< 2022 Candidate Questionnaire
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?
Duke Aiona: Hawaii Governor
If additional funding is necessary to perform the function of HDOA and we have fiscal resources that are in accordance with the Executive’s Branch fiscal budget, I would not hesitate to increase funding.
Vicky Cayetano: Hawaii Governor
The funding for the HDOA is clearly inadequate. The appropriate funding is necessary to reflect our priorities to support our farmers. As Governor, I want to see how HDOA and DLNR interact in meeting the goals of the agricultural community. I believe that both agencies need a review and reorganization of its internal organizational structure that meets the needs of current pressing issues. It is important to work with our farmers, the HDOA and DLNR, the counties and the legislature to address some immediate serious issues: Underfunding Bureaucracy in the government Short term leases offered to farmers We have talked about these issues but continue to see the same inadequate results.
Josh Green: Hawaii Governor
Yes, agriculture can be our next meaningful economic driver if we support our farmers and the industry.
Kaialiʻi Kahele: Hawaii Governor
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.
Keith Amemiya: Hawaii Lt. Governor
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor is an office of opportunity. The office under my administration would be a convening place for our community members and stakeholders. I intend to bring my years of problem solving in our local communities to challenges, like increasing funding for HDOA, in a way that reflects the actual needs of our farmers. I also intend to cultivate collaborative and productive relationships with the Chairs of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Finance Committee to ensure that our budget accurately reflects our statewide priorities and values.
Ikaika Anderson: Hawaii Lt. Governor
Every department in the state is asked to put forward a budget to the executive for inclusion into the next year’s biennial budget or supplemental budget. The department will need to put forward what its needs are and justifications for the executive to support when it comes to its requests. The Department of Agriculture oversees a very important part of Hawai‘i and should it require more funds to better execute its tasks, I as Lt. Governor will support it.
Sylvia Luke: Hawaii Lt. Governor
The Department of Agriculture has struggled with filling vacant positions. Out of about 300 positions, about 100 positions continue to be unfilled year after year. While more funding is needed to assist agriculture, the Department must do its part to decrease vacancies and transition from its regulatory role to a supportive role.
Seaula Jr. Tupa’i: Hawaii Lt. Governor
In my opinion, the issue with the State’s budget does not just effect the HDOA. Hawaii’s budget problems effect all state departments. We need to address the leaking faucet of funds to ensure that all departments are able to serve the people to the best of their abilities. One of the many measures we would take to increase the HDOA’s budget would be by performing forensic audits to see what funds are not being used effectively, find where in the budget that money is most needed, and put that money in those places. We would also increase the HDOA’s budget by eliminating other government programs that waste money and put that money back into the budget of departments that support the interest of the people.
David Tarnas: Hawaii State House District 8
Yes, I have advocated for increased funding for Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and will continue to do so if I get re-elected to the State House. I have demonstrated this commitment in this past session as Chair of the House Water and Land Committee, when I served as the lead House negotiator for a bill that was approved by the legislature that provided substantial funding to the HDOA to pay for biosecurity programs at all ports-of-entry to reduce the importation of alien invasive species. I also supported legislation that was approved by the legislature to provide additional funding to HDOA to support a grant program to neighbor island farmers to build ungulate-proof fencing to protect their farms from feral pigs and goats. This program will be an important tool to help farmers protect their farms from being damaged and their crops contaminated and destroyed by these feral ungulates. Much more work needs to be done to support Hawaii’s agriculture industry and I pledge to continue my efforts to significantly increase funding for HDOA.
Nicole Lowen: Hawaii State House District 7
I support increased funding for needed positions at DOA. Its always tricky balancing the many needs in the State and in any given year a lot depends on how the economy and the state budget is doing. However, the % amount of the State budget devoid of any context is not really a fair representation of it’s level of priority.
Jeanné Kapela: Hawaii State House District 5
I have steadfastly supported budget increases for the Hawai’i Department of Agriculture and will continue to do so. Adequate funding is necessary to ensure that the department is able to carry out basic functions, like controlling outbreaks of coffee leaf rust and addressing the coffee berry borer beetle infestation faced by Hawai’i Island farmers. Tax revenues have skyrocketed over the last year and are projected to continue increasing. It is essential that we use some of that revenue to increase funding for sustainable and regenerative agriculture, which will strengthen food security for our island home.