HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-31 Letter to Mike Gabbard and Kaialii Kahele re SB 2124 Little Fire AntsHarry Kim
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Wil Okabe
A lanaging Director
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 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
January 31, 2018
Senator Mike Gab ard, Chair
Committee on Agriculture and Environment
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 224
Honolulu, HI 96813
Senator Kaialil Kahele, Chair
Com ittee on Higher Education
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 224
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chair Gabbard and Kahele, and Committee Members:
Re: SB 2124 Little Fire Ants
Hearing Date: 02/06/18 — 1:15 pm, Conference Room 224
While 1would defer to others as to how precious dollars should be allocated, 1
strongly endorse the investment of funds in com afting little fire ants, and therefore urge
passage of SB 2124.
Little fire ants (LFA) are a real menace, capable of causing great pain in humans
and blindness in pets and horses. I am told that the Hawaii Ant Lab (HAL) helps with
community groups whenever there is a request for assistance, and my staff has
expressed much appreciation for HAL's research into control methods of LFAs in
lam not trying to tilt the scales for one organization versus another. I have
supported HB 2046 which would fund the Department of Agriculture's efforts in its fight
against LFAs, and I will speak in favor of any other bill on the subject. !hope that this
Legislature will earmark as many dollars as possible to defeat this terrible species, and
that multiple worthy effo s wilt not be allowed to result in no action at alt.
Please act in favor of funding to combat this horrible invader.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry Kth
Mayo , County of Hawaii
County of iIawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and tr-Lipployer,.