The 2022 legislative session mandated an economic impact study of the 10% blend law on Kona and other Hawaiian coffee farmers. Will you support the prompt completion of that study and a thorough airing of its contents? Will you support reform of Hawaii’s 10% blend law? And what will you pledge to do to support the change?
I strongly support Hawaii’s coffee industry. On Hawaii Island, coffee farms constitute a significant backbone of rural communities. As in yesteryears, coffee continues to be a key financial source for generating revenue to sustain rural families. Coffee has helped farmers to provide their children with educational opportunities and safe, secure homes for their families and loved ones. Along the way in West Hawaii, the Kona typica evolved from its Guatemalan cousin, and the Kona coffee growers created a world-renown coffee that has withstood the challenges of a global coffee industry. Opponents of a coffee percentage increase believe that current labeling provides sufficient information about blend content. In addition opponents say that it would be harder to create blends according to company market brands and that decisions should be left to coffee growers and other stakeholders. These arguments do not address the fundamental issue — Truth in Labeling. If one markets coffee grown in Kona, then it should be prominently labeled as such and not obscured with smaller lettering indicating a 10% Kona coffee blend. Further, the Kona Brand is gold and should be treated as such. In many parts of the world, a product can only be called a certain name if growing in the region. Idaho potatoes, French Champagne, and Vermont Maple Syrup are three examples. I support the 51% coffee language included in House Bill 1517. As you know, the language was gutted and replaced with text calling for a study of the economic impacts that the proposed changes would have on the industry. As Governor, I will support the economic impact study assigned to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA).
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture has said repeatedly over the last number of years that its budget has been cut so drastically that it cannot perform the various tasks assigned to it by the Legislature. The HDOA’s share of the State’s annual budget is less than one-half of one percent (<.005). To strengthen support for Hawaii farmers, will you support measures to significantly increase funding for the HDOA?
As you may know, HDOA’s annual budget currently is about .40% of the State budget. And yet, food and flower production is our third largest industry. How can we expect HDOA to be proactive and help our food producers and flower growers grow their businesses? As your Governor, my administration will set the course towards greater food sovereignty mindful that just two centuries ago, the Hawaiian Islands through its indigenous population had developed a highly sophisticated food production system capable of feeding its entire population. Today 90% of our food is imported. The goal of this Administration is to provide programs that reduce the amount of imported food while also supporting the increase of agricultural exports for the farmers, ranchers, and producers that rely on export sales for their value-added, processed products. This goal recognizes the importance of achieving sustainability by increasing the quantity and quality of locally grown food to replace what is imported while supporting adding value to what is grown locally which provides an additional revenue stream for the industry. Supporting agriculture makes sense as this system is vital to the health and well-being of our State and its people and will be elevated to the highest priority to protect Hawaii from a food crisis caused by global calamities, natural disasters, or economic disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic has identified weaknesses in our food production and delivery systems, including supply and demand and market access. Access to capital remains a significant bottleneck, hindering many from starting a farm. Our HDOA will be provided directives and the capacity to pursue federal pandemic-related relief fund dollars and other USDA grant and loan funding sources. Capital needs to flow, and credit needs to be available for Hawai’i food producers if we are to build a thriving business and employment food production sector. A starting point is to develop “A Hawaii Agriculture Business Plan: A Strategic Blueprint for the Future.” The business plan will lay out goals and objectives in five-year increments up to 25 years with annual tasks to achieve. The Blueprint will serve as a living document to guide federal, state, and local government decision-makers; investors; farmers, ranchers, seafood industries, food producers, and floriculture and nursery businesses; landowners; energy producers; transportation carriers; building and trades; and others to build a financially and environmentally sustainable food production industry. The Blueprint recognizes that those involved in the food system are business people, first and foremost, who are engaged in agriculture, livestock, fishery, flowers, retail, wholesale, supply chains, and related businesses. As Governor, I am committed to growing Hawaiiʻs agricultural industry from the farm level to the consumer, dramatically increasing homegrown food production and strengthening infrastructure. Programs will be strengthened and created that encourage or require the purchase of locally grown fresh products, local beef, pork, lamb, chickens and eggs to support farmers, ranchers, and producers across the state.
Please close by telling us a bit more about yourself and your commitment to agriculture. Mahalo!
Government leaders are tasked to provide a healthy and sustainable quality of life by giving direction to the systems within state government through a shared goal, so that all these systems, while operating at a high level within their areas of responsibility, are working together to make Hawaii the best place for our citizens to live and work. This is my initial agriculture plan for us to fine-tune. We are in this together. I am counting on you as partners to take ideas with specific action steps to develop final products. And, I am counting on hearing from you on how we can make Hawaii a healthy and sustainable place to live. Together we can achieve a Hawaii that is not for sale.