Bill Text: HI SB662 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 662

Amended

Bill Title: Relating To Capital Improvement Projects For The Benefit Of The Honalo Marshalling Yard.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB662 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB662-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	662
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HONALO MARSHALLING YARD.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Honalo marshalling yard in Kona, Hawaii, was built more than twenty-five years ago, but was not utilized at its full capacity until the Hawaii �Ulu Cooperative began its operations at the facility in 2017. The cooperative has grown to sixty-five local farm members, serving public schools, hospitals, hotels, and restaurants statewide. However, the facility's existing equipment and infrastructure do not support the projected production of ten thousand pounds per day, or two million pounds per year, of ulu and other co-crops.

Cooperatives are needed to help achieve the State's ambitious goals for expanded local food production and agricultural development because Hawaii's farming community is dominated by small-scale operators, where ninety-five per cent of farmers generate less than $250,000 per year. These operators must work together to realize economies of scale and meet local food demand with export market potential. Only by pooling resources and leveraging collective capabilities will the State meet its goals, such as the Aloha+ Challenge. While farmers continue to improve the State's self-sufficiency for certain food groups like fruit and beef, the State remains dependent on imports of whole grains or starches like rice, wheat, and potatoes. Ulu, also known as breadfruit, has the unique potential to help reverse this scenario. It is among the most sustainable staple foods globally because it grows on a perennial tree, which eliminates the need for annual tilling and replanting. Ulu also provides other ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and soil and water retention. Moreover, ulu is a prolific producer with average yields of three hundred pounds per tree per year and requires far less fertilizer and pesticides than comparable staple crops. In addition, it is a culturally appropriate food and historically played an important role in Hawaii's food sovereignty. It is also nutritious, gluten-free, low glycemic, and a complete protein food, making it increasingly compelling in the national and international food market as a high-value density export crop.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to accommodate the increased production of ulu and other co-crops processed at the Honalo marshalling yard.

SECTION 2. The following sums, or so much thereof as shall be sufficient to finance the projects listed in this Act, are hereby appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii for fiscal year 2023-2024:

1. Honalo Marshalling Yard, Hawaii

A. Plans, design, and equipment and appurtenances.

Plans $

Design $

Equipment $

Total funding $

The sums appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

Report Title:

Capital Improvement Project; Honalo Marshalling Yard; Department of Agriculture; Ulu Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for a capital improvement project for the Honalo Marshalling Yard. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.