IMPORTANT FOR WAIPIO: Via JesseKulia Potter This Senate Bill was introduced by Senator Malama Solomon and Senator Gilbert Kahele on 1/23/14. SB 3063 was described as Makes an appropriation for the purchase of land in Waipio Valley. No meetings held with the community prior to the introduction of the bill. Which of course would be the ones who would be greatly affected by such a bill. This is where they lost the trust from the community as Senator Kahele stated in an interview with Tribune Herald that he was going to inform the community if/after the bill passes which of course would be too late to get any input from the community. When we found out about the bill, it was through a small news clip in the Tribune Herald. We had less than two days to submit testimonies. We tried our best to reach out to as many people as possible. Prior to it being in the newspaper, a hearing with the Committee on Water and Land was held on Feb. 5, a hearing with the Committee on Ways and Means was held on Feb. 26-27, and a hearing with the Committee on Water and Land was held on Mar. 10. When we did find out, we submitted testimonies for the hearing with the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs which was held on Mar. 19. If I counted right, 19 testimonies were submitted and there was some amendments made to the bill. The next hearing, was held with the Committee on Finance on April 2. 17 testimonies submitted and we saw a shift in the members to be included on the working group. The point Im trying to make is amendments were made after testimonies were submitted. For me, it doesnt make sense for people on another island trying to make decisions on what is best for some place they have no clue about. Come work loi for couple weeks, malama the aina and then go make your decision. Better yet, hold the decision making in Waipio with the people. Even with the amendments to the bill, we dont know how these individuals will be selected as at the current status there are no details in place for how these individuals will be selected. The community is really uncertain if everyones voice will be heard and those selected to be on the working group, will they have the best interest for Waipio, this would include KEEPING GMO CROPS OUT, allow our taro farmers to continue to farm etc. When we gathered over 125 farmers/ohana with ties to Waipio voiced their concerns. Many of us shared the common aloha for the valley with generations of family members farming and living in harmony with the aina. The scary part, many of farmers did not receive lease renewals. Some families said its been five years already and Bishop Museum has not issued their new leases. They have been receiving invoices from Bishop Museum to pay lease fees and property taxes so they paid it and just continued to farm. Many people call Waipio home. My concern, if the state buys the lands, with many families not having their renewed leases, will all these families need to pick up and leave their farms behind? Will the state allow these farmers to live in harmony with the aina and continue to tend to their mala/loi? We must and will continue to allow our voices to be heard. Many have sent testimonies to The House of Representatives but still the bill got passed. We are encouraging ALL to submit testimonies to the Senators. As what I was told is the Senators are not agreeing with the amendments made with the Representatives. Because we submitted testimonies to some of the Representatives, we were receiving responses from some of them which is greatly appreciated. Here is the link to the website for the Senatorsʻ Phone Numbers and Emails.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx... Here are the emails of all the Senators: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Just copy and paste into the TO: portion of your email. SB 3063 passed the House of Representatives on 4/8/14, it is going into conference committee made up of the Chairs of the committees in the Senate and House that it went through. This would be: - Senator Malama Solomon of the Sen. Committee on Water and Land (WAL) [email protected] - Senator David Ige of the Sen. Committee on Ways and Means (WAM) [email protected] - Representative Cindy Evans of the House Committee on Water and Land (WAL) [email protected] - Representative Faye Hanohano of the House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, and Hawaiian Affairs [email protected] - Representative Sylvie Luke of the House Committee on Finance (FIN) [email protected] - Possibly Rep. Mark Nakashima because he represents Hamakua district. [email protected]
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 17:57:49 +0000
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