STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1345

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.C.R. No. 244

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 244 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ENFORCE THE FEDERAL TRADEMARK FOR KONA COFFEE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to enforce the federal trademark for Kona coffee.

     The Kona Coffee Farmers Association, Hawaii Coffee Association, Captain Cook Coffee Company, and a concerned individual supported this measure.  DOA supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that enforcement, rather than vigilant enforcement, of the Kona coffee trademark is needed to prevent the sale or distribution of counterfeit coffee labeled as Kona coffee.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 244, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 244, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair