Testimony - Annie Kaahukai - Laserfiche WebLink

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Annie Kaahukai PO Box 417 Pahoa, HI 96778 February 28, 2022 Kristin Frost Albrecht - Executive Director The Food Basket Inc. 40 Holomua St. Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Mrs. Albrecht, I would like to voice my support for The Food Basket's proposed Community Food Campus development on Ponahawai St. I strongly believe that this new development will further their mission "to end hunger in Hawaii County." Their shared vision, as a member of the County of Hawaii Coalition participating in the Economic Development Administration's Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant, is of an Agricultural Cluster that focuses on educating the community about island sustainability. The Food Basket's proposed project of a Community Food Campus will include sustainable crop development, agricultural and gardening education programs, a food and agriculture innovation center inclusive of food processing, along with a food bank and community center. Their project will help our island to become more self -sustainable which will be very helpful should we ever suffer food -shortages due to natural disasters or other unfortunate events. Growing up Native Hawaiian with 14 siblings in Plantation -style Hawaii, our family did not have much money. We had to learn how to live off the land and rely on ourselves in order to put food on the table. My father taught us how to grow things like taro, sweet potato, and breadfruit. We also raised our own animals such as cattle, chickens, ducks, pigs, and turkey. He taught us how to make poi using stone and board and how to steam our food using an imu. We also had to catch fish and look for firewood. We were taught from a young age that if we didn't work hard, we wouldn't eat. The type of life that I had growing up seems more relevant today than it has in many years. Due to COVID-19, many of the shelves in the grocery stores are empty. Our society has become so reliant on importing food and goods from the mainland. This collaboration project with The Food Basket will help to get our island back to where it used to be in terms of sustainability. We, as a community, needs to work hard together in order to "keep things local." I am excited to support the work of The Food Basket and its partner's through their collective efforts to build a more sustainable future and improved food security for our community. I look forward to working together with them as a Hawaiian cultural advisor as they move forward with this project to improve our island's sustainability and natural resources. Mahalo,