Friends, on Monday we have a wonderful opportunity to encourage the Legislature to take a stand against monster developments that threaten the two most productive food farms in the state - Ho‘opili and Koa Ridge. So I am appealing to you for your support. If these resolutions pass they could have a major impact on the debate.

At 10:20 am in Conference Room 312, a joint hearing of the House Agriculture Committee and the House Committee on Water and Land will hear testimony on a resolution -HCR 72- that would serve as a clarion call from our two statewide elected bodies calling on DR Horton to preserve Ho‘opili forever in agriculture.

At 3:30pm in Conference Room 16 the Senate Committee on Water & Land and the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental & Military Affairs will hold a joint hearing on a resolution –SCR 178- that would provide ringing endorsement from our Senators and Representatives for the idea that the state and the city should work together to swap the proposed development at Koa Ridge for access to a development project in the urban core, so Koa Ridge can remain a food farm forever.

Please consider coming to testify in person. But if you can’t, please send testimony. Use your own words. Politely ask your Representative and your Senator to act. You don’t need to say much. But you could note that we have lost 50% of our best farmland since statehood, that we rely on imports for more than 90% of our food, that Ho‘opili produces at least 25% of the food we grow in Hawai‘i, and that Koa Ridge produces at least 15% of the food we grow in Hawai‘i.

Here’s the place to send testimony for the House hearing on Ho‘opili.

And here’s the place to send testimony for the Senate hearing on Koa Ridge – the direct link doesn’t work so when you get to this page, click on the “Submit Testimony” button.

Thanks for all you do.

Aloha

Anthony

David Murdock -the sole proprietor of Castle & Cooke and one of the richest men on the planet- wants to build 3500 suburban homes and half a million square feet of commercial space on the 768 acres at Koa Ridge near Mililani which currently constitute the second most productive food-growing farmland in the state.

This development, which is nowhere near the five billion dollar train, would dump 3500 to 7,000 more cars onto H2 and H1. It makes no sense.

Senate Resolution 134 urges the state and the city to do a land swap with Castle & Cooke. In return for access to land in the urban core where it would be appropriate to build housing, the Koa Ridge lands should be preserved in perpetuity to grow food.

If you think this idea makes sense, please send testimony urging passage of SR134 to members of the Senate here:

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SB 19 amends Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 269 to clarify that property owners who install a photovoltaic system or other renewable energy systems on their property can sell power they generate to their tenants without being deemed to be a "public utility" under Chapter 269.  The current law makes it ambiguous if the property owner would be considered a utility subject to strict regulation.  SB 19 in its current form also protects the tenants from being charged a rate that is higher than the utility rate.  The passing of this Bill will result in a greater adoption of renewable energy, tenants now being able to benefit from it, and Hawaii moving closer to its renewable energy goals.

The Bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce Monday, March 25, 2013 3:00pm in House Conference room 325.  Please testify in support of this measure in person or online here.

Mahalo for your support!

A Call to Action! Help Support Bill 72 to Ban Smoking from Waikiki Beaches!

Apologies for the late notice on tomorrow's hearing on Bill 72. You can still submit email testimony here, or testify in person at the hearing tomorrow, Wednesday, March at 10am at Honolulu Hale.

Did you know cigarette butts are one of the most littered items on the beach? While small in size, cigarette butts pose a large environmental problem. It’s estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered each year worldwide. Cigarette filters trap chemicals and when submerged in water the chemicals leach into ecosystems, threatening the water quality and aquatic life. Wildlife can mistake cigarette butts as food. Many people incorrectly believe cigarette butts are made of biodegradable cotton. In fact, cigarette contains cellulose acetate, a form of plastic, which slowly breaks down, but never fully decomposes. Secondhand smoke is a human health hazard.

The final hearing for Bill 72 will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 10 am at Honolulu Hale. This bill will ban smoking on staffed County beaches from Ala Moana to Sandys. This bill complements Surfrider Foundation's  “Hold On To Your Butts” campaign, as beaches that have banned smoking have also seen a drastic reduction in the number of butts littering the sand in other states such as California.

Address your testimony to the Honolulu City Council and note that it is in SUPPORT OF BILL 72, and be sure to include your name and address/phone. A few talking points:

· Cigarette butts are toxic and pose a threat to environmental and public health.

· Our beaches should be clean and safe for residents and tourists to enjoy.

For more information about the hearing please see:

http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-135667/032013%20Council%20Agenda.htm