HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-19 Letter to Sylvia Luke and Ty J.K. Cuellen HB 1854, HD1 Relating to Little Fire Ants �JMiv OF��w, Roy Takemoto
'�o. 7� Managing Director
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County of Hawaii
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
February 19, 2020
Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair
Representative Ty J.K. Cullen, Vice Chair
Committee on Finance
Dear Chair Luke, Vice Chair Cullen, and Committee Members:
RE: HB 1854, HD1 Relating to Little Fire Ants
The little fire ant (LFA), to those who have experienced it, is a horrific species. It
causes great pain in humans and has been reported to cause blindness in pets and
horses. It has proliferated so widely that some have given up on eradication, and may
even be ready to throw in the towel on control efforts. That is not acceptable. We must
fight back, and that is why I appreciate the opportunity to testify on HB 1854, HD1.
I do not have the expertise to judge the most effective way to treat this menace,
but it seems reasonable to have the DOA in conjunction with the Hawaii Ant Lab
working together to identify best practices, and to make those best practices known to a
wide audience.
More broadly, whether you pass this bill or not, I ask that you please provide as
much funding for an anti-LFA initiative as you can justify in your budget for the coming
fiscal year. In that way, government efforts to control, and even eliminate, LFA from
Hawaii can be maximized. The threat is great and warrants your much-appreciated
attention.
Resp ctfully Submitted,
e
f Harry Ki
MAYOR
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.