STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1217

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 890

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 890, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESS REGULATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require any products labeled, marketed, or sold as "poi" to contain a label stating whether the product is made wholly from ingredients grown in the State or from ingredients sourced outside the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Kakoʻo Oiwi; Ko‘olau Foundation; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that poi is a fundamental part of Native Hawaiian culture, with deep historical and spiritual significance tied to kalo, or taro. Mislabeling products as "poi" when they are not entirely made from locally grown kalo misleads consumers, undermines cultural traditions, and threatens the livelihoods of Hawaii's kalo farmers. This measure preserves the authenticity of poi products in the State and ensures transparency in food labeling.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that any products labeled, marketed, or sold as "poi" are required to contain a label stating whether the product is made wholly from kalo grown in the State or from kalo sourced outside the State;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 890, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 890, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair