STAND. COM. REP. NO. 781

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 865

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 865, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support local coffee farmers and agricultural activities in the Kona area.

Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys to establish a permanent educational support associate position within the Kona Cooperative Extension of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Konaloha Farms, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, Bea's Knees Farm, Hawaii Coffee Growers Association, Heavenly Hawaiian Farms, Rusty's Hawaiian, Kuaiwi Farm, Kau Coffee Growers Cooperative, Island Harvest Inc., Kai Ikena Orchards, Puna Chocolate, Hawaii Coffee Association, Hawaii Food+ Policy, and thirty individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Kona Cooperative Extension houses the Kona Research Station, which provides crucial support for local coffee farmers statewide, including projects relating to coffee leaf rust and coffee berry borer mitigation. Your Committee further finds that the permanent educational support associate position established by this measure will support this important work and enable the prioritization of research and community outreach projects throughout the State.

Your Committee notes the testimony of the University of Hawaii, which stated that, instead of establishing an administrative, professional, and technical staff position, it would be more advantageous to establish an extension agent position that focuses on coffee and other orchard crops with export potential such as macadamia nuts, cacao, and tea, to meet the needs of these crop growers in the region and statewide.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 865, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair