Navy's responses to leak at Red Hill fuel frustration (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Read the article on staradvertiser.com.

Hawai‘i Legislature Passes Key Measures Supported by Environmental Caucus (Maui Now)

Read the article on mauinow.com.

Hawaii to Become Sixth State to End Cosmetic Animal Testing (Veg News)

Read the article on vegnews.com.

'Climate emergency': Hawaii is the first state to call it like it is (Grist)

Read the article on grist.org.

Hawaii to become the first state to declare climate emergency (The Hill)

Read the article on thehill.com.

'Fake Farms' Are Squeezing Out Serious Agriculture Potential In Hawaii (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Read the article on civilbeat.org.

Why Hawaii's seawalls are doing more harm than good (Grist)

Read the article on grist.org.

Resolution calls for working group to plan Keahole ag park (West Hawaii Today)

Read the article on westhawaiitoday.com.

Sunscreens like Neutrogena and L'Oreal 'may cause CANCER if they're left on shelf for too long,' study finds (The Sun)

Read the article on thesun.co.uk.

As rising seas invade Waikiki resorts, state proposes adding more groins (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Read the article on staradvertiser.com.

Chad Blair: A Lawmaker, A Bill And A Shark Named Laverne (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Read the column on civilbeat.org.

Hawaii Lawmaker Wants Report On Military Seawall at Ewa Beach (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Read the article on civilbeat.org.

Senate Panel Kills Beef Bill (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Read the article on civilbeat.org.

Lawmakers Must Fix The Agribusiness Development Corporation (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Read the editorial on civilbeat.org.

Worker Co-ops Can Lead The Way To A Healthier And More Just Economy (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Read the column on civilbeat.org.

Senate and House Committees to Hold Informational Briefing on Invasive Species

The Senate Committees on Agriculture & Environment, Water & Land and the House Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection, Agriculture and Water & Land will hold a joint informational briefing to receive an update on the state's efforts to address threats posed by invasive species and to learn more about what challenges are expected amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The briefing will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021 at 1:00pm via Zoom.

The committees will be meeting with the following agencies:

•	Department of Agriculture
•	Department of Land and Natural Resources
•	University of Hawai‘i – College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

Because the building is closed to the public during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the briefing will be streamed online on the Senate YouTube Channel.

To view the informational briefing notice:
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2021/hearingnotices/HEARING_AEN-WTL-EEP-AGR-WAL_01-25-21_INFO_.HTM

For further information, please call the committee clerk at 808-586-6693.

View the press release

This Kauai Nonprofit Is Trying To Change How People Buy Their Food (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Read the article on civilbeat.org.

Legislature passes bill to legalize industrial hemp

Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, applauded the final passage of a bill in the House of Representatives today to legalize the growing, processing, and sale of industrial hemp in Hawai‘i.

It passed the Senate on Wednesday unanimously, with Senators Les Ihara, Clarence K. Nishihara, and Laura H. Thielen expressing reservations.

The bill now goes to Governor David Ige to sign into law.

"This commercial hemp program will help grow a new industry in our state, which is especially needed now due to the impacts of COVID-19," said Senator Gabbard. "This bill will provide an opportunity for economic development and the diversification of our economy. Hemp is an incredible plant that produces over 25,000 products and we're very close to making the Hawaiian Hemp brand a reality, not only in the U.S. but globally as well."

The bill (HB1819 HD2 SD3), was championed by Senators Gabbard, Donovan Dela Cruz, Rosalyn H. Baker, Karl Rhoads, and Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, and Representatives Mark M. Nakashima, Sylvia J. Luke, Nadine K. Nakamura, Kyle T. Yamashita, Richard P. Creagan, Chris Lee, and House Speaker Scott K. Saiki.

Another hemp bill, Senate Bill 1353, was vetoed by Governor Ige last year, after he expressed concerns that it was unenforceable. This year's version was worked on directly with the Governor's administration to ensure its enactment.

"Instead of using state funds to set up a hemp agency, this bill was amended to save half-a-million dollars by allowing local hemp farmers to apply directly to the USDA to get their licenses," said Senator Gabbard. An older version of the bill would have appropriated $522,000 for five positions for the State-run hemp program and data tracking/administrative costs.

The bill was also amended to change the size of buffer zones after committees received testimony about the impacts buffer zones would have on existing hemp farmers, and concerns related to noise, smells, and excessive lighting from neighbors of an existing hemp farm in Kula.

"We balanced these concerns by exempting the 50 Hawai‘i hemp farmers who have licenses under the existing pilot program, and instituted 500-foot buffer zones for any new hemp farms around residences, playgrounds, childcare facilities, and schools," said Senator Gabbard.

View the press release

Column: Hawaii needs robust plan to feed residents (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Read the column on staradvertiser.com.

Victory (Lanakila) Gardens: A Way To Thrive During A Crisis (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Read the article on civilbeat.org.

New Rules Would Protect Farm Animals Transported by Sea in Hawaii (Animal Welfare Institute)

Read the press release on awionline.org.

Red Hill fuel storage deadline in doubt (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Read the article on staradvertiser.com.

Proposal tightens rules on sunscreen ingredients (KHON2)

Read the article on khon2.com.

Companion bills would ban potentially harmful sunscreens (KITV4)

Read the article on kitv.com.

Hawaii bills would ban more sunscreens in the isles (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Read the article on staradvertiser.com.

Hawaii Legislators introduce bipartisan bill to ban sunscreens containing ingredients not considered "Safe and Effective" by the FDA

Builds on 2018 reef-safe law to include human health concerns raised in recent FDA studies

Members of the Hawai‘i State Senate and House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan bill to ban all sunscreen SPF products that are not "General Recognized as Safe and Effective" by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

In the Senate, SB2278 was introduced by Senators Mike Gabbard, Gil Riviere, Russell Ruderman, Sharon Moriwaki, and Clarence Nishihara. In the House, HB2248 was introduced by Representatives Gene Ward, Rida Cabanilla Arakawa, Chris Lee, Amy Perruso, David Tarnas, Chris Todd, Tom Brower, Lynn DeCoite, and Dee Morikawa.

This legislation builds upon the 2018 law in which Hawaii banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. The 2018 law reduced the impact of sunscreen pollution to Hawai‘i's coral reefs. Oxybenzone and octinoxate were demonstrated to contaminate much of Hawaii's coastline at concentrations that are poisonous to coral, fish, sea urchins and algae, as well as marine mammals and sea turtles. Other countries and jurisdictions followed Hawai‘i's example, implementing their own bans, including Palau, Aruba, Bonaire, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Marshall Islands, and the city of Key West.

"The World Health Organization has stated that chemicals, like sunscreens which the FDA lists as NOT safe for human use, pose a health risk to all living things that have endocrine receptors that regulate hormones," stated Rep. Ward. "This includes corals and fish, and humans, especially pregnant women.

"This bipartisan bill improves the health of Hawai‘i's residents and its over 10 million visitors a year," he said, "as well as all of our treasured marine life."

This new bill is intended to address concerns about certain sunscreen ingredients on human health. Recent FDA studies have demonstrated potential negative health effects of a number of other ingredients that are still allowed in Hawai‘i.

"Hawai‘i made history in 2018 when we were the first in the world to take action to help protect our coral reefs by creating a law to ban the dangerous chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, from sunscreens," said Sen. Gabbard. "With SB 2778/HB 2248, we're taking the next step to protect human health by prohibiting other sunscreen chemicals that the FDA doesn't consider to be safe."

On January 21, 2020, Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said, "To support sunscreen safety, the FDA tested whether various sunscreen ingredients can be absorbed through the skin into the body. Results from our study released today show there is evidence that some sunscreen active ingredients may be absorbed." She called for further research to determine the health effects. FDA news release (January 21, 2020): FDA announces results from second sunscreen absorption study

According to WebMD, "Previous research has shown that some of the ingredients in the FDA study can disrupt hormones and may lead to fertility problems, poor birth outcomes for babies, and perhaps cancer." WebMD (January 21, 2020): FDA Sunscreen Report Raises Concern Over Chemicals

Under this legislation, only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sunscreens would be allowed to be sold in Hawai‘i, as these are the only two ingredients that are "General Recognized as Safe and Effective" by the FDA.

Fourteen other ingredients would be banned. PABA and Trolamine were determined to be NOT safe for over-the-counter use. Twelve other ingredients the FDA said there was not enough data to determine if the health risks of being exposed to these drugs outweigh the benefits, or whether these drugs are actually effective in reducing UV-exposure. This includes oxybenzone and octinoxate which were banned in 2018, and homosalate, avobenzone, and octocrylene which are currently allowed to be sold in Hawai‘i.

CNN (January 21, 2020): Seven sunscreen chemicals enter bloodstream after one use, FDA says, but don't abandon sun protection

BIPARTISAN BILL TO BAN CERTAIN SUNSCREENS

WHO:	Senator Mike Gabbard and Representative Gene Ward (other legislators who co-sponsored the bill may also appear)
	Other participants will include Lisa Bishop, Friends of Hanauma Bay; Cindi Punihaole, Executive Director of the Kohala Center's Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center; Mendy Dant, Executive Vice President, Fair Wind Cruises Kona Sunrise Charters; members of the Kaiser High School Wipeout Crew, and Joe DiNardo, Research Scientists Emeritus and retired toxicologist
WHAT:	Discussion of bipartisan bill to ban all sunscreen SPF products that are not "Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective" by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
WHEN:	2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020
WHERE:	To be determined after meeting with Park at 2 p.m.

This legislation builds upon the 2018 law in which Hawai‘i banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, which will go into effect on January 1, 2021.
This new bill is intended to address concerns about certain sunscreen ingredients on human health. Recent FDA studies have demonstrated potential negative health effects of a number of other ingredients that are still allowed in Hawai‘i.
Under this legislation, only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sunscreens would be allowed to be sold in Hawai‘i, as these are the only two ingredients that are "Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective" by the FDA.

Interagency task force provides update on fight to eradicate invasive species (KITV4)

Read the article on kitv.com.

Legislature to hold biosecurity briefing

State agencies will outline efforts to prevent invasive species from entering Hawai‘i

PHOTO OP: Department of Agriculture will display live invasive species specimens outside of the hearing room

The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, Chaired by Senator Mike Gabbard, the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, Chaired by Representative Nicole E. Lowen, and the House Committee on Agriculture, Chaired by Representative Richard P. Creagan, will hold a joint informational briefing to get an update on Hawai‘i's Interagency Biosecurity Plan.

The briefing will take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. in Hawai‘i State Capitol conference room 229. The Department of Agriculture will be setting up tables outside the hearing with live invasive species specimens.

The hearing will be televised live on ‘Olelo channel 49, and will be aired via tape delay on the neighbor islands. The hearing can also be watched live online at https://olelo.org/49

Link to the Biosecurity Plan: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/biosecurityplan/

Presentations will be made by:

•	Hawai‘‘i Invasive Species Council
•	Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife and Division of Aquatic Resources
•	Department of Agriculture
•	Department of Health, Vector Control Branch
•	University of Hawai‘‘i, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
•	Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Office of Planning
•	Department of Transportation

Environmental Caucus Tackles Climate Change, Clean Energy (Maui Now)

Read the article on mauinow.com.

Mandatory Report On Hawaii Trash Disposal Hasn’t Been Filed In 4 Years (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Read the article on civilbeat.org.

World Reef Day 2019 Launches in Waikīkī (Big Island Now)

Read the article on bigislandnow.com.

Mazie Hirono and Tulsi Gabbard call for study on impacts of sunscreen on health, environment (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Read the article on staradvertiser.com.

Gabbard introduces sunscreen legislation in U.S. House (West Hawaii Today)

Read the article on westhawaiitoday.com.

Hawaii Ag Department Likely To Get Hemp Program (Civil Beat)

Read the article on civilbeat.org.

Coffee labeling bill gutted, deferred (West Hawaii Today)

Read the article on westhawaiitoday.com.

War on plastics: Hawaii, New Jersey propose toughest bans in the country (Fox News)

Read the article on foxnews.com.

Hawaii Politicians Introduce Aggressive Bans On Most Restaurant Plastics (The Inertia)

Read the article on theinertia.com.

Hawaii bills push 1st state ban on plastics in restaurants (The Associated Press)

Read the article on wtop.com.

Hawaii could become the first state to ban most plastics at restaurants (CNN Wire)

Read the article on wgno.com.

Hawaii legislators contemplate strict plastics ban (Restaurant Dive)

This is an excerpt of an article originally published by Restaurant Dive; click here to read the article on restaurantdive.com.

By Alicia Kelso

Published March 21, 2019

That Hawaii would lead the way on this issue is no surprise — the state has mandated renewable energy use and prohibited sunscreen ingredients that harm coral. Because of this, activists think there is a chance for at least one of these measures to pass, according to the Associated Press.

It's no secret that the planet has a major plastics problem. About 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year, according to The Guardian. At this pace, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation predicts there will be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050. Hawaii State Senator Mike Gabbard told fellow state legislators that that 95% of plastic packaging is thrown out after use, while 500 million plastic straws are trashed every day in the U.S. Hawaii especially has a big dog in the fight — Kamilo Point on the Big Island, for example, is located on the path of the North Pacific Gyre — a rotating ocean current that draws trash from across the Pacific Ocean. Accordingly, Kamilo Beach has earned the nickname "Plastic Beach."

Read more

Local coffee: Boosting blends to 51 percent? (KHON2)

This is a repost of an article originally published by KHON2; click here to read the article on khon2.com.

By Erika Engle

Posted: Mar 21, 2019 10:11 PM HST
Updated: Mar 21, 2019 10:11 PM HST

Under the coffee labeling bill moving through the legislature, there could be a dramatic increase in the amount of local coffee in the blends you drink at restaurants and buy at the store.

But to the dismay of coffee farmers, that change won't come soon enough.

Bags of coffee that are 10-percent blends of island-grown coffee are on sale just about every week at retail stores around the islands, often for around $4 a bag.

That percentage would jump to 51 percent under a bill proposed by the Kona Coffee Farmers Association.

Amendments now call for a study of the economic impacts, rather than the requested change.

Senator Mike Gabbard, chairman of the Agriculture Committee, made the decision.

"I really think the fairest thing to do is number one, have UH do the research on it, the economic impacts; number two, have the task force made up of coffee growers, all the different groups, see if we can come to some sort of consensus."

Suzanne Shriner, third-generation coffee farmer and president of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, says all the island growers associations are disappointed.

"We think it's a travesty that this bill was gutted this way by Senator Gabbard, and the Senate."

She says with the 10-percent blends, 90 percent of the price goes to the large blending companies, that have parent companies on the mainland.

"There's a lot of mainland money here trying to make money off of our brands and off the farmers' backs. And the purpose of this bill is to put more money into our growers, into our local community that stays here, rather than have it leave island, like so much of our money does. We'd like to see it stay here."

Jim Lenhart, vice president of sales and service for Hawaii Coffee Co., says if the minimum percentage goes up, so will prices.

"There's no doubt there would be an increase, not only in the bags of coffee that are sold on the shelf, at stores, but also for all of the foodservice operators around the state."

He also says there may not be enough local coffee to go around.

"Quite frankly at 51-percent content, there wouldn't be enough crop to take care of our company."

Shriner, of Kona, says coffee farmers lose money overall on blends, and encourages consumers and restaurants to choose 100-percent island coffees -- that they'll taste the difference.

The coffee labeling bill moves forward to another hearing -- and public testimony is welcomed.

Resolution rejects Navy plan for fuel tanks (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Read the article on staradvertiser.com.

Lawmakers push for more dairy farms after delivery delay causes shortage (KITV)

A shortage of milk in stores across the state this week has local lawmakers concerned about the amount of imported food Hawaii relies on and what would happen if those imports stopped coming in.

This is a repost of an article originally published by KITV; click here to read the article on kitv.com.

Wednesday, March 6th 2019, 6:03 PM HST by Mika Miyashima

A shortage of milk in stores across the state this week has local lawmakers concerned about the amount of imported food Hawaii relies on and what would happen if those imports stopped coming in.

Hawaii doesn't have many dairy farms anymore, and now State Senator Mike Gabbard is pushing to change that trend with more farms in Hawaii.

"We have two dairies left on the Big Island. One's closing down so that makes one dairy left for the entire state. We had 88 dairies in 1988. So yeah, it's a huge issue," explained Gabbard.

Those two dairies, Big Island Diary and Cloverleaf Dairy, will soon be dwindling to one, ]as Big Island Dairy will cease operations at the end of April.

Senator Gabbard says encouraging more dairy farms is among one of his top priorities this legislative session. That concern, becoming even more pressing after a combination of bad weather and mechanical issues on two of Matson's cargo ships caused delivery delays that left store shelves empty.

Senator Gabbard says local food production is necessary for the state's sustainability. This week's shortage was a taste of what could come if Hawaii can't receive shipments from the mainland.

"When you're importing 85 to 90% of our food and spending $3-billion a year, and when you have all of this land, we need to be doing this. The bigger issue is, we need more farmers," said Gabbard.

Gabbard says, it's not just a dairy shortage, but fresh produce as well.

"The reality is the distributors should have at least 10 days backlog of milk in case something like this happens. Shipping problems due to weather, mechanical problems whatever it might be. Should have that 10 day backlog there so that people aren't faced with these shortages," said Gabbard.

Gabbard says the average age of a farmer is 64. He hopes to encourage the younger generation to get into the farming profession.

Governor David Ige also saying in a statement:
"We know that shipping disruptions could have a serious impact on Hawai‘i. Our reliance on imported foods is a concern and one of the reasons I've focused on doubling local food production."

Plastic Bottle Ban could become reality for Hawaii by 2022 (KITV)

Senators on the Ways and Means and Judiciary Committees voted to pass SB522 Tuesday.

This is a repost of an article originally published by KITV; click here to read the article on kitv.com.

Tuesday, February 26th 2019, 1:46 PM HST by Brenton Awa

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit restaurants, bars, and businesses from selling single use plastic bottles in Hawaii by July 1, 2022.

The measure would also prohibit the sale of single use plastic utensils, stirring sticks, polystyrene containers, and straws.

"Times have changed," said Senator Mike Gabbard, introducer of SB522. "Plastics have served us ever since they were invented in terms of convenience but convenience is not everything. When you live in paradise the amount of debris that's being washed up on our beaches, the amount of trash that's all throughout our community, we need to do something about it and that's what this bill does."

Senators on the Ways and Means and Judiciary Committees voted to pass SB522 Tuesday.

The measure is now a full Senate vote away from crossing over to the House.

Statewide styrofoam ban advances (KHON)

This is a repost of an article originally published by KHON; click here to read the article on khon2.com.

By Erika Engle

Posted: Feb 06, 2019 10:15 PM HST
Updated: Feb 07, 2019 08:28 AM HST

Maui County did it. Hawaii island is going to do it.

Many people want to know -- when will a ban on styrofoam containers go statewide?

A bill to ban styrofoam containers for take-out food -- STATEWIDE -- cleared a hurdle at the Capitol and is on its way forward.

Introduced by Senator Mike Gabbard, the bill was approved for further action with no amendments.

Gabbard first introduced this sort of bill in 2013, but given Maui's ban that took effect at the end of December, and the coming ban on Hawaii island, Gabbard is encouraged.

"The awareness has grown tremendously. When you live in paradise, you want to keep it paradise. As this awareness has increased, I think that this might be the year."

More and more Hawaii restaurants are opting out of styrofoam and single-use plastics in efforts to become more environmentally conscious.

More than 200 Hawaii restaurants have eliminated styrofoam containers and made additional changes to be certified as Ocean Friendly Restaurants by the Surfrider Foundation. The movement started in Hawaii and now is spreading across the mainland.

The commitment by those restaurants also increased their costs.

Many sustainable, biodegradable and compostable alternatives are available at ChefZone, a food-service wholesale division of Y. Hata & Company and Manager Christine Hoek says they are all the rage, among restaurants that can afford them.

"At minimum you're looking to spend at least twice as much for the biodegradable than the styrofoam option. Sometimes some of the selections are three times as much."

However, many of their customers are mom-and-pops, or other small businesses, with limited budgets.

"Really you're talking about the small business owner that's buying one case a week or a month, has no room to store it, necessarily, at their facilities, so granted, I mean, it's something that will definitely hit them in their pocketbooks and they're concerned."

Still Gabbard and bill supporters are pushing forward. He says, "I want Hawaii to be the first state in the country to say, 'okay, we're done.'"

We will continue to follow the bill -- and will keep you posted.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES TO RECEIVE UPDATE ON INTERAGENCY BIOSECURITY PLAN

The Senate Committee on Agriculture & Environment, along with the House Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection, will receive a multi-agency briefing on the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan.

WHO:	Senate Committee on Agriculture and the Environment
	House Committee on Agriculture
	House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection
WHAT:	Update on the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan
WHEN:	Friday, January 25, 2019
	9:30 a.m.
WHERE:	Conference Room 309, State Capitol
	415 South Beretania Street

The State of Hawai‘i released the Hawai‘i Interagency Biosecurity Plan for 2017–2027 on January 10, 2017. This Plan is the state's first interagency, coordinated comprehensive plan to tackle the threats and harms from invasive species.

Presentations will be made by:

•	Hawaii Invasive Species Council
•	Department of Agriculture
•	Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife and Division of
	Aquatic Resources
•	Department of Health, Vector Control Branch
•	University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
•	Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Office of Planning
•	Department of Transportation

The Department of Agriculture's Plant Quarantine Branch will provide examples of invasive species at the briefing.

For more information: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2019/hearingnotices/HEARING_AEN-EEP-AGR_01-25-19_INFO_.HTM

State lawmaker to reintroduce bill to ban plastic straws, Styrofoam containers

Hawaii tried to ban plastic straws and Styrofoam containers, but failed, last year. Senator Mike Gabbard, who introduced the 2018 bill, plans to reintroduce the idea when the Legislature convenes this session. If it passes, the law could cost you, every day.

Originally published by KITV; click here to read the article on kitv.com.

Thursday, January 10th 2019, 5:47 PM HST by Diane Ako

It's estimated some 500 million single-use plastic straws are used in this country every day. Activists say it's bad for the environment, often threatening marine life and adding to the nation's growing landfills.

Hawaii tried to ban plastic straws and Styrofoam containers, but failed, last year. Senator Mike Gabbard, who introduced the 2018 bill, plans to reintroduce the idea when the Legislature convenes this session. If it passes, the law could cost you, every day.

You can get you same cup of joe — now with a side of sustainability — at this Kakaako cafe. Peter Anderson, owner of Morning Brew Coffee & Bistro in Kakaako and Kailua, says of his decision to go 'ocean-friendly' as he calls it, eight months ago, "I think it's critical. We have to do it in this day and age with what's going on globally: climate change, global warming."

Everything from its to-go cups to the containers are compostable, plant based material. Anderson says he's working now to switch over the utensils from plastic to biodegradable PLA (polylactic acid).

It's more expensive. Anderson estimates, "Cup to cup, it's about a ten to 12 cent difference. With take-out containers, which are larger, maybe a little more than that."

Customers we talked to say they are willing to pay the price to help the environment. "I'm willing to, if it's going to help the environment," says patron Anthony Mayorga, while sipping a coffee. "I think most people are willing."

That's what one lawmaker wants to hear. Sen. Mike Gabbard (D-20 Kapolei, Makakilo, Portions of Ewa, Kalaeloa and Waipahu) will introduce a bill to ban single-use plastic straws and Styrofoam containers. "We know what that does to our beaches, our marine life and everything," he says.

Gabbard tried last session, but the bill didn't pass. If it fails again, he wants to raise awareness for alternatives. "For straws, here it is," as he brings one of his briefcase. "Stainless steel straws, get one of these."

The Hawaii Restaurant Association says it currently has no comment on the proposed bill. Last year, the HRA, along with the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Retail Merchants Association, and the American Chemistry Council all testified in hearings against the bill. One suggestion from opponents was have an "opt-in" plan, making diners ask for a straw.

Anderson says he's under the impression his fellow restaurateurs have a positive reaction. "Most restaurants are emotionally 100% on board. Practically, they're maybe 80% on board."

Anderson and other restaurant owners say smaller operations, mom and pop owned shops, will have to spend more green to stay green — and it could prove to be a last straw for their livelihood.

Mike Gabbard joins other lawmakers from coastal states to oppose offshore drilling

Originally published by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

Associated Press | January 8, 2019 Updated January 8, 2019 2:16pm

A group of nine Democratic state lawmakers from different coastal states, including Hawaii, announced today that they are going to use their coming legislative sessions to try to block attempts at offshore drilling.

The lawmakers' announcement came as new and re-elected legislators were entering office around the country after an election that saw high turnover in some states, and the group said it wants to take advantage of new political dynamics that could favor environmental bills. The announcement also came about a year after Trump's administration announced plans to expand drilling.

"It's time to transition away from dirty fossil fuels to renewable energy," said Hawaii state Sen. Mike Gabbard, who said he would introduce a bill to ban oil drilling off Hawaii when the session starts next week.

The state lawmakers, who are affiliated with nonprofit advocacy group National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, said their bills will seek to limit the possibility of drilling off their coasts. State legislatures are limited in what they can do to stop drilling beyond state waters, but the lawmakers said they're showing a united stand against the practice.

"We need to pass permanent legislation in our states so that this ban would be in place for the future," New Hampshire Sen. Martha Fuller Clark said. "We can't afford to rely on Washington to protect us."

Others lawmakers involved in the effort represent Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island. Some of the lawmakers said they would seek outright bans on drilling, while others said they would look to pass bills that restrict it or do more to hold companies liable for spills.

The proposals will likely encounter resistance from the oil and gas industry. The American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, released a statement in response that said: "Closing the door on offshore development could hurt local economies, as well as America's energy security, and is a step in the wrong direction."

The practical impact of some of the bills could be that they make it more difficult for companies that seek to drill to access offshore sites via state waters, members of the group said.

Several states have already taken action to ban offshore drilling in state waters. New Jersey passed one of the strongest laws on the subject last year. Lawmakers in coastal states are acting on the subject because of potential harms to critical industries such as tourism and commercial fishing, said Oregon Sen. Arnie Roblan.

They lawmakers also said their respective states must do more to encourage renewable energy rather than fossil fuel extraction. Rep. Park Cannon of Georgia said she expected a fight against defenders of "archaic energy practices" in her state.

State Biosecurity Plan Update

Originally published by Hawai‘i Public Radio; click here to read the article on hpr2.org.

By Wayne Yoshioka | Jan 7, 2019

The State Department of Agriculture briefed members of the Senate today on some of its budget priorities.

Biosecurity: keeping out invasive species like the Brown Tree Snake from Guam is one of the top priorities for Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair, Mike Gabbard, who reviewed the State Department of Agriculture Budget request.

"You know I was looking at your report and it mentioned that 90 percent of all the vessels coming from Guam had been inspected and Brown Tree Snake — BTS — if they ever come here it's gonna be a $2B impact on our economy."

Board of Agriculture Chair and department director, Scott Enright, says his 16 million dollar state general fund request includes four new Plant Quarantine positions.

"An Entomologist, a Plant Pathologist, a Botanist and an IT expert. Those 4 will be doing risk analysis assessments from out E-manifesting platform. So, in real time, we are going to know what's in the air and what's on the water, then we know what we have to look at. We look at every strawberry that comes into the state; we don't look at any of the mushrooms."

Those positions are part of the state's Comprehensive Interagency Biosecurity Plan with 147 individual action items. Rabies, however, is not that big of a concern these days and Enright says the Department of Agriculture will be vacating its animal quarantine station in Halawa Valley.

"Over the course of the last twenty years, we've gone from 2,700 animals kept every day at those facilities down to 2-3 hundred. We release 89 percent of all the animals at the airport now that come into the state. We've done some rule changes that will take us up to more than 95 percent that get released at the airport."

The department will continue to screen for rabies and focus more on animals from Central America and Asia. Wayne Yoshioka, HPR News.

Hawaii cannabis advocates hope to work with state to set rules for hemp

While the federal government did pass the Farm Bill on December 20 making hemp and its products legal, there's still some confusion over how the state should set rules for this crop.

Originally published by KITV; click here to read the article on kitv.com.

Thursday, January 3rd 2019, 2:48 PM HST by Diane Ako

How should the state regulate industrial hemp? The federal law making hemp legal is now in effect, but there are no federal guidelines for how to make or sell it, particularly the very popular CBD oils and products.

Is industrial hemp Hawaii's next cash crop? "Hemp is debatably the most valuable natural resource we have. it can be used for biofuels, textiles, like the clothing I'm wearing today," says Grant Overton. The company he co-founded, Vespucci Collective, makes and sells hemp clothing. Its farm is about to start growing hemp on a farm in Haleiwa.

Overton's part of a rapidly growing market. He says $700 million worth of hemp products sold in the US in 2018.

Hemp advocates say there are about 60,000 products that can be made with hemp, like clothing or cannabis-derived CBD products.

It's not just businesses who are interested; lawmakers are too, like US Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), who said after the Farm Bill passed, "We want diversified agriculture, but also need something to take up the acreage when HC&S shut down, and Maui Land and Pine plantation shut down. We need a big ag product and hemp has plenty of potential."

Here's the catch. While the federal government did pass the Farm Bill on December 20 making hemp and its products legal, there's still some confusion over how the state should set rules for this crop.

That's because the FDA still regulates hemp products like the popular CBD oils (made from a cannabis compound), food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and drugs. It considers those illegal to sell as "interstate commerce."

"Ingestability and manufacturing of those substances have to be clarified," Overton says. KITV4 asked, "So, people aren't breaking the law if they're buying CBD oils?" "As of now, no," Overton, who is also a board member of the newly formed Hawaii Hemp Farmers Association, clarified.

The feds have 120 days to come up with rules. In the meantime, at least one state lawmaker is helping set state guidelines.

Senator Mike Gabbard (D-20 Kapolei, Makakilo, parts of Ewa, Kalaeloa, Waipahu) says he's working with the state Department of Agriculture now, so that "as these things are rolled out at the federal level, bam. We can just say, 'Here we go.'"

The state Department of Health says, "DOH will work with the Department of Agriculture and Legislature to determine where best to establish CBD statutory and regulatory authority regardless of its (CBD) source (hemp or cannabis)."

Sen. Gabbard is a huge proponent of the crop. When asked about the rules regarding CBD, he smiles and says, "I think it's going to be fine.

Sen. Gabbard says he is "working with the state Department of Agriculture on a hemp bill for 2019 and has a meeting set up with them next Wednesday to work out some details."

Farmers like Overton hope the Senator's right. Overton estimates by 2025, the market for CBD sales alone, is expected to grow to $22 billion in US sales. He says he'd like Hawaii to share in that economic boom.

That's where the Grant Overton, who himself is a hemp licensee, says it's working with the state to craft regulations for the industry. He's hoping to work out the kinks sooner than later, because he says hemp is a hugely profitable business that would benefit the state's economy.

Overton says in 2018, there were $700 million worth of hemp products sold in the US, and estimates by 2025, the cash crop will be worth $600 million to $22 billion in US sales. He says he'd like Hawaii to share in that market growth.

Spark Up Your Cannabis Knowledge: The second annual Maui Cannabis Conference brings cannabis education to the masses

Originally published by MauiTime; click here to read the article on mauitime.com.

January 2, 2019 by Alex Mitchell

The Maui Cannabis Conference returns to the Royal Lahaina Resort this weekend for a weekend of cannabis-related education, entertainment, and networking. The goal of the two-day event is to build awareness and bridge education for the various health and economical benefits of cannabis for legal medical use, and industrial hemp. The conference will be a gathering of cannabis experts, educators, industry leaders, and local politicians. Without a doubt, there will be many opportunities to learn, network, and create discussion.

On both days, the public is invited to attend a variety of 15-minute to hour-long conference sessions. The conference is open to all ages, and attendees do not need a 329 Medical (Marijuana) Card to attend.

Day 1 - The "Cannabis Business Summit" will begin with an opening keynote speech by State Senator Mike Gabbard (D-Dist. 20). It will continue with a video broadcasted speech by Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-Dist. 2), and it will be followed by a myriad of speeches, updates, and talk story sessions. Day 1 topics include Hawai‘i Medical Marijuana legislative updates, legal brand protection and trademark law in regards to cannabis products, cannabis and tourism, a hemp talk story session with Kelly King, book signings, and marketing, branding, and investment panels.

Also on Day 1 is the Elevated After Party (6-10pm). Hosted by Shaka Hemp Company, the Maui Cannabis Conference celebration will continue into the evening with a fashion show featuring hemp and eco fashion, and local Maui bikini designers. There'll also be live DJs, giveaways, and fire dance performances.

Day 2 - The "Community Education Day" will begin with a keynote speech by Will Espero. Espero served as a Hawai‘i State Senator for the 19th District, West O‘ahu (Ewa Beach, Iroquois Pt, Ocean Pointe), from 2002-2018. The remainder of the day will offer a multitude of opportunities for the community to gain valuable cannabis education with authors talks, book signings, educator panels, industry farmers, nurses, and doctors. Day 2 topics include: CBD 101, How Cannabis is Used in Pain Management, How Cannabis Can Be Used to Treat PTSD, How Seniors Can Benefit from Medical Marijuana, Edibles, How Hemp Can Save the Bees, and more.

Mary Bailey is the CEO at Alpha Agency and is the executive producer for the Maui Cannabis Conference. We asked her a few questions about cannabis education, and what the Maui community can expect for this year's event.

MauiTime Weekly: What do you feel is the biggest myth in regards to cannabis education?

Mary Bailey: I feel that the biggest myth about cannabis users is that cannabis users are lazy or stupid. Some of the most organized, intelligent, detail-oriented, and self-motivated people that I know are cannabis users. These people are scientists, attorneys, doctors, teachers, and all around amazing community members.

MTW: Do you feel support from Maui County in regards to this event? Who have been your biggest supporters in terms of local politicians, advocates, scientists, professionals, nonprofits, media, etc., on Maui?

MB: Tommy Russo and Samantha Campos from MauiTime Weekly have both been huge supporters over the last two years of this event. Maui Cannabis Guild has been a very helpful and supportive sponsor. Maui Grown Therapies (dispensary) has been supportive by sponsoring Michael Backes, author of Cannabis Pharmacy, as a speaker at the conference. Former Senator Will Espero (he served 16 years as a state senator) has been a long time cannabis advocate and keynote speaker. This year, I am also excited to welcome Senator Mike Gabbard and his daughter Tulsi Gabbard as keynote speakers. (Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will be recording a video statement and will not be present in person.)

MTW: Since last year's event, do you feel like any major milestones were achieved in terms of cannabis education on Maui?

MB: Maui dispensaries are working hard to bring more education to Maui County regarding cannabis and its various uses for medical reasons. Maui Grown Therapies has hosted many talks by Michael Backes (author of Cannabis Pharmacy), and Pono Life Dispensary will be opening an educational center very soon.

Maui Cannabis Conference
Royal Lahaina Resort
2780 Keka‘a Dr.
Sat-Sun., Jan. 5-6 (schedule online)
$20-$99 (pre-sale online)
Mauicannabisconference.com

HEMP, HEMP HOORAY!

President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law today, which included removal of industrial hemp from the Schedule 1 Controlled Substance List, thus legalizing it and paving the way for a successful hemp industry in Hawai‘i.

Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, said "It's been a long time coming since Governor, Ben Cayetano, declared December 14, 1999 as 'Industrial Hemp Day of Hawai‘i.' Since that time, I've authored four hemp bills that have become law, including Act 228 (2016), which established a 5-year industrial hemp pilot program. Today, there are farmers growing hemp statewide under the pilot program and the potential benefits that this amazing plant offers for our economy, sustainable agriculture, environment, and human health are truly incredible."

"My vision has been for a cottage hemp industry using Hawai‘i branding, with the hula girl underneath the coconut tree and the guy strumming his ‘ukulele… Hāna hemp granola - Hanalei hemp toothpaste - Honolulu hemp aloha shirts - and Hawai‘i Island hemp CBD tincture, are just some of the many products that could be coming our way."

The signing of the 2018 Farm Bill signals a great leap forward for our state and nation in realizing the benefits of keeping an estimated annual $820 million in retail value of hemp products that we can be growing and producing here.

States are stepping up to end animal testing in cosmetics while federal legislation stalls

Originally published by The Hill; click here to read the column on thehill.com.

By Monica Engebretson, Opinion Contributor — 08/17/18 04:30 PM EDT

The use of non-animal tests to assure consumer safety has followed an upward trajectory for at least the last 20 years and that trend has accelerated as countries around the world move to prohibit the use of animal tests for cosmetics. The most significant boost to this trend is the closing of the European market to animal tested cosmetics which came into force in March of 2013.

London-based Cruelty Free International was instrumental in ushering in the EU ban and has since been working around the globe to see other countries match this progress. Many countries including Norway, Switzerland, India, Guatemala, Turkey, and Israel have enacted laws that mirror those of the EU and in Canada, Australia and Brazil legislation has moved or is moving respectively through national legislatures.

In the U.S, there were high hopes when the Humane Cosmetics Act was first introduced in March 2014 by Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.). After his retirement, the enthusiasm continued when it was introduced with bipartisan support led by Reps. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) and Don Beyer (D-Va). Despite support from over 150 cosmetic companies and 175 cosponsors, the bill has yet to receive a hearing.

Amidst stalled federal action, states are stepping up. Bills have been introduced in New York, Hawaii, and California that would phase-out the sale of animal-tested cosmetics within state boundaries. The New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act introduced in 2016, and again in 2017, by assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal has been followed this year by the Hawaii Cruelty Free Cosmetics by State senator Mike Gabbard (D) and the California Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act by California State senator Cathleen Galgiani (D).

These bills are a response to growing public opposition to animal testing, the availability of modern non-animal testing methods, and a desire for the US to match progress seen in other countries.

According to Rosenthal, "The cosmetics industry was forced to respond to public clamor for environmentally conscious and safe cosmetics by creating paraben-free, BHA-free cosmetics and green cosmetics. Now the public is demanding cruelty-free cosmetics because many understand one can't look or feel beautiful if animals must suffer for it. My legislation will require that all cosmetics sold in New York State are cruelty-free. Beauty might come with a price, but animal cruelty is far too high a price to pay."

Of his bill, Gabbard said, "Cosmetic companies must already use modern non-animal test methods in order to sell products in more than 30 countries around the world. Meeting the same standard for Hawaii makes good sense."

And Galgiani has stated that, "Inaction at the federal level compels California to lead the way in ensuring a cruelty-free cosmetics market for its citizens by barring any new ingredients or cosmetics that are tested on animals."

The reaction from the cosmetics industry to cosmetic animal testing bans has always been a bit of a mixed bag. In Europe, individual cosmetic companies like The Body Shop were actively engaged in supporting the new regulations while others, such as Cosmetics Europe — the European trade association for the cosmetics industry, actively fought against.

However, after five years of the full package of testing and marketing prohibitions, we see that the opposition's direst predictions have failed to come to fruition. Indeed, Europeans still have a wide variety of safe cosmetics available to them, small cosmetic businesses have continued to thrive and U.S. exports of cosmetics to the EU have actually increased since 2013. Industry is now looking for innovative ways to respond to growing demands from consumers for sustainable, cruelty-free shopping.

Can consensus between industry, regulators, consumers and NGOs be achieved? Statements from industry lobbyists in California indicate an acceptance that change is on the horizon. At a recent committee hearing on the California Cruelty Free Cosmetic Act where details of the bill's scope were being debated, Barry Broad, a lobbyist for the Teamsters who represent manufacturers, said, "I do believe actually that the proponents and opponents (of the bill) are not really that far apart. We agree that we should join the European Union in a model that is consistent with the European Union."

Mandy Lee, representing the Personal Care Products Council for California said, "We are supporting full alignment with the EU. To be very clear, we want to end animal testing as well."

As the fifth largest economy in the world, and with a population greater than Canada's, California's progress toward ending the sale of animal-tested cosmetics is hugely significant. It would certainly be simpler for industry and consumers were the U.S. to enact uniform federal regulations on the issue rather than have a patchwork of individual state laws. But these state efforts can serve as a catalyst to bring stakeholders to the table and to help inform a way forward for federal legislation.

Some Sunscreen Harms Reefs—Warming Could Mean More of It

Worry over environmental damage is being pitted against public health concerns

Originally published by Scientific American; click here to read the article on scientificamerican.com.

By Mark K. Matthews, E&E News on August 15, 2018

Climate change, in general, is a bad thing. But for sunscreen manufacturers, there's opportunity in a warmer planet—though maybe not one that's always environmentally friendly.

Over the last several years, U.S. sunscreen sales have risen steadily, bolstered in part by skin cancer concerns. One industry estimate found that over-the-counter sun care sales had grown from roughly $1.16 billion in 2014 to nearly $1.23 billion in 2017. Other research published by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology noted a related increase in sunscreen unit sales from 2011 to 2016.

The growth comes during a fierce fight about the effect of some sunscreens on marine life, as well as a broader debate about which chemicals should go into the next generation of sunblock. These battles could intensify as temperatures rise and consumers look to slather on more sunscreen to protect themselves.

The most recent clash came in early July when Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) signed into law a measure that banned the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate, two chemicals that could damage coral reefs—a cornerstone of the island state's tourist economy.

The legislative effort faced stiff opposition from sunscreen manufacturers, as oxybenzone is a common sunblock ingredient, and the version that became law wouldn't start the ban until January 2021.

"We've got kind of a reputation for getting big things done," said state Sen. Mike Gabbard (D), who championed the effort.

Other advocates have taken notice.

The Center for Biological Diversity has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to outlaw oxybenzone or octinoxate from sunscreen and personal-care products, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii)—Mike Gabbard's daughter—said she plans to introduce federal legislation soon that would mirror the state ban.

"Join us in helping to protect our invaluable coral reefs and marine life," she wrote in a letter to other lawmakers in an effort to attract co-sponsors.

Outdoor outfitter REI plans by 2020 to stop carrying sunscreen with oxybenzone, and scientist Craig Downs—whose work has helped draw attention to the risks of oxybenzone to coral reefs—said he's been contacted by officials in 29 states who have shown an interest in his findings.

The Hawaii ban was a "tipping point," Downs said. "It's a pivotal moment."

A key takeaway of his research, he said, is that oxybenzone can make coral reefs more vulnerable to climate change effects such as ocean warming.

"The presence of these chemicals reduces the resiliency of corals to resist other threats, including climate change threats," he said.

It can hasten a condition known as coral bleaching—a process in which the corals turn white after ejecting the symbiotic algae living in their tissues.

In response to the growing criticism, industry officials have argued that the effect of oxybenzone and octinoxate on coral reefs has been overstated.

"There's an overwhelming amount of evidence that climate change … causes the bleaching of corals," said Jay Sirois, senior director of regulatory and scientific affairs at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. "To come out and make the statement that coral is dying because of oxybenzone … we feel it's irresponsible."

Sirois warned that if Congress or other states followed Hawaii's lead, it could lead to a "public health issue."

"Given what's available right now, there is a very limited number of active ingredients that can be used in sunscreen, even fewer of which can provide a broad spectrum of protection," Sirois said.

He added that the industry has tried unsuccessfully for years to get the FDA to approve new sunblock ingredients that could take the place of oxybenzone or octinoxate.

"FDA has laid out some fairly significant requirements," Sirois said.

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Will A Second State Move To Ban Chlorpyrifos?

Originally published by AgPro; click here to read the article on agprofessional.com.

By Margy Eckelkamp

July 30, 2018 09:39 PM

On July 30, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation released its comprehensive risk assessment of chlorpyrifos. Per that document, a scientific panel has recommended chlorpyrifos be listed as a toxic air contaminant (TAC). Now, the state's department has 10 working days to officially begin the process to list chlorpyrifos as a TAC.

As defined in California, a TAC is "an air pollutant which may cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious illness, or which may pose a present or potential hazard to human health."

This final TAC evaluation focused on the developmental neurotoxicity effects that chlorpyrifos has as a potential risk. This was "the critical endpoint for the chlorpyrifos risk assessment."

Specifically in California, chlorpyrifos first entered the comprehensive risk assessment process in 2011. The first draft of its risk assessment detailed the risk of human exposure to spray drift, which was published in December 2015. Following that, the chemical entered the state's formal TAC evaluation process, and the first draft of its related evaluation was published in August 2017.

Nationally chlorpyrifos is found in products registered by about 20 different companies. It has been a much reported story as its EPA registration has been challenged. As reported by AgWeb, in 2007 Dow AgroSciences' chlorpyrifos was forced into an early review when two activist groups filed a petition with EPA to revoke tolerances and cancel EPA registrations for the product based on food tolerances. And in late March, EPA ruled it will not ban the pesticide. That resulted in five states suing the EPA. That may have lead California to start restricting its permitted use in the state as early as the following August.

This is a trend as states have increasingly used their agencies and review processes to evaluate pesticide regulations. In June 2018, Hawaii became the first state to ban chlorpyrifos. At the time of that legislation being signed by the governor, state senator Mike Gabbard provided said, "other states will follow our example."

Mangoes on parade

Originally published by West Hawaii Today; click here to read the article on westhawaiitoday.com.

By Cameron Miculka | Sunday, July 22, 2018, 12:05 a.m.

The 10th annual Mango Festival held Saturday at Hale Halawai was about more than just the mango or the dozens of varieties that grow throughout Hawaii.

It was, for many at this weekend's festival, a way to promote a way of eating that is both sustainable and supports local farmers.

"You can act responsibly and sustainably to take care of the land, take care of yourself and, most of all, to be an example of what it is to live in paradise," said Randyl Rupar, president of Sanctuary of Mana Ke‘a Gardens, the nonprofit that put on the event.

The festival put more on display than just fresh mangoes, also featuring a variety of demonstrations, presentations and vendors showing different sides of the popular fruit.

Among the presenters was Chef Stephen Rouelle, owner of Under the Bodhi Tree in Waimea, who demonstrated the preparation of a coconut-mango chilled soup, a dish that brings together the flavors of a green curry — lemongrass, cilantro, chilis and turmeric among them — blended with mango and coconut milk. All told, it's a meal that came together in less than 15 minutes.

The weekend marked Rouelle's fourth time participating at the Mango Festival, saying that given the festival's support of local produce and local farmers, he loves being a part if it.

In addition to demonstrating that plant-based eating neither has to be very expensive or time-consuming, he also stressed the adaptability of the soup he prepared, explaining during his presentation how to swap out ingredients for different flavor profiles — replace the lemongrass with cumin and it takes on a more southwestern feel — or changing out ingredients for whatever's seasonal and available at the market: mangoes in the summer, avocados in the fall.

Keying in on that, he said, gives people an opportunity to apply simple concepts to a variety of produce that they might see rotating in and out of a farmer's market throughout the year, be it mango, avocado, sweet potato or breadfruit.

"All a recipe really is is an applied concept," he said, "once you have that framework, you can then apply that recipe in lots of different ways."

The demonstration was also a celebration of the bounty the island had to offer. Nearly all of his ingredients, he noted during the demonstration, came from Hawaii Island. That approach is an extension of his restaurant, he said, where 60 percent of the food they serve is produced within 100 miles.

"I like to think that I vote with my dollars," he said. "So if I'm spending dollars on local farmers, these are my neighbors, this is my community and that money stays here on the island, rather than going off to wherever to support those crops."

Rupar also emphasized that focus on sustainability and self-sufficiency, noting those living in the islands long ago didn't depend on ships importing food, clothing and shelter into their communities.

"We can create whatever we want," he said, "because we live in paradise. We lack for nothing."

The festival was also an opportunity for people to learn to exercise their own green thumbs, with presentations on grafting and soils as well as tables where people could seek advice from groups like the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers.

"It's really a good time to be in ag," said Ken Love, executive director of the group, citing the work of "a really pro-active" Department of Agriculture and lawmakers like Sen. Mike Gabbard and Rep. Richard Creagan, who chair the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment and the House Committee on Agriculture, respectively.

"These guys, they really want to promote agriculture," he said, "and not just big company ags, they're really focused on the small guys too."

And for Love, he said, if there's one person that's serious about growing a single mango tree, he said, that means less imports from faraway places like Mexico.

"So for me," he added, "it's import substitution."

And furthermore, planting something like a mango tree is a chance to connect with the past, particularly a time when you either grew your food or went hungry.

Love said many of the questions he had fielded throughout the day came from people already cultivating their own mangoes and sought advice on topics like pruning. But Love noted that for anything to grow and be productive, it takes work.

"You can't just stick something in the ground and not do anything and expect to get fruit next year," he said. "So it requires work, but the rewards are worth it."

Best to ditch plastic straws

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the editorial on staradvertiser.com.

Our View
July 18, 2018 | Updated July 18, 2018 12:05am

The plastic straw is an easy target for environmental change. Because it's largely unnecessary — and because of the need to cut waste that ends up in the ocean, of course — more than a dozen cities, including Seattle and several in California, have recently either banned it or are requiring eatery customers who want a straw to ask for it.

Hawaii's Legislature and was one of three that this year weighed straw measures. While legislation in California and New York is pending, it has stalled here. Still, the push should continue.

Senate Bill 2285, which would make selling and distributing plastic straws here illegal — violators would be slapped with fines and mandatory hours of community service labor, such as litter pickup in public places — cleared the Agriculture and Environment Committee, but flat-lined in the Judiciary and Ways and Means committees.

In a rematch of debates about phasing out plastic bags and polystyrene foam food containers, representatives of the food service community have squared off against environmentalists on this issue.

The Hawaii Restaurant Association has asserted that because a ban on slivers of plastic would not make a big dent in solving the overall litter problem, it's therefore unfair to saddle restaurant owners with additional costs tied to replacing plastic straws with a paper or other products deemed as eco-friendly.

Moreover, the Hawaii Food Industry Association has added that a ban could be a tourism downer. In a statement, it said: "A plausible issue would be families coming to Hawaii looking to have a pleasant vacation, but getting thrown into a political debate when they ask for a simple straw for their child's drink." Really? It seems more likely that visitors enjoying our beaches and parks would gladly comply with a law that aims to reduce litter that can harm marine life and clog drainage systems.

The food service reps do rightly point out that we all need to get better at reducing waste.

Meanwhile, they maintain that roomier and more tightly secured trash bins in public places would help, as would a stepped-up effort to educate the public on proper disposal. Agreed, but having a policy in place would surely speed up the learning curve.

The plastic straws debate is already going global. Scotland and Taiwan have put bans in place. So have some heavy-hitter businesses, from American Airlines to Starbucks. Starbucks and other food companies have recently announced a phase-out of plastic straws and polystyrene foam cups by 2020.

And starting this month, American will begin replacing plastic straws, drink stirrers and flatware with biodegradable alternatives — eliminating more than 71,000 pounds of plastic a year. Sure, there are plenty of bulkier sources of plastic pollution. But even a small dent is a worthy effort.

The Surfrider Foundation rightly contends that single-use plastics, which are part of a fossil-fuel driven, carbon-emitting industry, should have no place in a tourism-focused economy that's dependent on thriving environmental health.

As evidence that such a switch is doable, the nonprofit nods to its Ocean Friendly Restaurants Hawaii program, which now includes more than 100 restaurants that: offer straws only upon request; have switched to paper; or have entirely done away with straws.

State Sen. Mike Gabbard said recently that he intends to revive the straw bill for the 2019 Legislature's consideration. Ideally, the plastic straw should be outlawed statewide. However, due to the struggles businesses in our island-based economy face in making ends meet, an "only-upon-request" intermediate step could be palatable.

Each year, as millions of visitors touch down in the islands to see our stunning landscapes and waters, we talk the talk about safeguarding our natural resources. Whenever possible, we should seize opportunity to walk the walk.

Macadamia nut production, farm value up from last season

Originally published by West Hawaii Today; click here to read the article on westhawaiitoday.com.

By Max Dible | Monday, July 16, 2018, 12:05 a.m.

Macadamia nuts number among Hawaii's most important and lucrative agricultural exports, and 2017-18 was a banner year.

The state's utilized macadamia nut production jumped 17 percent year-over-year to 49 million pounds, the highest mark in six years, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Hawaii also posted a record farm price, the amount growers are receiving from processors, as farmers grossed $0.914 per pound and netted $1.10 per pound, the latter up 10 cents from 2016-17. NASS also estimated overall farm value of Hawaii's macadamia nut crop at $53.9 million, up 28 percent from last year.

Hawaii Island supports a substantial majority of macadamia nuts grown across the state.

Glenn Sako, agricultural specialist with the Hawaii County Department of Research and Development, explained a fixed acreage of roughly 16,000 harvested acres per season coupled with a bump in global demand for macadamia nuts accounts for much of the increased profitability.

"I would say China is a big consumer, as the middle class is starting to use their income to purchase some more of these gourmet products," Sako said.

However, the impacts of escalating trade disputes between the United States and China could dent Hawaii's profits heading into next season, as roasted macadamia nuts and "other unhulled macadamia nuts" are on China's list of U.S. exported goods facing tariffs.

Both categories of macadamia nut are staring down the barrel of 15 percent tariffs.

Considering the fixed acreage, state supply of macadamia nuts is also relatively dynamic and largely reliant on weather patterns. Sako said moisture is typically the greatest factor in overall production, particularly on the southern edge of Hawaii Island.

Last season, Pahala and other areas surrounding South Point saw an uptick in rainfall. Troy Keolanui, farm manager at OK Farms, which is associated with the Ed Olson Trust, said the dry and arid climate on Hawaii Island's south end is the most conducive to a strong crop yield.

The increased rain improved yield this year, but only to a point. OK Farms, which farms 600 acres worth of macadamia nuts in both South and East Hawaii, suffered a roughly a 25 percent production decline associated with its east side operations last year because rainfall was too intense.

And next season may prove even worse, Keolanui said. He described projections for OK Farms, as well as projections for other operations, as "very bleak" in East Hawaii. Too much rain between December-March, traditional flowering months for macadamia nuts, is the culprit.

As a result, Keolanui believes OK Farms might suffer through a 40 percent production decline next year, which is likely to lead to layoffs.

"It's entirely situational," he said. "The best laid plans can fall to pieces in agriculture."

The impact of fewer available jobs in the industry may not hurt Hawaii's agricultural economy as much as it would seem, as traditional hurdles dogged Hawaii macadamia nut farmers again this year — particularly in the forms of labor shortage and pest infiltration.

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Hawaii to ban sunscreen that damages coral

Originally published by the San Francisco Chronicle; click here to read the article on sfchronicle.com.

By Peter Fimrite

July 7, 2018
Updated: July 7, 2018 6:50 a.m.

That long-awaited Hawaii vacation just got a little more complicated for Californians and other tropical holiday lovers who slather sunscreen on their pale skin between dips in the aqua blue water.

The state of Hawaii will ban two chemicals commonly used in sunscreens starting in 2021, a move that will force visitors from more temperate climes like San Francisco to begin using products that don't harm the environment.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed legislation this week that will prohibit the sale or distribution of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have been linked to widespread damage to coral reefs.

"This is not only the first in the country, but first-in-the-world legislation," said state Sen. Mike Gabbard, who introduced the bill. "Jurisdictions all over the world will see this law as the gold standard, and they will be looking to replicate it."

The Caribbean island of Bonaire is one of many places doing just that. The Dutch municipality heard about Hawaii's law and is planning to enact a similar ban.

Sunscreen makers opposed the Hawaiian bill, as did some dermatologists, who worry about sunburns and skin cancer. But Gabbard said protecting the marine ecosystem is of utmost importance to the economy of Hawaii, which attracts 9 million tourists a year.

Coral are tentacled invertebrates that attach themselves to the ocean floor and to the skeletal structures of one another, obtaining energy from sunlight through the algae within them.

The structures, or reefs, they form protect coastlines from waves and provide habitat for an incredibly diverse array of marine life.

Studies have shown that oxybenzone and octinoxate, which filter ultraviolet radiation and are commonly found in cream-based sunscreens, cause bleaching in coral reefs. By changing the DNA in coral cells, the chemicals cause the cells to starve and die, according to the research.

One study, published in the U.S. journal Environmental Health Perspectives, showed that even small amounts of the chemicals made the algae in coral susceptible to viral infection. The killing, or bleaching, of the algae — which have a symbiotic relationship with the coral — is a death knell for the whole structure.

Most of the world's reef systems are now being threatened by a combination of global warming, industrial pollution and human-produced products, which is why the sunscreen threat is being taken seriously by scientists.

Read more

One small step for farmers, one giant leap for Hawaii's hemp industry

Originally published by Hawaii News Now; click here to read the article on hawaiinewsnow.com.

Published: Friday, July 6th 2018, 3:02 pm HST
Updated: Friday, July 6th 2018, 3:51 pm HST

By Olivia Peterkin, Digital Content Producer

Hawaii officially became part of the industrial hemp industry last month after issuing its first hemp grower licenses to three farmers in the islands.

The licenses are being doled out as part of the state's industrial hemp research and cultivation program, Hawaii's first step toward turning hemp into profit.

The grower licenses, issued to farmers on Kauai and the Big Island, will be valid for two years — or as long as license holders comply with the rules of the program.

Growers are allowed to sell the hemp they grow, but will be required to submit reports on planting, harvesting and the movement of the products. It can take anywhere from three to six months for the first harvest to pop up, according to officials with the Department of Agriculture.

It's important to note that while industrial hemp and marijuana are both members of the same plant species, it is not possible to get a chemical high from industrial hemp.

Some believe that the pilot program will open doors that could prove lucrative for the state.

"The potential here in Hawaii is just enormous when you look at 25,000 different products … made from this miracle plant," said state Sen. Mike Gabbard, back in May.

So far 10 potential hemp farmers have sent applications since the program began in April, and three have been given licenses. DOA officials say applications will continue to be reviewed on a quarterly basis.

Hopeful Hawaii hemp farmers can apply for the program here.

"With this new agricultural crop, the program aims to monitor and assess the best methods of cultivation in Hawaii's growing conditions," said Scott Enright, chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture, in a statement.

"The program will also follow the crop from seed to the development, manufacturing and marketing of hemp products," Enright said.

Licensed hemp growers in the pilot program are required to pay $250 a year, as well as a $2 per acre assessment.

"Hawaii's first licensed hemp growers will help to demonstrate the real potential of the industrial hemp industry," said Gov. David Ige, in a statement.

"We look forward to the entrepreneurial spirit that will help to invigorate and strengthen agriculture across the state," Ige said.

State grants hemp licenses

Originally published by the Garden Island; click here to read the article on thegardenisland.com.

By The Garden Island | Sunday, July 8, 2018, 12:05 a.m.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture has issued the first licenses to growers under the state's Industrial Hemp Pilot Program.

In June, three industrial hemp licenses were issued to Raymond Maki of Kilauea, 10 acres, and Gail Baber and Thomas Pace, both of Hawaii Island, 10 acres each.

Each license is valid for two years as long as the licensee complies with the program rules, including submission of annual fees of $250 plus a $2 per acre assessment. The time from planting to harvest is estimated to be anywhere from three to six months.

"Hawaii's first licensed hemp growers will help to demonstrate the real potential of the industrial hemp industry," said Gov. David Ige. "We look forward to the entrepreneurial spirit that will help to invigorate and strengthen agriculture across the state."

A total of 10 applications have been received by HDOA's Quality Assurance Branch since the program began in April. HDOA will continue to process applications and issue licenses to qualified applicants on a quarterly basis.

"With this new agricultural crop, the program aims to monitor and assess the best methods of cultivation in Hawaii's growing conditions," said Scott Enright, chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. "The program will also follow the crop from seed to the development, manufacturing and marketing of hemp products."

Growers will be required to submit extensive reports on planting, harvesting and movement of their industrial hemp crop. In addition, the research nature of the pilot program requires that licensees track items such as production costs including pest management, water usage, security measures, labor, marketing and other cost factors.

Routine sampling, testing for THC and pesticides and inspections of crops will also be mandatory during this program.

In granting licenses, HDOA considers several factors, including agriculturally zoned land; legitimate research plan; best management plan for growing of hemp; and a laboratory provisionally certified or certified by the Hawaii Department of Health to test cannabis and that is willing to collect samples from the growing location.

"June 2018 will be remembered as a historic month for Hawaii's farmers," said state Sen. Mike Gabbard. "In the coming years, it's likely we'll see our state become a leader in industrial hemp production and witness a cottage industry being developed around this incredible crop. Mahalo to the governor and HDOA for helping get us to this point."

Maki could not be reached for comment Friday.

SENATE BILL PUTS HAWAI‘I FIRST IN THE WORLD TO PROTECT MARINE LIFE AGAINST DANGEROUS SUNSCREEN CHEMICALS

SB2571 signed into law banning Oxybenzone and Octinoxate

A bill that takes steps to protect the island's precious marine environment and ecosystems against chemicals found in many sunscreens was signed into law today, making Hawai‘i the first state in the nation to ban the sale of all sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. It's also a first-in-the-world law.

Senate Bill 2571, now Act 104, bans the sale of oxybenzone and octinoxate starting January 1, 2021. This excludes certain prescription sunscreen products intended for use as a cosmetic for the face. The delayed effective date allows for reformulation of sunscreens that are free of oxybenzone or octinoxate, but are also effective in preventing skin cancer.

Calling the new law "a gold standard for the world to follow," Senator Mike Gabbard (Dist. 20 - Kapolei, Makakilo, portions of ‘Ewa, Kalaeloa, and Waipahu), said "this is a historic bill for our oceans. By taking the lead on banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens, we've started a tidal wave which will help bring our coral reefs back to life. I hope we can look back 20 years from now and see this as a moment we turned the corner on pollution and witnessed this law being replicated globally." Sen. Gabbard, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, introduced the bill.

Scientific studies have shown that oxybenzone and octinoxate induce coral bleaching, harm and kill coral larvae by creating gross deformities, and act as an endocrine disrupter. The chemicals have also been linked to negatively impacting the reproductive health in both men and women.

View the news release.

HAWAII'S FIRST INDUSTRIAL HEMP GROWER LICENSES ISSUED

Originally published by the state Department of Agriculture; click here to read the news release on hdoa.hawaii.gov.

NR18-09
July 6, 2018

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has issued the first licenses to growers under the State's Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. During the month of June 2018, three industrial hemp licenses were issued to:

Hawaii Sunscreen Ban

Originally published by Maui Surfer Girls; click here to read the post on mauisurfergirls.com.

June 21, 2018

By Elizabeth Smith

Hawaii lawmakers passed bill SB2571 in May, prohibiting the sale of over-the-counter sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are used in more than 3,500 of the world's most popular sunscreen products. Research shows that these chemicals are a threat to coral reefs, marine life, and human health.

This first-in-the-world bill is currently awaiting Governor Ige's signature, and is set to take effect on January 1, 2021.

We still had a few questions about the Hawaii sunscreen ban, so we emailed Senator Mike Gabbard, who introduced the bill earlier this year, and he responded right away with the following:

Maui Surfer Girls: Will the ban affect daily moisturizers that contain SPF or just sunscreens specifically?

Senator Gabbard: It would be both. Anything with a labeled SPF product is regulated not as a cosmetic, but as an over-the-counter drug and regulated by the US FDA. So consumers will know by identifying an SPF factor on the label and that tells them it's a sunscreen.

MSG: Is there anything that will prevent visitors from using sunscreens that they bring with them? Can people order the banned sunscreens online to be shipped to Hawaii?

SG: Yes, the ban is at the retail level and wouldn't impact tourists bringing it in their luggage.

It would be legal to order the products online and have them shipped in. The issue here is that the point-of-sale is not in our islands. Previous versions of the bill looked at banning the use of sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate, but it didn't seem workable to police the beaches, as you can imagine.

The key is going to be education. As you may know, our tourism industry is already stepping up on this issue. For example, Aqua Aston Hospitality Hotels launched a "safe sunscreen" program for all of its resorts with its guests. Hawaiian Airlines also has a "sunscreen and reef protection" education program that was programmed for all of their Hawaiian interisland flights, and many of their mainland-to-Hawaii flights.

An important thing to point out is that SB 2571 is having an impact worldwide. Already, Bonaire, an island municipality of the Netherlands, passed a legislative resolution banning oxybenzone/octinoxate sunscreens in all of their marine reserves. Palau has also banned all sunscreens in their Jellyfish Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

MSG: How have the sunscreen companies and retailers reacted to this bill?

SG: The sunscreen companies and the retailers are learning that these chemicals are a problem and seem to be moving in the right direction. There are 15 other FDA approved sunscreen drugs. The most commonly used sunscreens are now Avobenzone + Octocrylene and Zinc Oxide/Titanium Dioxide. A whole "cottage" industry has arisen to provide safer sunscreen products to the public. At least 10 sunscreen companies have been incorporated in Hawai‘i in the past two years. Already, in large retail stores such as Costco and Target, they’re selling in bulk Alba Botanica "Hawaiian Sunscreen" that is already compliant with SB2571 — since May 2017. All the major sunscreen companies sell SB 2571 compliant product lines.

Thank you to Senator Gabbard for taking the time out of your busy day to help spread a little more information about this exciting bill, and thank you for working so hard to protect Hawaii's reefs!!!

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Hawaii Becomes The First State To Ban Sunscreens That Harm Coral Reefs

"This bill is a small first step worldwide to really caring about our corals," Gov. David Ige (D) said.

Originally published by HuffPost; click here to read the article on huffingtonpost.com.

By Alanna Vagianos
07/04/2018 01:15 pm ET

Hawaii just took a big step to safeguard the state's stunning coral reefs.

Gov. David Ige (D) signed a bill on Tuesday banning almost all sunscreens that contain certain chemicals that damage coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. The legislation, which state lawmakers passed in May, prohibits the sale and distribution of nonprescribed sunscreens that contain oxybenzone or octinoxate, which can be lethal for coral larvae.

"This bill is a small first step worldwide to really caring about our corals and our reefs in a way that no one else anywhere in the world has done," he said during the bill signing.

According to the governor's office, the law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. The ban will not be applied to medically prescribed sunscreens or makeup that contain oxybenzone or octinoxate.

"We are blessed in Hawaii to be home of some of the most beautiful natural resources on the planet, but our natural environment is fragile, and our own interaction with the earth can have everlasting impacts," Ige said.

Hawaiian Rep. Chris Lee (D) emphasized in a statement on Tuesday how important such environmental measures are.

"In my lifetime, our planet has lost about half its coral reefs," he said. "We've got to take action to make sure we can protect the other half as best we can because we know that time is against us."

State Sen. Mike Gabbard (D), who sponsored the bill, said when lawmakers passed the measure that Hawaii is "on the cutting edge."

"When you think about it, our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow," he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life and human health."

Hawaii's state senator says sunscreen ban unlikely to put tourists off

Originally published by Newstalk ZB; click here to read the article on newstalkzb.co.nz.

Wednesday, 4 July 2018, 6:23AM

The man behind Hawaii's new sunscreen ban doubts it will put tourists off visiting the state.

Hawaii state senator, Mike Gabbard has introduced a law banning many popular sunscreen products, containing chemicals that harm coral reefs.

Gabbard told Tim Dower he is sure tourists will be willing to slip, slop, slap with mineral sunscreens instead.

"Obviously, with tourism being our economic engine here, we are not saying 'hey tourist, we don't want you to come here anymore, don't wear your sunscreen' there's plenty of sunscreens that are out there now."

Click here to view the article and listen to the audio clip

Hawaii bans sale of sunscreens that could harm the environment

Originally published by ABC 8 News; click here to read the article on wric.com.

By KHON Web Staff

Posted: Jul 04, 2018 11:37 AM EDT
Updated: Jul 04, 2018 11:37 AM EDT

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a bill into law Tuesday that bans the sale of sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Senate Bill 2571, now Act 104, bans the sale of oxybenzone and octinoxate starting Jan. 1, 2021. This excludes certain prescription sunscreen products intended for use as a cosmetic for the face.

The delayed effective date allows for reformulation of sunscreens that are free of oxybenzone or octinoxate, but are also effective in preventing skin cancer.

Sen. Mike Gabbard, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, introduced the bill and called the new law "a gold standard for the world to follow."

"This is a historic bill for our oceans. By taking the lead on banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens, we've started a tidal wave which will help bring our coral reefs back to life. I hope we can look back 20 years from now and see this as a moment we turned the corner on pollution and witnessed this law being replicated globally," Gabbard said.

Scientific studies have shown that oxybenzone and octinoxate induce coral bleaching, harm and kill coral larvae by creating gross deformities, and act as an endocrine disrupter. The chemicals have also been linked to negatively impacting the reproductive health in both men and women.

Hawaii is the first state in the nation to ban the sale of all sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Hawaii bill bans sunscreen harmful to coral reefs

The first state in the nation to take this initiative, Hawaii's new bill will ban the sale of reef-damaging sunscreen in 2021.

Originally published by Hawai‘i Magazine; click here to read the article on hawaiimagazine.com.

By KEVIN ALLEN | JUL 3, 2018

Governor David Ige has signed the long-awaited bill that will not allow sunscreen that is deemed toxic for coral reefs to be sold in the state of Hawaii. Senate Bill 2571, initially proposed by Senator Mike Gabbard, seeks to prohibit the sale of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals that have been scientifically proven to induce coral bleaching, harm and even kill young coral larvae.

"Our natural environment is fragile and our own interaction with the Earth can have everlasting impacts," said Ige during the bill signing ceremony in the Hawaii State Capitol building "and this bill is a small first step worldwide to really caring about our corals and our reefs in a way that no one else anywhere in the world has done."

The ban was heavily supported by conservation groups such as Friends of Hanauma Bay, Hawaii Fishing and Boating Association and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, who believe it will be the precursor to having similar bans on reef-toxic sunscreen across the nation.

Here's How Hawaii's Sunscreen Ban Will Affect Your Favorite Brands

Originally published by Observer; click here to read the article on observer.com.

By Sissi Cao | 07/03/18 3:19pm

There are few better places to spend a holiday at in the middle of a scorching heat wave than a beach. And, as doctors and dermatologists tirelessly warn, it's crucial to put on enough sunscreen before you go out. Stock up while you can, because new legislation in Hawaii may soon take your favorite sunscreen brands off store shelves.

Today, Hawaii Governor David Ige is expected to sign a bill passed in May that bans skincare companies from selling sunscreens that contain two chemicals deemed harmful to coral reefs.

The two chemicals in question, oxybenzone and octinoxate, have been found to cause mortality in developing coral, increase coral bleaching and cause genetic damage to coral reefs and other marine organisms, the legislation says.

This will be the first piece of legislation in the world to protect ecosystem by banning sunscreen. State Senator Mike Gabbard, who introduced the bill, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that Hawaii, which is surrounded by coral reefs, "is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow. This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life and human health."

"This legislation brings attention to the problem and offers a solution that other jurisdictions can be inspired by," Gabbard told Observer in an email. "It's likely other coastal states will be taking a look at this legislation, given the importance they place on protecting marine life and their tourism industries. I hope we can look back 20 years from now and see this as a moment we turned the corner on pollution and witnessed this law being replicated globally."

Globally, coral reefs support about 25 percent of the Earth's marine life. Hawaiian coral reefs account for 85 percent of all coral reefs in the U.S.; they are also one of the world's most endangered. State lawmakers found that contamination of oxybenzone and octinoxate persists in Hawaii's coastal waters, as the contamination is constantly refreshed every day by swimmers and beachgoers.

Oxybenzone and octinoxate are common active ingredients in chemical sunscreen, so the legislation will affect a number of popular sunscreen brands. Although the new law won't take effect until January 2021, it's helpful to know which products are environmentally safe if you want to enjoy beach-going without the moral burden of harming coral reefs.

So, we examined the 10 most popular sunscreen brands on the market right now (a combination of the Consumer Report's 2018 recommendation and the best-sellers on Amazon.) Unfortunately, only three are reef-safe. Here are the details:

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk: contains 3.86 percent oxybenzone,
• Copperstone Sport SPF 50 Lotion Sunscreen: contains six percent oxybenzone,
• Copperstone Water Babies Lotion: contains 7.5 percent octinoxate,
• Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion: contains six percent oxybenzone,
• EltaMD Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 40: contains 7.5 percent octinoxate,
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Non-Greasy Sunscreen Stick: contains three percent oxybenzone,
• Alba Botanica Hawaiian, Coconut Spray Sunscreen: contains three percent oxybenzone,
• Sun Bum Original Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion: safe,
• Banana Boat Spray Sunscreen: safe,
• Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen: safe.

Hawaii becomes the first state to ban sunscreens that damage coral reefs

Originally published by Mic; click here to read the article on mic.com.

By Josh Ocampo | July 3, 2018

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has signed a statewide bill banning the purchase and distribution of sunscreens that damage coral reefs, making Hawaii the first state to do so.

The bill, originally proposed by state Sen. Mike Gabbard in May, will go into effect in 2021. It is specifically aimed at sunscreens that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, both of which help absorb UVB and UVA rays when applied to the skin. A number of sunscreens from popular brands like Banana Boat, Coppertone and Australian Gold contain either oxybenzone or octinoxate, according to a search of the Environmental Working Group's cosmetics ingredients database.

Critics argue that given the ubiquity of these chemicals, the bill will discourage beachgoers from wearing sunscreen, the Washington Post reported.

Sunscreen — which often comes off while swimming or showering — can pollute water sources. When in contact with coral reefs, these chemicals have been found to cause irreparable damage through coral bleaching, resulting in residual lightened appearance. (Coral bleaching can also be caused by pollution like pesticide runoff and sewage.)

"Worldwide, 50% of our coral reefs were lost in 2014 [and] 2015 because of coral bleaching," Gabbard said in an email. "Our state Department of Land and Natural Resources has reported that 55 gallons of sunscreen are going into or near shore waters each day on Maui. This legislation is a big step forward for the protection of our coral reefs, marine life and human health."

Craig Downs, executive director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, studied coral reefs in the Hawaiian islands for five years and determined the serious dangers associated with chemical contaminations in coral reefs lie in their inability to recover.

"Juvenile corals are a thousand times more sensitive to the toxic effect of these chemicals than adult [corals]," Downs said. "So what you'll see is a slow decay of coral reefs and nothing coming back."

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Hawaii is about to ban your favorite sunscreen to protect its coral reefs

Originally published by the Washington Post; click here to read the article on washingtonpost.com.

By Lindsey Bever | July 2

From Banana Boat to Coppertone, major sunscreen brands will soon have to revamp their products or stop selling them in Hawaii.

State lawmakers passed legislation in May that would ban skin-care companies from selling and distributing sunscreens on the islands that contain two chemicals deemed damaging to coral reefs. The bill is opposed by various companies and business associations and even some dermatologists, who worry that the ban may discourage people from wearing sunscreen at all.

But Gov. David Ige (D) is expected to sign the bill this week, making Hawaii the first state to enact legislation designed to protect marine ecosystems by banning such sunscreens.

The bill, SB 2571, states that the chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, "have significant harmful impacts on Hawaii's marine environment and residing ecosystems." The legislation aims to keep sunscreens that contain those chemicals off store shelves. However, the products would still be available to those who have a prescription from a licensed health-care provider, according to the legislation.

State Sen. Mike Gabbard (D), who introduced the bill, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that it would be "a first-in-the-world law."

"So, Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens," Gabbard said in an email to the newspaper. "When you think about it, our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow. This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life, and human health."

According to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, coral reefs are crucial to marine and human life.

In addition to protecting sea creatures, the Smithsonian said, the reefs provide food, medication and tourism jobs, among other things — at a value of $30 billion to $172 billion per year.

"Unfortunately, people also pose the greatest threat to coral reefs," according to the Smithsonian. "Overfishing and destructive fishing, pollution, warming, changing ocean chemistry, and invasive species are all taking a huge toll. In some places, reefs have been entirely destroyed, and in many places reefs today are a pale shadow of what they once were."

Environmental organizations argue that certain sunscreens — which research has shown can wash into the water while swimming or bathing — can be toxic to the coral reefs.

SB 2471 states:

Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause mortality in developing coral; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress, even at temperatures below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit; and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms. These chemicals have also been shown to degrade corals' resiliency and ability to adjust to climate change factors and inhibit recruitment of new corals. Furthermore, oxybenzone and octinoxate appear to increase the probability of endocrine disruption.

How to choose a reef-friendly sunscreen that also protects skin

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the column on staradvertiser.com.

By Mindy Pennybacker
July 1, 2018
Updated July 1, 2018 2:27pm

Our flight from Los Angeles was four hours late, and, as the lights of Honolulu came into view, my husband and I weren't interested in the free mai tais, but did welcome something new.

"Reef-friendly sunscreen?" asked the smiling flight attendant, handing out samples.

"Reef safe," Don read from the label. "Water-resistant 80 minutes — good idea!"

You don't have to be a brain coral to know that sunscreen washes off. On any sunny day you can see it glistening in the waters of Waikiki and Hanauma Bay, and even in the wilder waves of Makapuu you can smell and taste the stuff.

The in-flight giveaway of Raw Elements sunscreen samples by Hawaiian Airlines took place in April as part of a public education campaign by the visitor industry, environmental nonprofits and other supporters of then-pending state legislation, SB 2571, seeking to ban the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and/or octinoxate, chemicals that "have significant harmful impacts on Hawaii's marine environment … including coral reefs that protect Hawaii's shoreline."

Most reef-friendly sunscreens, like Raw Elements, use the minerals zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide instead.

The state Legislature passed the bill on May 1 and it becomes law this month, taking effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

Already, "SB 2571 is having an impact worldwide," state Sen. Mike Gabbard, who introduced the bill, said in an email June 20. On May 21, the Caribbean island of Bonaire passed a legislative resolution banning the use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone/octinoxate in its marine reserves, and other governments around the world are considering similar laws, he said.

But while a groundbreaking first step, SB 2571 doesn't guarantee Hawaii's reefs will be protected, the senator added. The law covers only in-state sales — consumers will be able to bring in sunscreens purchased on the mainland as well as purchase them from out-of-state vendors online.

"The key is going to be education," Gabbard said. "Once more, educating our local residents on the dangers will be very important once SB 2571 takes effect."

Opponents of the bill, including the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which lobbies on behalf of over-the-counter drug manufacturers (because of its sun protection factor, or SPF, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies sunscreen as a drug) insist the chemicals are not harmful to coral reefs.

Supporters, meanwhile, are urging consumers to switch to reef-safer alternatives now, without waiting until 2021. The situation is urgent, warns Craig Downs, an environmental toxicologist who has published studies showing that oxybenzone is an endocrine system disrupter and highly toxic to coral larvae. For years, he's also been measuring levels of the chemical in the water at popular Hawaii snorkeling sites where extensive coral death has occurred.

"We're getting to a tipping point," Downs said by phone from Virginia, where he directs the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. "At Hanauma Bay, the nearshore half of the reef is dead. If you fix the pollution now, baby coral can be introduced, but if the pollution's still there they'll die before they can settle." In five to eight years, he warned, the reef skeleton could be destroyed by waves and erosion, leaving no structure for new corals to inhabit.

To help you decide what products to choose, here is a summary of the arguments for and against SB 2571:

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Proposed bans on plastic straws run into resistance in Hawaii and dozens of U.S. cities

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

By Elaine S. Povich Stateline.org
July 1, 2018
Updated July 1, 2018 5:45pm

Hard on the heels of banning plastic bags, states and cities are being pressed by environmentalists to eliminate another consumer convenience — plastic straws. But objections from the plastics industry, restaurants and disability advocates have derailed or delayed some proposed straw bans.

And experts say cutting down on single-use plastic may be more about changing habits than changing laws.

Three states — California, Hawaii and New York — have considered plastic straw legislation in 2018. Hawaii's died, and the other two are still pending.

Seattle, Miami Beach, Oakland and more than a dozen other cities, about half of them in California, have either banned plastic straws altogether or required customers who want a straw to ask for it. New York City is also considering a ban.

The bans are not frivolous, as plastic has been found in fish, in the bellies of seabirds and in fresh drinking water as well. A viral video of scientists removing a straw from a sea turtle's nostril has inflamed passions too. But at least one expert in the field of "marine plastic" suggests plastic straw bans may not make much of a dent in the problem.

Straws are an easy target for environmental change, though, because they're considered nonessential. Kara Lavender Law, a research professor of oceanography at the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, Mass., said there's plenty of evidence that throwaway plastics are getting into the ocean, as cleanup efforts find lots of straws, bottles, bags and food wrappers.

The world's largest accumulation of trash, dubbed the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch," is now more than 600,000 square miles, according to a study in the journal Nature.

"Bans on straws are perceived as sort of low-hanging fruit, unnecessary items," Law said. "Whether a ban is the right way to approach it is arguable. I'm not sure it's the way we are going to solve the problem, but it's an indication of the public will and the political will."

Law and several others wrote a 2017 research paper on plastics for the journal Science Advances, estimating that since the 1960s when consumer plastics started being widely used, approximately 6,300 million metric tons of plastic waste has been generated worldwide. Only 9 percent of that has been recycled, 12 percent incinerated, and the rest of it dumped in landfills or directly into the environment.

Hawaii seemed like a logical target for plastic straw bans this year. The state depends on beaches and tourism and touts its pristine coasts, hardly a place where anyone would want to see discarded straws scattered about.

A bill to ban distribution and sale of plastic straws was introduced in January by state Sen. Mike Gabbard, a Democrat, and the legislation sailed through the Agriculture and Environment Committee, which he chairs. It failed to clear the Judiciary and Ways and Means committees, where it was cross-referred.

Objections came from the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Hawaii Restaurant Association, the Retail Merchants Association and the American Chemistry Council, all of which presented testimony in hearings about the bill.

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Deaths, dumping of nearly 100 baby hammerhead sharks being investigated in Hawaii

Originally published by Fox News; click here to read the article on foxnews.com.

June 26th

By Amy Lieu

Investigators in Hawaii are working to determine how nearly 100 baby hammerhead sharks died after they were found dumped Tuesday morning near a lagoon outside Honolulu.

Andrew Rossiter, director of the Waikiki Aquarium, told Honolulu's FOX 2 that he has never seen so many baby sharks killed at one time, and that the pups were probably caught in a gill net.

"To breathe they have to keep moving, so once they're in the net for even two to three minutes, they're unable to breathe and they suffocate," Rossiter said.

The sharks were found ashore along Keehi Lagoon, near the La Mariana Sailing Club, about 5 miles west of Honolulu, according to the station.

"I see sharks right from here and then I walked farther and I see all this fish, the sharks across this barricade," Samuel Etrata, who works for the sailing club, told FOX 2. "It is very shocking."

Etrata said he called the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, which is now investigating. It was not immediately clear who had dumped the shark pups.

Keehi Lagoon is a known location for hammerhead pupping season this time of the year, officials said, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. But it is not a naturally occurring event for shark babies to be found ashore in large numbers.

Rossiter said there should be tougher laws to prevent the mass deaths of the sharks.

In fact, Hawaii state Sen. Mike Gabbard, a Democrat, has been pushing a bill in recent years that would make it illegal to catch sharks in gill nets.

"I'm sick to my stomach about what's happened today. It's really giving me the incentive to make sure that this bill gets passed in 2019," Gabbard told FOX 2.

Last year, the bill passed unanimously in the state Senate, but did not move forward in the House, the station reported.

The bill called for anyone caught illegally catching sharks to be fined $500 per shark for the first offense, the report said.

"When it's the pupping season and it's a pupping area, then maybe they should restrict or ban the use of gill nets just for a couple of weeks to give them a chance," Rossiter said.

Several of the nine species of hammerhead sharks are either are endangered or vulnerable.

Experts ask for tougher laws after baby hammerhead sharks found dead near Keehi Lagoon

Originally published by KHON 2; click here to read the article on khon2.com.

By Manolo Morales

Posted: Jun 26, 2018 09:33 AM HST
Updated: Jun 26, 2018 06:09 PM HST

Shocking and disheartening! that's how some people are describing the discovery of nearly 100 dead baby hammerhead sharks near Keehi Lagoon.

Some experts are calling for tougher laws to prevent more incidents like this. They say the sharks were probably caught in a gill net. Summer is known as the pupping season for hammerhead sharks so there are a lot of them being born in that area this time of the year.

The baby sharks were dumped by the La Mariana Sailing Club, and worker Samuel Etrata was in disbelief when he came across them.

"I see sharks right from here and then I walked farther and I see all this fish, the sharks across this barricade. It is very shocking, yeah," said Etrata.

He called the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, which is now investigating. Keehi Lagoon as well as Kaneohe Bay are known areas where hammerhead shark pups are born. The director of the Waikiki Aquarium says they were probably caught in fishermen's gill nets.

"To breathe they have to keep moving so once they're in the net for even two to three minutes, they're unable to breathe and they suffocate," said Andrew Rossiter.

He says has never seen so many killed at one time, and adds that there should be tougher laws to prevent this.

"When it's the pupping season and it's a pupping area then maybe they should restrict or ban the use of gill nets just for a couple of weeks to give them a chance," said Rossiter.

State Senator Mike Gabbard has been trying to pass such a law for the last couple of years that would make it illegal to catch sharks in gill nets.

"I'm sick to my stomach about what's happened today. It's really giving me the incentive to make sure that this bill gets passed in 2019," the senator said.

Anyone caught could been fined $500 per shark for the first offense. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate last year but did not move forward in the House.

DLNR is asking anyone with information to come forward. We'll keep checking and let you know what happens with the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DOCARE at (808) 643-DLNR. Violations can be reported online as well as via the DOCARE reporting app, DLNRTip.

Hawaii is first in U.S. to ban chlorpyrifos

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

By Sophie Cocke
June 14, 2018 12:05am

Hawaii became the first state in the country to ban pesticides containing chlorpyrifos, a chemical that has been linked to disruptions in the brain development of babies and young children, with Gov. David Ige signing the measure into law on Wednesday.

The new law also achieves goals that local environmental groups have spent years fighting for, including a ban on pesticide spraying within 100 feet of schools during instructional hours and increased reporting requirements for restricted-use pesticides that are deployed in large quantities.

"After many years of no action, it was good for the Legislature and the community to come together to actually get the job done, get this bill across the finish line," said Sen. Mike Gabbard, chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, during the bill signing ceremony.

Gabbard said he expected other states to follow Hawaii's example in banning chlorpyrifos.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was poised to ban use of the chemical on all food products last year following a decade of scientific review. However, Scott Pruitt, who was hired by President Trump to lead the EPA, rejected the scientific recommendation of his own agency last year and has allowed the chemical's continued use.

The reversal by the Trump administration increased pressure locally for lawmakers to ban the chemical, which in Hawaii has been used on produce, golf courses, tree plantations, turf grown for sod, as well as on plants grown in nurseries, greenhouses and some industrial sites, according to information from the state Department of Agriculture.

The statewide ban on chlorpyrifos takes effect Jan. 1, 2019, though the state Agriculture Department has the authority to exempt agricultural businesses through Dec. 31, 2022.

Rep. Chris Lee, chairman of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, said risks relating to pesticides had gone unaddressed in Hawaii for too long. "But that ends today with the significant step on the part of Hawaii's Legislature, our community, coming together to say above all else, we value the health of our kids."

The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, which represents large biotech companies operating in Hawaii, issued a statement following the bill signing saying its member companies will comply with the new law.

"As responsible neighbors and good stewards of their farms and communities, our member companies will continue to comply with all applicable federal and state rules and regulations, including this new law," said HCIA Executive Director Bennette Misalucha.

Hawaii is the first state to ban pesticides with chlorpyrifos

Originally published by KITV; click here to read the article on kitv.com.

Posted: Jun 14, 2018 12:47 PM
Updated: Jun 14, 2018 12:47 PM

Governor David Ige signed a law Wednesday, banning the use of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos.

Under the new law, only businesses with special permits can use banned pesticides. The full ban on chlorpyrifos takes effect in 2023.

The new law also prevents spraying pesticides within 100 feet of schools.

"In my view, the passage of SB3095 was one of the highlights of our session. After many years of no action, it was good for the legislature and the community to come together to get the job done. Get this bill across the finish line," State senator. Mike Gabbard said.

Hawaii is the first state in the country to ban chlorpyrifos.

Hawaii first state to ban controversial insecticide

Click here to watch the video on hawaiinewsnow.com.

Nearly 80% of Hawaii's papaya farms destroyed by lava

Originally published by KITV; click here to read the article on kitv.com.

By Brenton Awa
Posted: Jun 08, 2018 6:52 PM HST
Updated: Jun 08, 2018 6:52 PM HST

The Leilani Estates eruption is also affecting farmers in lower Puna.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau's latest estimate is that nearly 80 percent of all papaya grown in the state comes from the Kapoho area. Now much of it is gone.

Hundreds of farming jobs could be in jeopardy as lava continues to threaten lower Puna.

2,200 acres of land where papaya once thrived has been destroyed. Hawaii Island with just 300 acres of papaya lands remaining.

According to the State Department of Agriculture, the rest of the islands combined have about 300 acres as well.

Senator Mike Gabbard says the situation heartbreaking.

"The 316 papaya farms across the state, over half of them are on Hawaii island, and now just to see that on the evening news, it's really hard to put into words what these guys are experiencing," Gabbard said.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau called this area near Kapoho the Breadbasket of the papaya industry. Many small businesses rely on production.

The Department of Agriculture estimated half of the industry's jobs will be impacted. The state says there's no telling how many farmers will choose to re-start operations after some lost everything.

"I heard a report recently that papaya prices are going to be doubling in the very near future and people just have to come to grips with the reality of what's going to be happening here right now," Gabbard said.

The state reminds all affected farmers of its recently approved emergency loan program, where businesses can apply for up to $500,000 at an interest rate of 3 percent.

Farmers would also be able to hold off on loan payments until they're back in production.

State takes first step toward lucrative hemp industry with new research program

Originally published by Hawaii News Now; click here to read the article on hawaiinewsnow.com.

Published: Wednesday, May 30th 2018, 4:38 pm HST
Updated: Wednesday, May 30th 2018, 5:48 pm HST

By Lisa Kubota, Anchor / Reporter

The possibility of a thriving industrial hemp market in Hawaii is slowly starting to take root.

Beginning in June, the state will begin issuing licenses for its first-ever industrial hemp research and cultivation program, providing research to farmers across Hawaii.

Three people, including Big Island resident Gail Byrne Baber, have already applied for the Department of Agriculture's pilot program.

"We're going to be looking at what it takes to grow a crop successfully," Byrne Baber said. "What are the inputs? What are the costs? What are the potential markets?"

Some believe that this first step into the hemp industry could prove lucrative for the state.

"The potential here in Hawaii is just enormous when you look at 25,000 different products ... made from this miracle plant," said state Sen. Mike Gabbard (D-Kapolei, Makakilo, Ewa).

The state will initially provide licensed growers with imported hemp seeds for a fiber-grain varietal. A cannabidiol varietal that can be used to produce CBD oil — a trendy health product — is expected to be available this fall.

"I think CBD hemp oil, if you just look at what the demands are in the marketplace, it's very lucrative," said Byrne Baber. "I think it would be a smart component of any farm plan, but we want to prove the fiber opportunities (and) the seed opportunities as well."

Industrial hemp and marijuana are not the same, although they are members of the same plant species. Gabbard says the difference between the two has caused some confusion even among his own colleagues.

"So I explained to them the THC content," Gabbard said. "(Industrial hemp) has 0.3 percent versus 10 to 30 percent in marijuana, you cannot get high on hemp."

Growers are allowed to sell the hemp they grow as part of the program, but will be required to submit reports on planting, harvesting and the movement of the products.

Routine testing for THC and pesticides will also be mandatory.

"It's going to help our farmers," Gabbard said. "It's going to help our economy."

Hawaii's Sunscreen Ban Doesn't Hit Until 2021, but the Reason for It Is Scary

Originally published by Glamour; click here to read the article on glamour.com.

