HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-08 Letter to Kaialii Kahele and Mike Gabbard SB 650 Relating to Rapid Ohia DeathHarry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawai i
Office of the Mayor
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
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February 8, 2019
Senator Kaiali'i Kahele, Chair
Committee on Water and Land
Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair
Committee on Agriculture and Environment
Dear Chair Kahele, Chair Gabbard, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 650 Relating to Rapid Ohia Death
The initial shock of the discovery of Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) has passed, and therefore the media has
largely moved on. But the devastation of ROD and the loss of Ohia in Hawaii should not be ignored.
Therefore, I am grateful to the authors of this bill, and to you and your Committees, for keeping this issue alive
at the Legislature, and hopefully furthering the battle to defeat this terrible scourge.
I will defer to the scientists as to how much funding can be productively used, and urge that, at the end
of the Session, there be sufficient money allotted to find an ROD cause and cure, or at least treatment. I must
also defer to the Committees' wisdom whether requiring a match for the State appropriation is necessary.
Perhaps such a provision will make it more likely that SB 650 will be approved, but I would be concerned that it
might scuttle the good work that you are trying to foster.
With whatever amendments are appropriate, please approve funding to combat ROD.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Ki
MAYOR
County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.