Posts: 703
Threads: 15
Joined: Jun 2013
(H. Tribune)
"Lori Farrell, administrator with Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United, said as many as two-thirds of papaya farmers on the island could be impacted. While government programs offer low-interest loans and some grants to farmers affected by natural disasters, they also need land to stay in business, she said..........................
“If we do not open up more land, we got nowhere to put these guys,” she said."
response from our State:
"Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, deputy director for the state Department of Agriculture, said agricultural parks on the island are mostly full with tenants.
Money for a feasibility study to develop an ag park between Hawaiian Beaches and Hawaiian Paradise Park was released last year, but that she said that could take a couple years to complete. "
Perception;
news conferences suggest our elected officials want to help our displaced farmers and are working on solutions
Reality
Existing ag parks are mostly full.
On the proposed ag park between Beaches and HPP , a feasibility study is required, money was released for the study last year, appearantly no one has asked to commence the study nor does it appear that it will even be fast tracked.
Posts: 14,121
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
a feasibility study to develop an ag park between Hawaiian Beaches and Hawaiian Paradise Park
Ruderman seems to think it's feasible on this very parcel. How ironic that the need was already identified before the emergency.
Sounds like the State can drag this out until it's no longer relevant. It would be nice to see them do otherwise, for once.
Posts: 703
Threads: 15
Joined: Jun 2013
"Ruderman seems to think it's feasible on this very parcel. How ironic that the need was already identified before the emergency."
------------------------------------------------
maybe not so much irony as it was when introduced and still is a good proposal for future land use in his district ..
Unfortunately, our displaced farmers need more than a good idea right now, they need land. our State Rep.s don't seem to be too interested in actually implementing any solution, creative or otherwise. (a couple years to complete the feasibility study....how pathetic)
Posts: 4,256
Threads: 96
Joined: Mar 2014
Papaya need a feasibility study?
D9 or D10. Rip and crush. Plant papaya.
They have been doing this for years in Puna.
Posts: 7,743
Threads: 686
Joined: Jun 2011
The state hasn't figured out how to deal with the displaced AG workers from the Maui sugar mill closing. And that wasn't even a natural disaster.
It's not a matter of the state/county having to do anything. It's a matter of them getting out of the way. Like LD said, papaya will grow anywhere.
How's that Hawaii industrial hemp study going? Less study and more hemp growing. The free market has known what to do for thousands of years.
eta: formatting, less maybe, more cowbell
Posts: 14,121
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
Maybe a matter of them getting out of the way.
Not even "maybe". Unfortunately our fossilized government is deathly afraid they will somehow lose control. Far better to mismanage the situation until people give up and move away. We don't need to actually produce anything, tourism will pay the bills.
Posts: 7,743
Threads: 686
Joined: Jun 2011
You are so right- I modified my post and removed "maybe" from it. No change in my original sentiment, more about accurate semantics.
Posts: 997
Threads: 50
Joined: Aug 2012
@ kalakoa Unfortunately our fossilized government is deathly afraid they will somehow lose control.
bold by me...How much control does a gov. have to lose before it's recognizable to the citizen that in fact the gov has somehow lost control? please consider recent Puna event
Posts: 703
Threads: 15
Joined: Jun 2013
"Not even "maybe". Unfortunately our fossilized government is deathly afraid they will somehow lose control. Far better to mismanage the situation until people give up and move away..."
----------------------------------------------------------------
This is most likely what will happen if farmers aren't vocal and have no support. It is exactly what I hope does not happen. I love the rural of Puna . The affordable of Puna .
Not much left in Hawaii compared to when my boat first landed. Seems that more money, more money is all that matters, and yet more money is never enough! I remember when the Japanese discovered Oahu. For them, at the time, it was a very smart investment. They started buying up Kahala , Waikiki. Taxes soared . Many could not afford the tax hikes and sold...to more Japanese. I remember in my stupidity believing that this financial windfall to Honolulu would provide more services and infrastructure to the residents....WRONG. They enlarged the Government. Aside from that nothing much changed. Now, Honolulu cost of living is off the chart for most, it is broke, the rail is a disgrace & pensions are a ticking time bomb.
Our farmers produce for export and us. I appreciate my fresh vegetables, fresh flowers It is part of my cherished lifestyle . not a smart move to watch them go.
To pad the cost of farming with over the top feasibility studies is just gross.
To believe in the myth that big business marijuana growing or expanded tourism will some way protect our life style is something I can not see.
Posts: 14,121
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
expanded tourism will some way protect our life style
...but losing B&B/retreat capacity definitely won't help.
