HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-21 Letter to Sylvia Luke and Ty J.K. Cullen HB 1548, HD1 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 21, 2019
Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair
Committee on Finance
Representative Ty J.K. Cullen, Vice Chair
Committee on Finance
Dear Chair Luke, Vice Chair Cullen, and Committee Members:
RE: HB 1548, HD1 Relating 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 Toss of Ohia in Hawaii should not be ignored.
Therefore, I am grateful to the authors of this bill, and to you and your Committee, 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.
With whatever amendments are appropriate, please approve funding to combat ROD, either via HB
1548, HD1 or in the House version of the State budget.
Respectfully Submitted,
arry Kim
MAYOR
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