HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.733 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED,�,�(
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From: brad.kurokawa(Nmail.com
To: Council Testimony ]pato °1113/121320
Subject: Bill 101 Pesticide and Herbicide Ban_SUPPORT FSR?
Date: Tuesday,January 07,2020 11:37:11 AM
Dear Hawaii County Councilmembers,
My name is Brad Kurokawa. As a practicing landscape architect working with over 35 years
of experience much of it in the public realm; active community advocate; concerned resident
of our beloved island and planet Earth I humbly request that you vote to override the Mayor's
veto of Bill 101.
It is imperative that we understand that this bill is a step in the right direction, an action and
practice that is long overdue if we are to truly Aloha Aina and Malama Aina. It is a small but
significant step in simply being PONO. A basic scientific premise of sustainability (The
Natural Step https://thenaturalstep.org) is that a sustainable society cannot subject itself to
systematic increase of extraction of substances from the earth's crust (i.e. oil/petroleum, heavy
metals, etc.); exposure to concentrations of substances created by society (i.e. toxins,
endocrine disruptors, etc.); and degradation by physical means (i.e. deforestation, pollution of
our waters and soils, etc.). The issue is simple: continued use of toxic herbicides and pesticide,
a product of petroleum extraction, a finite and limited resource in the earth crust which we use
to create "control" weeds while polluting the aina,the land, waters and air we depend on is no
longer viable. It is contrary to ALL of these principles. Let us wake up to this and take action
and seek practices and actions that are life affirming and sustaining. It is quite clear that our
Earth is suffering and it is we human beings that have upset the magnificent balance that
nature provides to sustain life.
This bill provides a transition period and allows us to seek better maintenance practices in our
parks and roadways. Concerns about costs valid as we must be efficient and practical yes, but
please! Look at the total costs: health costs of our people -keiki to kupuna, workers exposed
to these substances; environmental costs to our soils,water we drink and play in.
We need to make dramatic moves, both large and small that are driven from the basic
principles of life in balance, Pono and Lokahi. Will it be easy?Absolutely not. Change is
challenging for us humans used to doing things differently than we have done for so long.
Be bold dear elected representatives of our community! Take this manini step towards PONO
and choose,life. Please override the veto of Bill 101, listen to the people and our planet! The
solutions are available. We simply need to act.
Warmest Aloha and Mahalo!
Brad
Brad Kurokawa
P.O. Box 402
Honomu, HI 96728
brad.kurokawa@gmail.com
ItIb
Comm. No. 1 1
Ref.To: P1(Aur1(a I
Ref. Date JAN ' 8 2020