GMO Free Hawai`i Island Endorsements 2014

GMO Free Hawaii Island
2014 VOTER`S GUIDE

Mahalo for your kokua electing strong candidates this primary season.

WALK-IN VOTING - July 27 - Aug. 7, 2014
PRIMARY - Sat, Aug 9, 2014

Vote at your local polling station (as stated on your yellow Voter Registration and Address Confirmation postcard. Call the Office of Elections: (808) 961-8277 to find out if didn’t get one.

Here at GMOFHI we are a grassroots group focused on environmental health and want to build a close working relationship with our elected officials in all four branches of government; County, OHA, State, and the Federal level. After viewing public records, forums, and videos, when possible we arranged interviews with the top two candidates in each race.

We believe that building working relationships with our elected officials is very important and understand that there is no time like the present to begin fostering a healthy dialog. We enjoyed having the opportunity to begin a dialog with new candidates and to continue this conversation with incumbents about, protecting our GMO Free ban on taro, coffee, and all new crops, home rule, and GMO product labels. In addition we talked about how we could move forward to further protect the environmental health of Hawai’i island and the State of Hawai`i, a place the world knows as paradise by protecting us from the harmful effects of neonicotinoids. There is so much more to discuss as we move forward. We wish all of our endorsements the best of luck in the upcoming primary elections, and hope that they will continue to be active supporters of environmental health and the precautionary principle no matter what happens on August 9, 2014.

There are some districts left out; in those cases the race is incumbent-only, or none of the candidates running in that district earned our endorsement. In a few instances the candidates were reviewed by a sister organization, and our endorsement is based on their recommendation.

HAWAI`I ISLAND COUNTY COUNCIL
District 1 - POINDEXTER, Valerie
District 2 - MARKS, Kerri
District 3 - No Endorsement
District 4 - LOZANO, Roy
District 5 - PUEO, Frannie
District 6 - ABBETT, Richard
District 7 - No Endorsement
District 8 - EOFF, Karen
District 9 - WILLE, Margaret

STATE
Governor - No Endorsement
Lt. Governor - PULETASI, Sam or SHIRATORI, Miles

SENATE - HAWAI`I ISLAND
D1 - KA'EHU'AE'A, Wendell (Hilo)
D4 - INOUYE, Lorraine Rodero
(Hilo, Hamakua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, Kona)

HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE - HAWAI`I ISLAND
D2 - MIRANDA, Edwin L.P.
(Keaukaha, parts of Hilo, Panaʻewa, Waiakea)
D4 - BRONSON-CRELLY, Leilani
(Puna)
D5 - CREAGAN, Richard P.
(Na'alehu, Ocean View, Captain Cook, Kailua-Kona)
D6 - LOWEN, Nicole
(North Kona, Holualoa, Kalaoa, Honokōhau)

FEDERAL
U.S. State Senator (1) - SCHATZ, Brian
U.S. Representative District 2 - GABBARD, Tulsi

OHA - AT-LARGE
WONG-KALU, Hina
MAKEKAU, Keli’i
DE SOTO-MCCOLLOUGH, Laura

*O'AHU - K. SHIGEMASA, K.
*MAUI - LINDSEY, Hu

Mahalo for voting!
~the team at GMO Free Hawai`i Island

Response to Amy Harmon’s Story in the New York Times: Sunday January 5, 2014

“A Lonely Quest for Facts on Genetically Modified Crops”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/us/on-hawaii-a-lonely-quest-for-facts-about-gmos.html?pagewanted=1&src=mb&_r=0

Amy… you spent 7 days on Hawai’i Island and you didn’t get it.  You portrayed us as emotional and reactionary. Our concerns about the consequences of GE crops in our home communities were portrayed as emotional, uneducated and unable to fully comprehend the scientific facts of genetically engineered crops.   Your story implied that we were insensitive to the difficulties facing our papaya farmers, which is inaccurate. We understand fully how hard it is to grow papaya in a tropical environment with little or no soil. We have respect for Councilman Ilagan, but your narrow focus on only his perspective, when you had talked and heard from so many other informed farmers, educators and individuals, gave an intentionally narrow and inaccurate focus on what Bill 113 was truly about and the reasons why Hawai’i Councilwoman Willie felt the need to introduce it.

Hawaii is ground zero for the world for development and testing of experimental GE field trials by most large biotech companies.  It is important to keep in mind that Hawai‘i is the most isolated landmass in in the world. It has an inherently fragile ecosystem and our island communities depend on the ability to continue to grow food, have access to safe and clean water and maintain a healthy reef system and environment for future generations.

The Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, Section 46-1.5(13) states that, “Each County shall have the power to enact ordinances necessary to protect health, life and property.” The Hawai ‘i State Constitution, Article XI Section 9, states,  “Each person has the right to clean and healthful environment.”  It is therefore the responsibility of our County Council to protect the long-term health of the people and the land. This is an important responsibility, as we know that APHIS, USDA, EPA and FDA cannot protect us from the biotech companies that are growing here. We recently learned, with the passing of Kauai’s Bill 2491, that there are no state mandated pesticide free buffer zones around our most sensitive areas; schools, hospitals and parks.  Nor are there any requirements to disclose chemicals used, including restricted-use and permit only chemicals. The Kauai Bill 2491 written by Councilman Gary Hooser and passed creates restrictions, buffer zones, and accountability for the biotech companies.

For the past decades, the soils, ground water and health of Hawaii’s lands and communities have been negatively impacted through industrial-style farming and related contamination of the soils by the pineapple and sugarcane industries. Still persistent today in many of our old sugar cane lands are toxic, health-threatening contaminants such as arsenic, dioxin, atrazine, and in some cases mercury.  Our State Public Health officials have been concerned with residual levels of DBCP, EDB (soil fumigants used by the pineapple industry), and TCP, found in wells and the ground waters on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Councilwoman Willies’ Bill 113 on Hawai’i Island was designed to take a pro-active stance to protect our land, water, local communities and the people of Hawai‘i island until more is known and understood about the environmental and health consequences of GE crops and their related chemical use.  

We were hoping Amy, that you would be objective enough to see us for who we really are, we treated you with respect, we took you in, we introduced you to everyone you needed to talk to and what we get in return was a biased and distorted story that does not reflect the depth of the true situation Hawai‘i is facing.

We invite you to come back and visit us again, spend more time here and get to know us in a deeper way, without an agenda.  It is important to understand the struggle we are having at this moment in time to protect our future and report it objectively, and understand the importance of self-reliance in this uniquely, sensitive and isolated location.  As caring citizens, we must be pro-active, heartfelt, watchful and fearlessly outspoken to do what we can to avoid any further impacts from GE industrial agriculture.

GMO Free Hawai‘i Island

As an Addendum:

Our Mayor, Billie Kenoi signed bill 113 on December 5, 2013. He states in his press release after signing this bill; “Our community has a deep connection and respect for our land, and we all understand we must protect our island and preserve our precious natural resources. We are determined to do what is right for the land because this place is unlike any other in the world.  With this new ordinance we are conveying that instead of global agribusiness corporations, we want to encourage and support community-based farming and ranching.” He also stated; “Today our communities expect that government will be cautious as possible in protecting our food and water supplies.  We all want to minimize impacts to the environment while also producing abundant, affordable food for local consumption.  This ordinance expresses the desires and demands of our community for a safe, sustainable agricultural sector that con help feed our people while keeping our precious island productive and healthy”.

Bill 113 - Final Hearing Recessed Com #393.166

Bill 113 for GMO prohibition on Hawaii island was recessed at 6:30pm and will continue in 2 weeks, on Tuesday, November 19th, at 9 am in Kona & all satellite centers. Public testimony will continue for those who signed up and did not have time today. This is a continuation, so those who already spoke will not be able to testify again.

COM #393.166 was distributed to councilmembers upon, Chair J Yoshimoto's arrival at 5:16pm, and can be viewed online:
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/DocView.aspx?id=799149&searchid=894e413d-ad6e-432f-9f78-d11705a7b99b&dbid=0

The proposed amendments where not on today's agenda, and the public did not have the opportunity to review the communication prior to today's session. When the Council begins their discussion, councilmember Yoshimoto will have an opportunity to introduce his amendment to the council. If the council accepts his amendment the public will have another opportunity to testify (on draft 4) -- prolonging the hearing.

We will provide a more in-depth summary shortly.
Mahalo for standing with us.
GMOFHI

Website: http://www.gmofreehawaiiisland.org
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GMOFreeHawaiiIsland
Email: gmofreehawaiiisland@gmail.com

Hawai`i County Council Contact Information:
County Council Contact Information:
https://sites.google.com/site/gmofhi2/legislation/council-contact-information

Bill 113 - Final Reading! Com #393.70

Aloha e kakou,

The final hearing of Bill 113 is scheduled in Hilo on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. GMO-Free Hawaii Island is supporting the immediate passage of Bill 113 even though it is not exactly the ordinance that we worked hard to achieve. This difficult decision was made based on the following:

1. Councilmember Margaret Wille will not remove the Emergency Exemption from the bill
2. Corn will not be sunset in order to protect from a potential challenge because the bill exempts only papaya.
3. If there are many objections to the bill, Council Chairman Yoshimoto is likely to postpone the bill.
4. The danger with postponement is that the bill will not be passed by December 31st, and the County risks being overridden by State legislation aimed at pre-empting the Counties’ right to pass GMO ordinances.
5. If the bill is not passed, this topic cannot be brought before the Council for two years.

Kauai Councilman, Gary Hooser’s Bill 2491 to regulate biotech chemical spraying was gutted to remove all references to GMO regulation, and he advises us to take the small steps forward. The previous Hawaii Council vote was 6-2 with Councilman Kern absent. The final vote could be better. State Senator Russell Ruderman describes Bill 113 as a big step forward because it will prevent biotech field testing, and other positive aspects are that it will stop new GMO crop plantings, current GMO growers are required to register to disclose their operations and with the exception of papaya, are limited to specific locations cultivated prior to the effective date of the ordinance, and an emergency exemption application is a long process requiring at least four appearances before the Council.

For those who haven’t seen the current Bill 113 in its entirety, here is the link:
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/0/doc/798046/Page1.aspx

Moving forward there are other ways to tackle the GMO problem. The Ad Hoc Committee could tighten up the language of the bill, new bills can be introduced, and there is the option of amending the County Charter by ballot initiative.

When the bill passes, the challenge will be to encourage Mayor Kenoi to sign it into law. If the mayor vetos the bill, it is very possible that the yearend goal to avoid state pre-emption would be missed.

AGENDA: http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/DocView.aspx?id=798430

Mahalo for your support!
GMO-Free Hawaii Island

SPECIAL MEETING for GMO Bill 113 on October 15, 2013 at 4 pm

SPECIAL MEETING: 4 PM - October 15, 2013
Council Hearing for GMO BILL #113

Bill 113 was passed by the PSMTC on October 1, 2013 it is now before the COUNCIL for the first of two readings, on October 15, 2013.

Bill 113 GMO Prohibition (Comm 393.62) is on the Council agenda Tuesday, October 15, at 4:00 p.m. in Kona. Testimony is allowed on this second draft of Bill 113. There is a possibility that testimony could continue on Wednesday, but that is not known at this time. Don’t wait on that possibility….send your written testimony now.

• http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/0/doc/797196/Page1.aspx

In conjunction with the bill is Comm 394 formation of Ad Hoc Committee Relating to GE Crops and Plants, and testimony can be given on this.

• http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/0/doc/794737/Page1.aspx

Submit Testimony:
http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lb-council-meeting
This is the last step to PASS the BILL!

Councilmember Wille is interested in passing the bill and forming an ad hoc committee as quickly as possible. One reason is the looming threat from the next Hawaii Legislature to pre-empt home rule. There is a problem with the bill….it allows Big Island Dairy’s GMO corn to continue to grow.

The bill grandfathers in GMO corn in Pepeekeo, Honomu and Ookala (approx. 350 acres) spread along the Hamakua coastline, allowing it to continue to grow, but not to expand acreage. This exemption is out of sync with GMO prohibition of “open air” cultivation. If GMO corn is not prohibited, non-GMO corn growers in Hamakua and elsewhere on Hawaii Island would be hard put to bring in a clean crop.

It is the intention of Councilmember Wille to have the ad hoc committee remove the GMO corn exemption AFTER the bill is passed. This “good intention” doesn’t assure removal, and could get derailed, leaving Hawaii Island with a second open air contaminating crop alive and well in the field.

Call your councilmember requesting an amendment be written to sunset GMO corn and presented at the Oct. 15 hearing. The Council contact list is attached. Testimony to sunset this corn within 24 months would be a good follow up to a call requesting an amendment. MANY VOICES MUST BE HEARD TO GET GMO CORN OUT OF THE BILL BEFORE IT PASSES.

Councilmember Onishi has drafted three amendments to gut the bill. Please also testify that you do not support these amendments along with their “Comm” numbers.

1. Comm 393.052 Amendment to Bill 113 to exempt GMO research & cultivation by universities and government agencies, flower/horticulture industry, and allow cultivation of approved GMO crops/plants.
   http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/0/doc/796106/Page1.aspx
2. Comm 393.053 Amendment to Bill 113 to exempt GMO papaya from registration.
   http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/0/doc/796107/Page1.aspx 
3. Comm 393.054 This amendment repeats papaya and university/government GMO statements in both amendments above.
   http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/0/doc/796108/Page1.aspx

Mahalo for your continued support and action on this important issue.
GMO-Free Hawaii Island gmofreehawaiiisland.org
FaceBook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GMOFreeHawaiiIsland
Email: gmofreehawaiiisland@gmail.com