Dirty Dozen: Last Change to Save Hawaii Ag Lands

Hearing notice HERE.Calls/emails needed now to conferees; contact information below, meeting on Wednesday 4/25. Tell them to not permit commercialization and tourism that will gobble up our ag lands and displace our struggling farmers.”

SB 2341 SD2 HD2 (English, Baker, Ige, Nishihara)
– allows short-term vacation rentals, less than 21 days, on agriculture land as a permitted use without a public hearing or public input “in a county with a population greater than 100,000 but less that 150,000”. For example, Maui island’s population was 144,444 in 2010.

– if SB 2341 becomes law, then it is only a matter of time before the push will be on to allow vacation rentals on ag land statewide.

– the State Office of Planning opposes this bill because it is inconsistent with the State policy to promote ag uses in the Agricultural District and to protect ag land.

– the Department of Agriculture opposes this bill because it will cause the proliferation of vacation rentals and related uses and activities on ag land.

– the expansion of tourism activities on ag land will transform communities and rural areas into tourist meccas.

– with SB 2341 SD2 HD1 high quality farmland will be lost to tourism. How can farmers growing the food we eat compete with vacation rentals at $100+ a night?

– on Oahu, 16,000 acres of farmland on the North Shore is being marketed for great views and access to the ocean. These qualities are not relevant to farming but are selling points for tourism and more development.

– Hawaii’s agricultural land is needed to grow food — not tourism.

Read the bill HERE.

House conferees: Tsuji, McKelvey, Chang, Brower co-chairs: Tokioka, RiviereBrower, Tom House

District 23 – Waikiki, Ala Moana.

Phone 808-586-8520

E-Mail repbrower@capitol.hawaii.gov

Chang, Jerry

House District 2 – South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha.

Phone 808-586-6120

Fax 808-586-6121

E-Mail repchang@capitol.hawaii.gov

McKelvey, Angus

House District 10 – Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua, Maalaea, Kihei.

Phone 808-586-6160

Fax 808-586-6161

E-Mail repmckelvey@capitol.hawaii.gov

Riviere, Gil

House District 46 – Kaena Point, Schofield, Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Waimea, Pupukea, Sunset, Kahuku, Kunia Camp, Poamoho, Wheeler, Laie.

Phone 808-586-6380

Fax 808-586-6381

E-Mail repriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov

Tokioka, James

House District 15 – Lihue, Koloa.

Phone 808-586-6270

Fax 808-586-6271

E-Mail reptokioka@capitol.hawaii.gov

Tsuji, Cliff
House District 3 – South Hilo, Panaewa, Puna, Keaau, Kurtistown.
Phone 808-586-8480
Fax 808-586-8484
E-Mail reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov

Senate conferees: Nishihara, Dela Cruz, Kim co-chairs: Slom.

Dela Cruz, Donovan
Senate District 22 – Kunia Village, Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Whitmore, Hale`iwa, Mokule`ia, Waialua and Sunset Beach.
Phone 808-586-6090
Fax 808-586-6091
E-Mail sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov

Kim, Donna Mercado

Senate District 14 – Moanalua, ‘Aiea, Fort Shafter, Kalihi Valley, Halawa Valley.

Phone 808-587-7200
Fax 808-587-7205

E-Mail senkim@capitol.hawaii.gov

Nishihara, Clarence
Senate District 18 – Waipahu, Pearl City, Crestview.
Phone 808-586-6970
Fax 808-586-6879
E-Mail sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov

Slom, Sam
Senate District 8 – Hawai’i Kai, ‘Aina Haina, Kahala, Diamond Head.
Phone 808-586-8420
Fax 808-586-8426
E-Mail senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov

– allows retail activities in an enclosed structure owned and operated by a producer not the farmer, as a permitted use.– allows a retail food establishment owned and operated by a producer, not a farmer, that serves food using products other than grown on the farm. Thus, serving lettuce from another farmer would qualify a restaurant as a permitted use.

– Oahu Planning Department opposes this bill because “the provisions are virtually unenforceable and may result in unintended consequences”.

– “producer-operators” could be large out-of-state corporate entities that compete with local farmers for quality agricultural lands which are intended for food production leading to land speculation and driving up the price of agricultural land.

– counties are not equipped to determine whether products are grown in the State or on the premises.

– the bill places no limit on the number of operations that can be located on the same property. Thus, a shopping mall can be established on prime ag land with no public hearing or input.

– allowing retail activities and restaurants on ag land as a permitted use changes the character of the area from rural to urban.

Read the bill HERE.

House conferees: Tsuji, McKelvey, Chang co-charis; Har, Riviere

Chang, Jerry
House District 2 – South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha.
Phone 808-586-6120
Fax 808-586-6121
E-Mail repchang@capitol.hawaii.gov

Har, Sharon
House District 40 – Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei, Kalaeloa.
Phone 808-586-8500
Fax 808-586-8504
E-Mail rephar@capitol.hawaii.gov

McKelvey, Angus
House District 10 – Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua, Maalaea, Kihei.
Phone 808-586-6160
Fax 808-586-6161
E-Mail repmckelvey@capitol.hawaii.gov

Riviere, Gil
House District 46 – Kaena Point, Schofield, Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Waimea, Pupukea, Sunset, Kahuku, Kunia Camp, Poamoho, Wheeler, Laie.
Phone 808-586-6380
Fax 808-586-6381
E-Mail: repriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov

Tsuji, Clift
House District 3 – South Hilo, Panaewa, Puna, Keaau, Kurtistown.
Phone 808-586-8480
Fax 808-586-8484
E-Mail reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov

Senate conferees: Nishihara, Chair; Dela Cruz co-chair; Wakai, Slom

Dela Cruz, Donovan
Senate District 22 – Kunia Village, Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Whitmore, Hale`ewa, Mokuleia, Waialua and Sunset Beach.
Phone 808-586-6090
Fax 808-586-6091
E-Mail sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov

Nishihara, Clarence
Senate District 18 – Waipahu, Pearl City, Crestview.
Phone 808-586-6970
Fax 808-586-6879
E-Mail sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov

Wakai, Glenn
Senate District 15 – Kalihi, Moanalua Gardens, Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Foster Village, Hickam, Pearl Harbor, Pearl Ridge, ‘Aiea.
Phone 808-586-8585
Fax 808-586-8588
E-Mail senwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov

Slom, Sam
Senate District 8 – Hawai’i Kai, ‘Aina Haina, Kahala, Diamond Head.
Phone 808-586-8420
Fax 808-586-8426
E-Mail senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov

All Senators contact information HERE.

Again, it would be very helpful if you contacted Governor Abercrombie’s office and tell him that while you support his “New Day Plan” to “Increase local food production and consumption”, allowing commercialization and tourism on ag lands will do just the opposite. Tell him you are opposed to any version of SB 2341 and SB 2375.