploratory well, we need to get that approved first, we can ask. MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, that would be great. And if you can just provide that information back to the Council when you guys receive it that would be ideal. And then any guess timeline on when MR. OKAMOTO: For FEMA's response? No. That's always been a challenge. You know, it's good that they have this option available. Because I think in a positive note looking forward, say the better option is another place. Maybe Paradise Park, Kea`au somewhere like that. At least now funds can be utilized in those areas, verses being locked down, you know, into what may be still considered a risky area to reinvest in. MS. LEE LOY: How much revenue did the department lose when that area got cut off? MR. OKAMOTO: Oh, that was a good question, I was hoping nobody bring that up. I think we lost about 200 active accounts. I don't have a dollar figure. I know our consumption for our whole Pahoa system went down about order of 145,000 to 150,000 gallons a day. Yeah, so we charge by the thousand gallons, typically on a two month cycle. So we could probably guesstimate that number. But yeah, it did have some financial impact. But I did want to make note that, you know, we empathize with everybody in the area too. Page 8 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 We didn't have a system in Leilani, but we did have in Lani Puna Gardens. And there was several people who asked for a relief from their water bills, because basically they couldn't go back to anything. So it was basically a water bill from previous time. And you know, we did grant that, so I did want to state that for the record, that we tried to help where we could, yeah. MS. LEE LOY: Just for conversation purposes, how big was that system, the size of the pipe. You know, like what kind of infrastructure we are looking at replacing? MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah. So it's in the slides, if you go to—yeah, that's basically what was rendered unusable. Again, the two reservoirs, the two tanks, are still physically there. But you know, without pipelines to connect them, they're not usable. MS. LEE LOY: Alright, thank you gentlemen, thank you so much. Chair, I yield. CHR. RICHARDS: Thank you. Any other questions? Matt, go ahead. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: We had the discussion about a boat ramp, and we had a discussion about a road. And we get stuck when we have to create the permanent fixture back in. And I thought about the boat ramp for little while and I realized that if we could use the extremely volatile nature of Puna itself. Given that we had so much volcanic activity, and we know rebuilding is going to be hard and we know all this. So if we actually were to use that to our advantage and say, Puna is special, we know it's going to be hard to rebuild. So if we can write ourselves a way to do a temporary work that allows us to bring water down in. What would be our options as far as doing—maybe not a temporary main, I know that's big, and that's hard. But what would our options be as far as bringing a temporary line down, just to bring water to the area? Not a six-inch main, not a 12 -inch main, just, you know, maybe a two-inch waterline down into—or some kind of a line that allows us to tap in, drop to certain areas jus to give us water to areas. MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah, that's a good question. So people get creative. To be honest once it leaves our meter, a lot of people do their own things with their customer line. Jrisco line is a popular alternative, I'm not sure— MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I'm one of those guys. MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah? And it's a pretty hardy line, you know. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: It doesn't last. MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah. But again, so those are options, I don't know. Page 9 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 MR. INABA: We would look at how much private property we had to even potentially cross over, and it still looked like the closest was maybe five miles of that would have to be four and half, I think, miles or so would have to be installed. But again, you know, there was really no path because of what the lava is. So maybe if something is grated back. If it's going to be at Pohoiki, you know, if they re -grate Pohoiki that's something that could be looked at. A meter could be put at the triangle per se, and you know, the line can be run from there. MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah, it's just super far. MR. INABA: It's far, and pressure. So they would need to maintain pressure regulating valves also or reducing valves. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Could we do stations all most, like water filling stations that ran off temporary lines instead of having to do hard permanent lines that are buried three feet in the ground and MR. OKAMOTO: Those are possibilities. As long it's not owned and operated by us it's, like owned by somebody other than the department. Because again, that's what a lot of private citizens do, or even other agencies have done that with our department. So again, we supply up to the meter, we maintain that portion. And then from then on the customer can kind of utilize whatever plumbing suits their needs. The other thing is, you know, our perspective is from a safe drinking water perspective. You know, that's our mission, that's what we do. We provide safe drinking water. So our understanding is if you open up a boat ramp, and you just do wash downs. It's something that probably needs to be confirmed with Department of Health. But maybe it doesn't have to meet potable standards and a well could be drilled with some sort of, you know, temporary holding tank to supply a boat ramp. Our understanding though is, again, it needs to be confirmed with Department of Health. Because even for the Isaac Hale Beach Park restrooms, they basically said it needed to be potable. MR. INABA: Unless it's only toilet flushing. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: If there are showers, you open your mouth and get the water into your mouth. MR. INABA: No shower, no MR. OKAMOTO: Yeah, even to a sink. Even if you put labels non -potable water, they weren't cool with that. But, you know, I don't know, again, like you said this is a special case so maybe discussion can still be made with those agencies. Those are our regulators, so. Page 10 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, I think we need to do something, but I understand the permanency is hard and it's very costly. So you look at that and it's just kind of always takes me back to finding a solution that's temporary where if we lose it in six months or if we lose it in five years it's not going to be so painful. But it helps alleviate the problems that we're having now. I'm trying to balance that. MR. OKAMOTO: Makes sense. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, I appreciate that. CHR. RICHARDS: Okay, thank you. Any other comments or questions from the Council? Seeing none, little bit unusual, but Keith is there anything you want to communicate to us? Any finial thoughts before we close communication? MR. OKAMOTO: No, I mean sorry we needed to be asked to present this to you folks, but sometimes we get caught up in our own little world and take care of the fires that we kind of present itself on a daily basis. So anytime any of you have any questions or concerns related to water, whether it be this or anything in your districts. Please give us a call, text, email, or whatever and we'll be happy to discuss those matters with you folks. CHR. RICHARDS: Okay, so thank you very much. With that Clerk, we will have the vote. All in favor of closing communication please signify by saying Ic aye. Vote on Comm. 391: The motion to close file on Comm. 391 was carried by the Filed following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members David, Eoff, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Poindexter, Villegas, and Chair Richards — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Chung and Lee Loy — 2. Excused: None. CHR. RICHARDS: Thank you. Thanks Keith, thanks Kurt, thanks Kawika. MR. OKAMOTO: Thank you guys. CHR. RICHARDS: Clerk, next on the docket, please. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. Page 11 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 Res. 219-19: ESTABLISHES A HAWAII COUNTY APIARY STAKEHOLDER WORKING GROUP The working group would examine challenges in the beekeeping industry, and provide findings and recommendations to the County Council through a proposed ordinance to amend Chapter 4 (Animals) and Chapter 25 (Zoning) of the Hawaii County Code. Reference: Comm. 364 Intr. by: Ms. Kierkiewicz Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to recommend adoption of Res. 219-19. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy. CHR. RICHARDS: Council Woman, Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. I want to mahalo all the beekeepers who are here to provide really thoughtful testimony and to the 33 individuals who submitted written testimony. And my colleagues and I know we don't hear from constituents on every matter that comes before us, so it was very special and just notable that we received so much positive testimony for this. It's clearly a buzzing industry here. You know, and I like food, okay. You may not think I do, my dad said I had a hollow leg. But given how critical food is to our island community, our desire to cultivate agricultural, increase food security and sustainability. It's so important that we pay attention to these incredible little creatures that are responsible for one in every three bites of food that we consume. I do want to give a special mahalo to Iris Carter and Vanessa Houle. Who reached out to me and wanted to talk story about the issues that you were facing as hobbyist beekeepers, but also the issues and challenges that were being felt by the industry. The commercial apiaries, the queen bee breeders who provide, I mean just an incredible amount of bees to the United States and to Canada. It's a huge industry. And I know that there were previous attempts to try to correct the ordinance, but it wasn't done in a pono way. I'm not an expert in beekeeping, I'm interested, but I know how to convene a conversation. And I think the best policy is going to be crafted when government stakeholders reach out into the community, and work with people that this law is going to impact. And so with that I want to introduce Vanessa Houle, who is going to provide a brief presentation highlighting many of the things that are in Resolution 219-19. Thank you for joining us. Recess: At 3:12 p.m., the Chair called for a recess. Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 3:19 p.m. Page 12 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 CHR. RICHARDS: Okay, we are back in session, seven minutes. Alright we are ready for their presentation. Ms. Kierkiewicz, take it away. Ms. Houle. (Note: At this time Vanessa Houle and Iris Carter came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. HOULE: Alright, well thank you for getting that online. Good afternoon Council Members. Seriously, thank you for your time and consideration of Resolution 219-19. My name is Vanessa Houle, I've been a beekeeper for the last seven to eight years. And I'm also board member for the Big Island Beekeepers Association. So if you haven't guessed, we are here in support of said resolution and hope this presentation provides some good insight into why the honeybee industry is so important to our island. MS. CARTER: Hi, thank you for this opportunity again, my name is Iris Carter and I'll just be here to help her answer any questions you may have. MS. HOULE: Thank you, Iris. (Note: At this time, Ms. Houle provided a PowerPoint presentation to the members of the Committee. For viewing