HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-13 Letter to Kaialii Kahele, Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Mike Gabbard and Russell E. Ruderman HB 1548, HD1 Relating to Rapid Ohia Death
County of Hawai‘i
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County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
March 13, 2019
Senator Kaialiʻi Kahele, Chair
Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Vice Chair
Committee on Water and Land
Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair
Senator Russell E. Ruderman, Vice Chair
Committee on Agriculture and Environment
Dear Chairs Kahele and Gabbard, Vice Chairs Keith-Agaran and Ruderman, and Committee Members:
RE: HB 1548, HD1 Relating to Rapid Ohia Death
The initial shock of the discovery of Rapid Ohia Death has passed, and therefore the media has largely
moved on. But the devastation of ROD and the loss of Ohia in Hawaiʻi should not be ignored. Therefore, I am
grateful to all of you 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 or in your committees’ priorities for the State budget.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Kim
MAYOR