THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	95
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AND THE HAWAII AGRICULTURE RESEARCH CENTER TO REFRAIN FROM DEVELOPING, TESTING, PROPAGATING, CULTIVATING, RAISING, OR GROWING GENETICALLY MODIFIED TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN TARO VARIETIES IN THE STATE OR CONDUCTING ANY TYPE OF RESEARCH THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN TARO VARIETIES.

     WHEREAS, kalo (colocasia esculenta), the Hawaiian word for taro, is a culturally significant plant to the kanaka maoli, Hawaii's indigenous peoples; and

     WHEREAS, kalo provides the kanaka maoli's life-giving sustenance, poi; and

     WHEREAS, over three hundred kalo varieties may have existed at the time of the arrival of European explorers; and

     WHEREAS, today there are approximately seventy varieties of taro, and, of these, the majority are unique to the Hawaiian islands due to the horticultural skills of native Hawaiian farmers; and

     WHEREAS, the important cultural relationship between kalo and the kanaka maoli continues today in the cultivation of kalo and ohana, the Hawaiian word for family; and

     WHEREAS, kalo 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; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the House of Representatives concurring, that the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center are requested to refrain from developing, testing, propagating, cultivating, raising, or growing genetically modified traditional Hawaiian taro varieties in the State or conducting any type of research that would significantly impact traditional Hawaiian taro varieties; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Concurrent Resolution does not include a request to refrain from developing, testing, propagating, cultivating, raising, or growing genetically modified taro of the non-Hawaiian variety, including Chinese taro, in the State; provided that such activities are conducted at an isolated and secure site or laboratory to ensure the prevention of cross-pollination with traditional Hawaiian taro varieties; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ongoing discussions between the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and the Native Hawaiian community regarding the propriety of research or genetic modification of traditional Hawaiian taro varieties continue to occur; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is requested to submit a report to the Legislature, including information regarding discussions with the Native Hawaiian community, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Agriculture, the Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii, and the Director of the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

Report Title: 

Kalo; Genetically Modified Organisms