STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2648

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2499

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2499 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make kalo the official plant of the State of Hawaii.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaiian Political Action Council of Hawaii and one individual.

     Taro or "Kalo" has been cultivated in Hawaii since the arrival of Kanaka Maoli and continues to be cultivated today in Hawaii as it was in the past.  It is believed to have the greatest life force of all foods, supporting the relationship of ‘ohana (family) and of appreciation with the ‘aumakua (ancestors).  Your Committee finds that Act 36, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, made kalo the official state plant of the State of Hawaii effective January 1, 2025.  This measure amends Act 36 to make it effective as of July 1, 2008.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2499 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair