Alert: Support Indigenous Foodways + Farm To School!
SB735 - Kalo Farming Water Access
Deadline to submit testimony is Monday, January 30th at 1 PM.
Exempts the in-stream use of water for commercial kalo cultivation conducted in a manner consistent with traditional and customary practices of Native Hawaiians from the existing process for the disposition of water rights.
Joint hearing before the Senate Committee on Water and Land/Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs on Tuesday, Jan 31st at PM in Conference Room 224 or via Zoom. (Hearing Notice)
Sample Testimony
Aloha,
Please support SB735, which exempts the in-stream use of water for commercial kalo cultivation conducted in a manner consistent with traditional and customary practices of Native Hawaiians from the existing process for the disposition of water rights.
The water leasing process currently in place imposes burdensome requirements on water lease applicants, especially smaller agricultural users including taro farmers. We believe SB735 provides the security of water rights that our taro farmers need on every island.
This is an important step towards supporting native traditional food ways, farming and food security for Hawaiʻi. We need to do everything we can to support the expansion of the cultivation of kalo which is so culturally significant and such an important part of our landscape, history, food security and community.
The Hawai‘i State Constitution mandates the protection of traditional and customary practices of Native Hawaiians. Therefore, kalo farmers should be exempt from the burdensome process of securing water leases for traditional kalo farming.
SB735 is a great way to support a native cultural practice and Hawaiʻi’s staple food. Supporting taro farming and assisting farmers will also help to keep native Hawaiian traditional and customary cultural practices alive.
I strongly support SB735 and believe it will help facilitate more local production of kalo, which in turn helps to strengthen our food security and local economy.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Residence/Town
SB730 - Funding for Lokoʻia/Fishpond Restoration
Appropriates funds to support the Department of Land and Natural Resources in restoring and restocking fishponds.
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Water and Land on Wednesday, Feb. 1th at 1 PM in Conference Room 229 or via Zoom (Hearing Notice)
Deadline to submit testimony is due Tuesday, January 31st at 1 PM.
Sample Testimony
Aloha,
I strongly support funding for restoration and restocking of our lokoʻia (fishponds).
Loko i‘a are important components of the ahupua‘a (traditional land stewardship framework) that contribute to a healthy and robust food system. They are unique aquaculture systems that exist throughout Hawai‘i, and were developed to optimize natural patterns of watersheds, nutrient cycles, and fish biology.
Lokoʻia (fishponds) play an important role in Hawaiian cultural practices, have anecologically important role in watersheds, and could significantly contribute to Hawaiʻi’s food security goals.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Residence/Town
HB250 – Farm to School Procurement
Requires the Department of Education to establish rules for the procurement of goods and services related to the administration of food programs at public schools that incorporate a geographic preference for unprocessed locally grown and locally raised food products. Except for the provision relating to Hawaiʻi products, exempts the department's food program from the Hawaiʻi public procurement code.
Hearing before the House Committee on Education on Tuesday, Jan 31st at 2 PM in Conference Room 309 or via Zoom. (Hearing Notice)
Deadline to submit testimony is Monday, January 30th at 2pm.
Sample Testimony
Aloha,
Please support this effort to regionalize our farm to school initiative while bringing fresh and healthy locally raised food to our keiki.
Local food procurement provides economic benefits to local food systems by providing a long-term revenue stream for farmers and other food producers, promoting market diversification, and increasing income and economic growth opportunities for individual farmers.
This bill will help to facilitate the increase of locally grown and locally raised food products from Hawaiʻi farmers, ranchers, and food producers and allow school complexes to regionalize their menus.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Residence/Town
