STAND. COM. REP. NO.  573

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1663

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1663 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO SECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect traditional varieties of taro in Hawaii by banning the development, testing, propagation, releasing, importation, planting, and growing of genetically modified taro in the State of Hawaii.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, KAHEA-The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Waikiki Hawaiian Civic Club, Hawaii SEED, Hawaiian Political Action Council of Hawaii, ‘Imi Hale-Native Hawaiian Cancer Network, Papa Ola Lokahi, Kipahulu ‘Ohana, GMO Free Kauai, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and Hawaii Crop Improvement Association testified in opposition to this measure.

     Taro has long been held as a culturally significant plant by the kanaka maoli, or indigenous people of Hawaii.  Not only has taro served as an important food source for the people of Hawaii but this plant has also had genealogical, spiritual, and cultural links to native Hawaiians which continues to this day.  Your Committee finds that protecting this important plant deserves further consideration.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1663 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

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

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair