Maui County, HI Supporting a Moratorium on Genetically-Engineered Taro

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 4/4/08
Vote: Unanimous (1 absence)
Source File: http://www.mauicounty.gov/documents/County%20Clerks/Resolutions/2008/Reso%2008-031.PDF
Text:
Resolution No. 08-31
URGING SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL NO. 958, RELATING TO GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 958, currently pending before the Hawaii State
Legislature, will impose a ten-year moratorium on developing, testing, propagating,
cultivating, growing, and raising genetically-engineered taro in the State; and
WHEREAS, kalo, the Hawaiian word for taro, is a culturally significant plant to
the kanaka maoli, Hawaii's indigenous peoples; and
WHEREAS, kalo is an integral part of the Native Hawaiian culture and represents
Haloa, the elder brother of man, and genetically altering the structure of the taro plant
represents a defilement of the genealogical link between the two; and
WHEREAS, today, there remain approximately 85 varieties of kalo out of the
hundreds that were known in Hawaii and, of these, the majority, approximately 69
varieties, are unique to the Hawaiian islands due to the horticultural skills of native
Hawaiian farmers; and
WHEREAS, farmers, Hawaiian groups, and private individuals have expressed
their concerns that genetically-modified tam will destroy the genetic strains of native taro
species, and is disrespectful of the cultural foundation taro holds for Native Hawaiians
and their religious practices; and
WHEREAS, kalo is a healthy and nutritious staple in the diets of many residents
throughout the State of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, the important cultural relationship between kalo and the kanaka
maoli expresses the spiritual and physical well-being of not only the kanaka maoli and
their heritage, but also symbolizes the environmental, social, and cultural values
important to the State of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, kalo continues to have tremendous agricultural, cultural, and
traditional significance to the residents of our County and State; and
WHEREAS, cross-pollination of genetically-modified kalo would place an
immeasurable threat on traditional varieties; and
WHEREAS, the amount of usable land for raising kalo is scarce in the County of
Maui, and any negative impact would devastate the kalo industry in the County of Maui;
and
WHEREAS, experimenting with the genetic engineering of this crop, without
thoroughly examining and evaluating the adverse effects of that process, is careless and
could have far-reaching, irreversible, and unintended consequences; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of Senate Bill No. 958 is to recognize the importance of
kalo in the heritage of the State, by creating a ten-year moratorium on developing,
testing, propagating, cultivating, growing, and raising of genetically-engineered kalo in
the State of Hawaii; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the County of Maui:
1. That it hereby urges support of Senate Bill No. 958, which will protect the
biological lifeblood of the State from irreparable harm; and
2. That certified copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Honorable
Charmaine Tavares, Mayor, County of Maui; the Honorable Linda Lingle,
Governor, State of Hawaii; the State House of Representatives; the State
Senate; Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Director, State Department of Agriculture;
Andrew Hashimoto, Dean, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
Resources (CTAHR), University of Hawaii at Manoa; Harold Keyser,
CTAHR, Maui Community College; Penny Levin; Steven Hookano;
Pauahi Hookano; Victor Pellegrino; and Walter Ritte.
Category:County Governments
Category:Genetic Engineering
Category:Hawaii
Category:Resolutions