STAND. COM. REP. NO. 142

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 228

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 228 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, AND CONSERVATION OF ‘ULU,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation for the research, development, and marketing of ‘ulu, or breadfruit.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawai‘i System, Hawaii Ulu Producers Cooperative, Breadfruit Institute at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Aina Ho‘okupu o Kilauea, Farm Lovers Farmers Markets, The Kilauea Bakery & Pau Hana Pizza, and twenty-eight individuals.

     Your Committees find that breadfruit, or ‘ulu, is a traditional Hawaiian crop with unrecognized potential as an agricultural commodity.  It is rich in nutritional content, can be easily grown in Hawaii, and can be used to create gluten-free products.  Your Committees find that supporting development of an ‘ulu industry will help revive the harvesting of ‘ulu and create a valuable commercial crop that will increase food security and self-sufficiency in Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 228 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair