Monday, February 12, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Feb.12, 2024

Hawai‘i Farmers Union United and many hemp startup organizations are asking for testimony to oppose a bill that they claim would be a setback to the emergence of a stable hemp industry in Hawai‘i. See more below. USDA photo

LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH MORE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO ASSIST COFFEE AND ORCHARD CROP INDUSTRIES goes to public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 3:30 p.m. at the 2024 Hawai'i Legislature.
    Agricultural Extension Agents Andrea Kawabata and Matt Miyahara are asking for the Kaʻū community's help in supporting the measure. In a statement released Monday, they noted that Kaʻū's state Senator Dru Kanuha and colleagues introduced measure SB2060 Relating to Agriculture. It would establish an Educational Support Associate position within the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources' Kona Cooperative Extension "to support your coffee and orchard crop industries."
    The Tuesday hearing includes video conferencing. Those who plan to submit written testimony are urged to do so as soon as possible. Read more and submit testimony here:
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2060&year=2024

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OPPOSITION TO A BILL ON HEMP IS ENCOURAGED BY HAWAI‘I FARMERS UNION UNITED. The organization sent out a message on Monday asking for testimony against SB3335 at the Hawai‘i Legislature.
    The statement says that "Hawai‘i hemp farmers are asking for your support to ensure years of work in the legislature, which resulted in the passage of a pro-farmer and pro-hemp bill last year, HB 1359, Act 263, are not lost." Farmers Union asks for testimony to the Senate Committees on Health and Human
Services, Judiciary, urging the removal of all hemp elements from SB 3335 relating to medical and recreational cannabis that is a pathway for recreational marijuana.
    Farmers Union stated," This bill will turn Hawai‘i's hemp industry into an import sector, wiping out Hawai‘i farmers and processors. Removing hemp from this bill will not stop the bill from creating a pathway for recreational cannabis if that's what the legislature wants. Please review the following Zoom meeting on YouTube for more details on why co-mingling regulatory structures for a federal approved crop, hemp, with a federally illicit scheduled substance, marijuana, results in losses and impact to all hemp industry sectors (food, fiber, fuel, CBD, etc.): https://youtu.be/HehmZ3ntLCE?si=-OvxpWMv78wW19f1."
    Hawai‘i Farmers Union contends that the "Hawai‘i hemp industry has an agricultural mission that is moving Hawai‘i towards greater sustainability, producing a variety of value-added products in addition to hemp cannabinoids: food, building materials (some of which are being trialed in affordable housing pilot
projects), plastics pilots to replace plastic cutlery, textiles, fuel, etc. Furthermore, the Hawai‘i hemp cannabinoid sector is focused on producing high quality health products, mirroring the success of noni, lion's mane, olena (turmeric), etc. and Hawai‘i CBD products are tested to the highest standards in the U.S. for hemp products ensuring they are free of herbicide, pesticides, metals, mycotoxins, etc. and all hemp product manufacturers in Hawai‘i are expected to follow good manufacturing practices."
    Farmers Union theorizes that the "Legislature is exploring regulating hemp with marijuana because the state has not enforced on imported hemp products that are not legal in Hawai‘i and not made by Hawai‘i farmers, high THC hemp gummies and smokeable products.
    "The recreational marijuana bills will not fix this enforcement issue or touch the imports, but this bill will penalize Hawai‘i hemp farmers and put their business services at risk, banking, insurance, etc. The hemp industry has proposed three regulatory pathways that will address this problem without threatening the greater Hawai‘i hemp industry."

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Eli Crook working for a half-nelson pin against an opponent from Kohala. Photo by Coach Ray Mazyck

THE TROJAN WRESTLING TEAM TRAVELED to Konawaena for their last season tournament before the BIIF Championship on Feb. 17. The Trojans started off the first round hot with 4 out of 5 participants getting wins. Seniors Stephen Alder and La‘akea Kajiwara-Ke both won their first matches by pin in the first round. Freshman Eli Crook was able to secure a big pin in the third round of his first match of the day. 
Stephen Adler facing off against opponent from Kamehameha.
Photo by Coach Ray Mazyck
    In the semi-finals round, Ocean Nihipali-Sesson was able to secure a pin against Wai‘akea to advance into the finals where he had to medical forfeit, defaulting for 2nd place at the tournament. Stephen Adler, La‘akea Kajiwara-Ke, and Eli Crook all had tough semi-final matches and all 3 ultimately lost their match, dropping them into matches to compete for 3rd place. La‘akea caught a forfeit to take 3rd, while Stephen and Eli both wrestled hard against tough opponents and lost both taking 4th place in their respective weight classes. Rain Nihipali-Sesson had a rematch against the Kealakehe girl and had a much closer match, almost securing a pin against her opponent. The Kealakehe girl was able to fight back and pin Rain for the second time on the day. 
    “The level of growth these wrestlers have had this season is monumental, said Wrestling Coach Ray Mazyck. "In all my 25 years of wrestling experience, I’ve never seen this amount of growth within three months of training. These first-year Trojan wrestlers are showcasing the results of their hard work and dedication, and frankly it’s impressive.” 
    Next weekend Trojans travel back to Konawaena for the BIIF Championship to compete for their spot in the State Tournament in O‘ahu Feb. 23-24. The Coach said, “Next week is what we have been training for all season, the top 5 wrestlers from each weight class qualify for state. I have faith that all of our wrestlers will earn their slots in the state tournament. They just have to show up and do what they’ve been training to do.”



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Kaʻū News Briefs Feb. 11, 2024

Exchange students from Japan stop along Ka‘alaiki Road between Nāʻālehu and Pāhala to hear the mo‘olelo, the stories about
Pu‘u Enuhe - caterpillar hill and Pu‘u Makanau from leader ‘Āina Akamu of Kaʻū High. Photo by Myra Sumida

OKK board member Carol Massey hosts students at
Eva Liu's OKK vegetable farm. Photo by Myra Sumida
JAPANESE EXCHANGE STUDENTS, VISITING    KAʻŪ FAMILIES, departed on Sunday after more than a week of immersion in Kaʻū life, environment and education. An Aloha Dinner at Pāhala Hongwanji Saturday evening brought the student visit from Nakaminato High School to a close. They return to Hitachinaka City in Ibaraki Prefecture on Monday.

Kampyo workshop, stripping gourds for
making maki sushi. Photo by Myra Sumida
  During the Aloha Dinner, sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou,  Pāhala Hongwanji and the host families, Sensei Masato Naritomi, who started the Sister School relationship in 21018, said he and his students look forward to welcoming exchange students to Japan.
    Exchange student Kune Nambu said she was very happy to come here to see animals she had never seen before, including horses and nēnē. Yusea Iyo said she enjoyed shopping to buy the local gifts. Sena Nukagawa focused on landscape and the opportunity "to become friends with everyone at Kaʻū High." Takumi Terunuma said he treasures making good friends laying volleyball and visiting ranches, coffee fields, the ocean and mountains. The students also went bowling at Kīlauea Military Camp, traveled on back roads and to Punalu‘u and Eva Liu's OKK vegetable farm.
    The leader from the school said this trip was difficult to permit 

Exchange students enjoy fresh coconut water
and spoon meat at Punalu'u. Photo by Myra Sumida
since Japan opened up for traveling outside the country later than many other places and families were still cautious about allowing their children to travel since the pandemic.
    A business teacher from the Japanese school, Kenta Abe, said, "I want to cherish this visit. I want to see you in Japan." Participants noted their enjoyment of Sumo Breakfast at Ken's House of Pancakes in Hilo. When someone orders, the gong sounds and everyone calls out "Sumo."
    Host family member Kayo Munnerlyn said she is a Japanese tour guide and was able to share not only the history of Kaʻū but also discussed World War II and Japan's longstanding friendship with the U.S. She also hosted a kampyo workshop to make maki sushi.
    Host family member Kenoe Grace said, "It was an amazing experience with two kids from a completely different culture. He said he served them a variety of food from Hawaiian to Chinese and that they enjoyed going outdoors to see the spectacular stars and night with the family telescope. His family, with student daughter Kalea, took the exchange students to a hula festival in Kona.
    Host family member Breann Ebanez also mentioned the student's enjoyment of Kaʻū's night skies. She said students became immersed in her home with its big family and animals. On the road, she noted a visit to South Point and to Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences, as well as picture taking at King Kamehameha Statue and walking in Hilo and eating pancakes.
    Also hosting students were OKK President Wayne and Nora Kawachi and Cyrus and Myra Sumida.

Japanese exchange students visit Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences.
Photo by Myra Sumida

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WITH THIS YEAR MARKING THE 64TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S.-JAPAN SECURITY TREATY AND FITH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S.-JAPAN TRADE ACT, there is a call for inviting Japan's Prime Minister to address the U.S. Congress. Hawai‘i Senator Mazie Hirono and Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee are leading 27 of their Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, encouraging him to invite Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to address a Joint Session of Congress during his Official Visit to the United States in April.
    Hirono and the Senators wrote, “Inviting Prime Minister Kishida to address Congress would be a timely and tangible expression of the unwavering commitment of the United States to our Alliance and to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Our Alliance with Japan is also fundamental to stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” the Senators continued. “Japan—a vibrant democracy with strong people-to-people ties with our country—is the fifth-largest goods trading partner with the United States. Japanese firms are the second-largest source of foreign direct investment in our country.

    “A strong U.S.-Japan Alliance is more important than ever. Inviting Prime Minister Kishida to address a Joint Session of Congress would further enhance our bilateral diplomatic ties and highlight the shared strategic interests and values between our two nations,” the Senators concluded.

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HAWAI‘I AIR TOUR MANAGEMENT ACT IS INCLUDED IN THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION'S REAUTHORIZATION BILL, with bi-partisan support, according to Hawai‘i's Senator Brian Schatz. The package includes measures to help airports adapt to extreme weather and improve air tour management in Hawai‘i, making tours safer for passengers and less noisy for residents. The bills are called  Hawai‘i Air Tour Management Act, the Improved Transportation Consumer Protection Act and the Natural Hazard Resilience for Airports Act.
    “These provisions will help airports in Hawai‘i and across the country become more resilient to disasters, which are becoming more frequent and severe every year. They’ll also make air tours in Hawai‘i safer for passengers and reduce noise levels for residents,” said Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee.
    Provisions would ensure that airport projects to improve resilience to sea level rise and extreme weather are eligible for funding under the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program. FAA would also be directed to participate as a technical advisor in Hawai‘i’s air noise and safety task force to address the noise impacts of these flights. 
    Schatz pointed out that in Hawai‘i, at least 85 people have died in air tour crashes since the National Transportation Safety Board began keeping records – the highest number of any state.
THE CREATE ACT would unlock federal resources for artists and small businesses in Creative industries, to help them grow, according to Sen. Brian Schatz who introduced the legislation into the U.S. Senate last week with cosponsorship from Republican Texas Senator, John Cornyn. 
    The CREATE Act would offer direct support to artists and small businesses by:
    Expanding the Microloan Program qualifications to include artists and arts entrepreneurs, Performing Arts Professionals, and the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance;
    Providing support to state, regional, and local art agencies, artists, and creative workers through traditional economic development tools;
    Directing the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop procedures for evaluating the business proposals and plans of non-employer businesses and small businesses within the creative economy;
    Tasking the SBA with partnering with relevant stakeholders to develop a technical assistance program that targets the specific needs of artists and arts entrepreneurs; and
    Establishing a program to examine helping local arts agencies and nonprofits with planning grants.
   Schatz said that the creative economy includes businesses focused on individual creativity, skill, talent, or expression of indigenous culture or regional or local heritage culture. "These businesses collectively add $919.7 billion annually to the nation's Gross Domestic Product, with a growth rate nearly double the rest of the economy."
    The CREATE Act has been endorsed by more than 170 organizations including Esty, eBay, Patreon, The Recording Academy, Americans for the Arts, Arts Workers United, National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, League of American Orchestras, The Educational Theatre Association, American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, OPERA America, Dance/USA, Western States Arts Federation, Inspire Washington, New England Foundation for the Arts, Association of  Performing Arts Professionals.
    Companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives has been introduced by U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-Puerto Rico).
Matt Drayer teaches a Korean
Natural Farming class.


AN INTRODUCTION TO KOREAN NATURAL FARMING CLASS will be held at Ancient Valley Growers Farm at 96-1034 Center Rd, above Pahala in Wood Valley on Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon. It is sponsored by Hawai‘i Farmers Union United. The fee is $30 for non-members.
     Instructor Matt Drayer said, "In this hands-on class we will be learning two of the many Korean Natural Farming recipes from start to finish. You will go home at the end of the class more confident in your ability to make your own inputs to enrich your soil!"
    Participants are invited to enjoy a potluck luncheon following the class. RSVP to Kau@hfuu.org.





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