of the presentation, see the DVD copy of the meeting proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is made a part of the record, see Comm. 364.) CHR. RICHARDS: Okay, thank you. Ms. Kierkiewicz, did you want any comments or shall we open up for questions? MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I just want mahalo you again, for approaching Council Member Richards and I with this really important kuleana. I mean, I'm hoping that my Council Members see the value in establishing the county's first ever apiary industry stake holder working group. And mean this is how good policy is made, it's made in partnership with community. So thank you for being here, and I appreciate it. And I ask you all for your support. CHR. RICHARDS: Okay, so with that, I'm going to open up for questions. Anybody from the Council have any questions? Go ahead, I don't know who's first, I saw Matt's hand go up and go ahead, Ms. Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you, Mr. Richards. First of all I just want to share, and I'm not sure if this means that I need to recuse myself, but Bob Cary who shared is my stepdad. So the bee industry has been very close to my family's heart for a very long time. I just wanted to mention that, and then I wanted to thank you and all of the beekeepers, because without bees we cease to exist. And so it's an issue close to my heart, and of course I love my stepdad. And I'm so grateful for the years that he has invested, and the knowledge. Page 13 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 I do know that when the mite infestation hit the county a few years ago they reached out him and he was able to share some of the technologies and the different mediums to use in order to fight it. And one of them included in my past life, Kona Brewing Company coasters, so they got very creative. And the brewery supported, and it's one of the pieces they use to help defeat the mite infestation. So thank you for being here. I'll let you guys decide if I need to recuse myself from the vote. But I just wanted to share that. Thank you. CHR. RICHARDS: We'll get to that in a second. Go ahead, Matt. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I was trying to place your face, and I realize who your mom is, yeah. And I was watching you, even your mannerism. You look just like your mom. That was a very good presentation, thank you. And you live in my district? MS. HOULE: Yeah. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: You do, yeah. And you're doing mead, correct? MS. HOULE: Yeah. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Good job. I have always thought that, I mean it's not even a thought it's just you know that bees are important to what we do. If we don't have bees, we don't eat. Rebecca was saying earlier, if there's no bees, we die. And that's kind of real basic, you know, all the way to bottom level, yeah. No bees, we die. Okay, so what you're doing is important, I'll support this. I remember a while back, I found a piece of some scientific study that actually showed where they had done tests and they put household wireless phone receiver in a hive. And they did three hives without any kind of wireless technology at all. And the hive that had the wireless receiver in it, had zero bee activity, compared to other three that had full activity the entire run of the test, very interesting. So there is a very clear correlation between Wi-Fi and cell phone activity, and a lack of bees. And so we keep seeing declines. There's a lot of different reasons, whether it's chemicals or whether it's, you know, wireless signals. Whatever it may be. But they're so important to human survival, and we just kind of take it for granted that these cute little buzzing bees go flying around and pollinate everything we eat. So I appreciate this, I fully support this, good job. And if I can help you at all, you're in my district, you let me know, okay. Thank you. MS. HOULE: Thank you. CHR. RICHARDS: Anyone else? Page 14 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, Chair. CHR. RICHARDS: Council Women Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. Matthew is absolutely correct, you look and sound exactly like your mom. But thank you for a wonderful presentation. You know, I'm going to be supporting this resolution, and I think what Ms. Kierkiewicz and Mr. Richards is doing here is really starting off on the very right foot. I think there was a previous legislation about making changes to an ordinance, and it wasn't the right step forward. And this definitely is the right step forward, where all the stakeholders are at the table looking at every part of whether it is the Zoning Code, Chapter 25, or Chapter 4, or even our other HRS statues where we have a lot of technical expertise just in the room, with the industry itself, and what they run up against as far as government regulations. And how we collectively can come together and start putting together policy, or amending policy that will have the greatest impact. So with that, you know, I want to lend my support to this. Looking forward to how this gets stood up and formed. But thank you, Council Member Richards and Council Member Kierkiewicz, this really is the best step forward. So thank you. CHR. RICHARDS: Alright, thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Ms. David. MS. DAVID: Thank you, Chair. And first of all, thank you and Ms. Kierkiewicz for doing this. Because I think what we've been seeing as a third, fourth, generation coffee farmer, I've noticed a real big difference in bees. Not seeing them as much as I used to, as I was a child. I mean you always took for granted they were always there, and now when you see one, you're like wow, there's one. But I'm really concerned because I've, you know, seen bees that I never seen them do this before. They'd be walking on the ground, and not airborne. And you know, you try to, "Come on, get up." But it's weird, it's just not normal to see that, and I get concerned. Because if they're not flying, they're not pollenating, right? Something as simple as that. So I really appreciate everything that you folks do, because I think without you, as Ms. Villegas and Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder said, there's no way we can survive without them. So thank you very much, and I will be supporting the formation of this group. Because I think you folks have the insight, on how we could probably survive this and keep our bees healthy and around for many generations. So mahalo for all you do. CHR. RICHARDS: Okay, thank you. Chair Chung. MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Yeah, I support this 100 percent. You know, this whole initiative is vital to our survival really as a species. And I experience that same thing that Ms. David was talking about, I see these walking bees now days, yeah, and it's kind of frightening, yeah. And when you see a Page 15 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 honey bee cruising around, it's kind of a rare occurrence now days, yeah. It's not like how it was before, so that's kind of concerning. So I really wanted to, you know, thank Ms. Kierkiewicz and Mr. Richards. I wanted to make a point. Our former colleague Ms. O'Hara, you know, mentioned a piece of legislation that's at the Legislative Auditor's office. Let me give you guys the back story on that. You know, Eric Kramer who was here earlier, had actually approached me maybe about three years ago. And we were in discussions as to how, you know, go about allowing for more bee farming. Then I realizedI mean I compiled a lot of different ordinances. I think there's one in Honolulu, you know, throughout the United States. But it became very apparent to me, like I don't really know much about this thing, okay. I'm ill equipped to be the one to do this. Then I heard Ms. O'Hara was actually working on something, and I guess that's the thing that's at the Legislative Auditor's Office. But I have to say, and I'm going to echo what Ms. Lee Loy said. This is the way to do it, you know, getting all of the stakeholders in. And maybe that's what I couldn't articulate in my mind, when I started kind of fumbling with this thing, right. What am I doing, right? And I just learned a lot listening to everyone here today. And you see there's a lot of stakeholders here. Commercial people, and there was a backyard farmer. You know, I've told my wife, yeah, I want to raise bees too, right. But it's a little bit more complicated, right Iris, as you were telling me outside. MS. CARTER: Not too complicated yet. You can do it, I invite you to come over. MR. CHUNG: But I'm going to learn. Yeah, but I really wanted to thank the two of you, because this is how good legislation is supposed to be done. So thank you very much, I look forward to seeing the product of all of this. Thank you. CHR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. Anybody else have any comments, anybody else related to the bee industry or know Ms. Houle's mother? Okay, go ahead, apparently someone knows her mother as well. MS EOFF: No, I don't, but I just love honey. I'm like a number one honey consumer. CHR. RICHARDS: Okay, so with that Ms. Kierkiewicz do you have any final comments? Because then I finally get to say something, alright. Well, first of all thanks everybody for coming in for the testimony. The cup runneth over when it comes to testimony today, concerning bees. And putting all the humor aside, bees are very important to us. And this has been recognized for quite some time, I remember back in my college days that it was being discussed back then. The cutter bees for the alfalfa industry, they had to import them because they lost those. Page 16 AWEEMC-7 August 6, 2019 And so with that, the importance of it can't be over stated. Hawaii we are unique, we have the ability to do some really good things. For Hawaii yes, for the greater nation but actually for the greater world. So we talked about that one canoe and what we can do for other people because of our geographical isolation. But it's also the Kona side. As I'm told, the environmental conditions are uniquely great for raising queens, and so that's why it's so important to us. We can be an exporter of this, and again it's a great agriculture "commodity" that we can export and do good things for our county. This is something came before us, and we've been working on this for quite some time. I appreciate Ms. Kierkiewicz bringing this forth, and it's a blending of efforts. My staff has gone back and tried to research—well we want to change things. We're trying to figure out why they are the way they are. And we cannot come up with a good explanation, so it is time to work on this. I really look forward to this, getting this group together and crafting something that would be representative of all of the stakeholders. And putting everybody at the table, everybody has a voice. And we get to an endpoint that is a workable solution for yeah, the bee industry, but it's really for agriculture as a whole. And that's what I'm looking forward to. So with that we're going to call for the vote. We have a motion on the table, so all signify in support by saying "aye." Vote on Res. 219-19: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 219-19 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Poindexter, Villegas, and Chair Richards – 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) Page 17 AWEEMC-7 ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 3:46 p.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to MENT: adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Ms. David and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kaneali `i-Kleinfelder Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Poindexter, Villegas, and Chair Richards — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR. RICHARD S : We are adjourned. Approved: Mr. FIVrbert M. "Ti;?nergy ichards, III, Chair Agriculture, Water, and Environmental Mana ement Committee HR/rk (Date) August 6, 2019 Page 18