The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2019-02-08 Letter to Mike Gabbard and Kaialii Kahele SB 871 Relating to Invasive SpeciesHarry Kim Mayor County of Hawai`i Office of the Mayor Wil Okabe Managing 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, Hawai'i 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 February 8, 2019 Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair Committee on Agriculture and Environment Senator Kaiali`i Kahele, Chair Committee on Water and Land Dear Chair Gabbard, Chair Kahele, and Committee Members: RE: SB 871 Relating to Invasive Species In the past two years, the Council of Mayors has identified invasive species as a top priority that deserved everyone's attention. Our best efforts at the county level are often inadequate to protect our islands from harmful pests, and limited resources make it imperative that the State, counties, Feds, and private sector work together in pursuing solutions to what often seem intractable problems. This Legislature really stood up, and hopefully will do even more this year. With the possible exception (so far) of the parakeet problem, it seems that Hawaii County has suffered a disproportionate share of the damage caused by invasive species, including rapid ohia death, little fire ants, coqui frogs, coffee berry borer, and probably others. But all our islands, and all our constituents, are at risk. My primary request to you would be "Please don't give up." As a county, we do not have the resources or expertise to fight these devastating invaders on our own. We need as much assistance from the State as you can offer. While I would defer to others as to how precious dollars should be allocated, I strongly endorse the investment of funds in combatting invasives, and therefore urge passage of SB 871 in some form. Please provide as much funding as you can manage, broaden the initiative if you think it appropriate, and let's move forward. Respectfully Submitted, arty Ki MAYOR County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.