HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-06-26 Iris Carter From: Iris Carter
To: W PCtesti mono
Subject: Bill 144(no subject)
Date: Wednesday,June 26, 2024 4:20:41 PM
Dear Council Members:
My name is Iris Carter, and I am a backyard beekeeper and member of the Big Island
Beekeepers Association (BIBA).
As the beekeeping regulations stand now, I am guilty of breaking the law. I live on an acre of
land, which I own, and my hives are situated as far from neighbors as possible. However, this
still contravenes current regulations that require hives to be 1,000 feet from existing roadways.
This is the distance of more than three football fields.
Five years ago, BIBA approached Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz to assist us in updating
the current ordinance to one that was fair, equitable, and addressed the concerns of hobbyist
beekeepers and commercial beekeepers alike, while also taking into account the safety
concerns of ordinary citizens.
I believe the current bill, forged and curated by Council Member Kierkiewicz, beekeepers,
concerned citizens, and members of various County of Hawai'i departments, is a solution that
addresses the shortcomings of the current regulations, while ensuring the safeguarding of
beekeeping for the future. It recognizes that healthy bees under the care of responsible
beekeepers are a crucial element in our environment and local food production cycle.
There are laws and regulations that support farmers, growers, ranchers, and other livestock
producers. I believe it's time to recognize the value of beekeepers and beekeeping and
acknowledge the millions of dollars they bring to our economy through your support of this bill.
Thank you for your consideration.