By RACHEL NUSSBAUM
MAY 15, 2018 5:00 PM

Sunscreen is the best it's ever been. It's lightweight, fast-absorbing, beautifully fragranced, and at long last a pleasure to use. There's just one problem: Despite 2014's Sunscreen Innovation Act, the FDA hasn't OK'd any new sunscreen ingredients in 10 years. And now researchers are finding evidence that some commonly used chemicals pose a huge threat to our marine environments and may have unintended consequences on human health. This month Hawaii became the first place in the U.S. to turn these findings into something concrete, a first-of-its-kind legislation to outlaw the sale of sunscreens that contain the ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate starting in 2021. For context, those two actives are in more than 3,500 sunscreens on the market.

Talking to scientists and lawmakers about these two chemicals, it becomes clear that this may be a somewhat dire situation for the environment. Some background on sunscreen: It's technically a drug, so the FDA has full control over which ingredients we get to use. That'd be fine, except of the 17 sunscreen ingredients on the market, almost all of them were approved back in the seventies. And according to Craig Downs, Ph.D. and executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of natural habitats, almost no toxicity testing was done back then, and there certainly weren't the stringent standards in place that there are today. So oxybenzone and octinoxate, among other chemicals, have been grandfathered in since then.

That doesn't sound good, but it wouldn't necessarily be cause for concern. Yet the legislation is happening now because over the past two years numerous studies have found evidence that these two chemicals (but especially oxybenzone) may be doing harm to marine life and possibly people. They're what researchers call "endocrine disruptors." So when we slather on sunscreen, the chemicals can then make their way into our bloodstream. There, according to recent studies, they may mess with our hormones in various ways. Downs says that several studies have found that oxybenzone in particular can significantly decrease testosterone levels. Hawaiian state Senator Mike Gabbard (D), who introduced the bill, along with five other Democratic state senators, recounts a laundry list of evidence-supported consequences. In the ocean it causes deformed coral larvae; in people he says the chemicals may be associated with breast cancer becoming more aggressive, polluted breast milk, deformities in newborns, women's uterine diseases, threatened male sexual health, and damaged DNA.

David Andrews, Ph.D. and a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, says that in the water off the beaches of Hawaii, where tourists flock and sunscreen flows, the coral reefs are unable to recover from bleaching events, which are like a hit to the reefs' ecosystem. And oxybenzone is everywhere: Downs describes the chemicals as similar to a virus, with oxybenzone showing up everywhere from the drinking water in Honolulu, to Alaska, to inside the fish we eat. And according to a 2008 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's found in the blood of 97 percent of Americans.

This is big news, and it's been a long time coming. "It really points to what’s become a failure of both the sunscreen industry and the FDA to bring new, safer, and more effective ingredients to the market," Andrews says. While new sunscreen formulas have been available for over a decade in other countries, Andrews says that the FDA has left the public with a catch-22. Even outside of oxybenzone and octinoxate, Downs says there's no firm data to prove whether or not other sunscreen ingredients, like avobenzone, are safe.

"If the toxicity requirements by the FDA were applied now to the 17 chemicals, only nonnanosized zinc oxide and nonnanosized titanium dioxide would be left standing," Downs says. Knowing how much sunscreen people now expose themselves to, the FDA needs detailed safety information to approve new formulas, but because there's nothing to stop companies from doing so, Downs says that most have continued to use the same old ingredients, in the same old ways.

On the plus side, the FDA has recently initiated a study testing absorption of ingredients in sunscreens currently on the U.S. market. A spokesperson told Glamour that the study will "measure and evaluate the levels of active ingredients found in the blood of human subjects after exposure when applied under maximal use conditions." For now, Andrew Alexis, M.D., the chair of dermatology at Mount Sinai hospital in New York City, warns against jumping to conclusions. While studies using extremely high doses of oxybenzone show some hormonal side effects, Alexis says we don't typically encounter those levels in the everyday world.

To put the doses into perspective, he explains that using a sunscreen containing 6 percent oxybenzone, it would take 277 years of daily application to reach exposure comparable to what the rats in the studies get. So while oxybenzone can be detected in the blood and urine of sunscreen users and the population at large, Alexis says that doesn't necessarily mean oxybenzone is causing negative, systemic health effects.

Speaking to the ban, the Personal Care Products Council, which represents the global cosmetic and personal care products industry, released a statement acknowledging the importance of combating coral reef degradation, but arguing that fighting the prevalence of skin cancer is as important. And with the sunscreen ban waiting for Hawaii's governor to sign it into law, enforced change is at best in the distant future. According to lawmakers, the bill will only take effect in 2021, so at least legally nothing has to happen until then--and even after 2021, there will be no legal way to keep sunscreens with the chemicals from coming into Hawaii.

Nicole Lowen, vice chair of Hawaii's House Committee on Energy and Environment, says that's fine. While they're giving the sunscreen industry the next few years to come up with formulas that comply (and Gabbard says tons of sunscreens out there already do), a major aim of the legislation was raising public awareness about these toxic chemicals, and sending a message to companies and the FDA that, yes, change is something people care about, and we want it now.

In that respect, women in Hawaii agree that the bill is making them think twice about their sunscreen. Since the legislation came into the spotlight, Hawaii resident Emma Wo says that she's gone through her medicine cabinet and tossed the sunscreens with controversial ingredients. Longtime Oahu resident Kathy Croman says she used to not be choosy about the sunscreen she used, but "when you grow up here and see the actual damage it's causing, you become more aware." It's likewise struck Oahu newcomer Kait Hanson: "Before I moved to Hawaii, I used sunscreens with [oxybenzone and octinoxate] a lot. That was mostly due to being misinformed, unaware or trusting the labels of products." After the conversation started around the ingredients, she says she switched to reef-safe sunscreens like Stream2Sea and Badger. (Stream2Sea relies on nonnanosized titanium dioxide, and Badger on nonnanosized zinc oxide. Both are confirmed eco-friendly ingredients.)

Marine conservationist Lauren Kitayama seconds it: Once you know the effect of these ingredients, you steer clear. "Most of our cosmetics do end up in the ocean, and they wreak havoc. If making small changes in my daily routine can protect the oceans and animals in them, I do what I can," she says. To that end, Wo's not waiting for 2021. "Even before the sunscreen ban goes into full effect, I think it's a matter of social responsibility. One of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou applies here: 'Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better,'" Wo says. According to Lowen, it's going to take more of the same attitude to fuel change.

"We have to create a consumer demand for safer products. We're obviously facing many environmental crises with climate change, so there's a lot coming that we're going to have to deal with. And it's all true--all those things weigh in," Lowen says. "But my job's not to get elected, be in office and say, 'We give up. There's no point doing anything, it's too late.' We've got to try our best.'"

The Fight To Save A Sacred Owl In West Oahu

A nonprofit group based in Ewa Beach is concerned future development will destroy the habitat of the Hawaiian short-eared owl.

Originally published by Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.

By Bianca Smallwood | May 14, 2018

A plan by University of Hawaii officials to help bring an endangered owl back to the West Oahu campus is coming under fire from a group of Ewa Beach residents who say the plan falls far short of creating protected habitat for the sacred owl.

Efforts to protect the pueo, the Hawaiian short-eared owl, also suffered a setback when the Legislature adjourned earlier this month without putting in place a hoped-for new study of the owl statewide and money for environmental rehabilitation at the West Oahu campus.

UH has been replanting trees, grasses and shrubs in the gulches on the campus and also plans to offer courses focused on caring for the land, according to UH spokesman Dan Meisenzahl.

That effort has been ongoing since January.

But Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner Michael Lee and members of the nonprofit Kanehili Cultural Hui say what UH is doing is not sufficient. They say recent reports identified the existence of the owl at the university and that it's important to create a habitat protection program on the campus.

Lee said he wants the university to stop development on 150-acres of the property and designate the area for a habitat conservation preserve.

Lee, who notes that the pueo is the UH West Oahu school mascot, says the area where the Hunehune Gulch and Kaloi Gulch converge has been a documented pueo habitat for centuries.

"They say they're going to do everything to protect the pueo so now is their chance to step up and show what they say is real," Lee said.

'Bird of Wisdom'

Known as the "bird of wisdom," short-eared owls have a special place in Hawaii's culture and were once prevalent throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including the Ewa Beach and Kapolei area. But today it is listed as endangered on Oahu and declines have also been observed in Europe and North America.

Some causes of decline are urbanization, loss of habitat and disease.

The species was admired by the ancient Hawaiians as an aumakua or ancestral guardian, that would protect families and villages. Pueo also help control the populations of rodents and other species that cause damage to agricultural crops.

Researchers say that it is probably the only surviving native bird in the state that can help control the rodent population for farmers.

Melissa Price, an assistant professor in the UH Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, said there are other urgent threats affecting the bird besides development.

Pueo nest on the ground, which makes their eggs easy targets for mongooses and cats, she said.

"If we're not protecting the nests then you're not going to have a stable population so I think that's the most important thing," Price said.

She added that efforts to help the owls shouldn't be focused completely on West Oahu.

"If we care about a species we need to care about it at the scale that matters for the species," she said.

Last year, Price, post-doctoral researcher Javier Cotin and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife launched the Pueo Project to investigate the population size and habitat of the owl. The public was asked to help by reporting pueo sightings on the project's website or through an application called eBird.

The researchers observed 11 pueo on Oahu - five were sightings in Leeward Oahu while the remaining six were detected in Kailua and Kaneohe. A total of 90 records of pueo were gathered from the project website and eBird.

Price said that at least one or two pueo were spotted on the UH West Oahu campus.

Although it's estimated that there are about 800 pueo on Oahu, Price said the "margin for error is pretty wide" since they weren't able to study more locations.

"We need multiple years of surveys and a much bigger effort where were paying more than just one person to be out there doing surveys," she said.

Continuing The Study Of Pueo

Researchers and advocates were hoping Senate Bill 2078 would have provided a step forward for studying the pueo. The bill requested funds for DLNR and the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to support a two-year statewide study of pueo. The measure died in conference committee at the end of the session.

Sen. Mike Gabbard, who introduced the bill, said he is not opposed to creating a pueo conservation habitat, but thinks more research needs to be completed first.

"You can't really talk about the location of a habitat until you got those breeding and foraging studies to pinpoint where they are," Gabbard said. "Where they're hanging out, where they're breeding, where they're eating and all that stuff."

Price said researchers received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study agricultural lands on Oahu and Maui for two years. The goal is to determine the effects the pueo are having on pest species, she said.

She added that they also received funding from the Navy to study pueo on its lands on Oahu.

Although many agree that pueo need to be protected, critics say the measure only scratched the surface of a bigger issue about the owl's Ewa plains home, Lee said.

In 1996, a survey documented 17 species of birds in an 1,300-acre site in East Kapolei, which included the UH West Oahu property. Owl pellets were also found, but no investigation was made to verify if they were pueo.

Another survey of the UH West Oahu property in 2006 said no endangered or threatened species were observed. But sightings of pueo have been documented in videos and photos and was also reported in an interim report by DLNR and UH.

The university is aware of the pueo in the Ewa district and has enforced a protocol to monitor pueo in and around campus since 2016, UH West Oahu Chancellor Maenette Benham wrote in an email.

There has been no documentation of pueo nesting on the property, although the owl does hunt across the Ewa plains, she said.

Gabbard said he plans to re-introduce a bill to study owls in the 2019 session.

And Kanehili Cultural Hui plans to push another measure that didn't receive a hearing this session. House Bill 2629 would require UH to create a habitat conservation habitat at its West Oahu campus.

Lee said the idea has already received unanimous support from the neighborhood boards of Kalaeloa and Makakilo.

County works to fund ag theft initiative after failed legislation

Originally published by the Hawaii Tribune Herald; click here to read the article on hawaiitribune-herald.com.

By MAX DIBLE | Sunday, May 13, 2018, 12:05 am

As a category of crime, agricultural theft and vandalism continues not to rate.

That's the message the state Legislature sent when it spiked House Bill 1883 HD2 SD2 out of conference committee - Speaker Scott Saiki discharging House conferees before legislators held a hearing.

The measure, introduced by Rep. Richard Creagan, D-South Kona and portions of North Kona and Ka‘u, would have extended an existing Hawaii County program by establishing a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project to run through the state Department of Agriculture.

"It was kind of the collateral damage of political infighting," Creagan said of the legislation. "There was no reason to kill the bill. Everybody thought it was a good idea. It didn't require a lot of money. ... I don't know why it was killed, but I do think it was a good bill that should have passed."

Legislators and DOA officials familiar with the proposal said an annual appropriation of $200,000 would have fully funded the pilot project.

"Here we are, importing 85-90 percent of our food, spending $3 billion every year," said state Sen. Mike Gabbard, an Oahu Democrat who wrote the Senate companion bill to Creagan's HB 1883. "We've got thousands of acres just waiting to be farmed ... yet we can't pass a simple law that will protect our farmers from (expletive) stealing their crops and vandalizing their farms."

The Senate Ways and Means Committee attached a second part to Creagan's bill after it crossed over from the House, which would have sent funding to the state's Agribusiness Development Corp. to research and ultimately try to increase the exportability and marketability of locally grown papaya.

"I don't have any insight into the reason (the bill failed), but I think it's probably because WAM and (the Finance Committee) in the House - they didn't approve release of the funding," Gabbard said. "Again, I'm speculating at this point, but adding that papaya research section on probably didn't help."

Neither Rep. Sylvia Luke, chairwoman of the House Committee on Finance, nor Rep. Donovan Dela Cruz, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, returned request for comment by press time Friday on financial issues that might have impeded the bill's passage.

Dela Cruz, an Oahu Democrat, was the primary introducer of Senate Bill 3087, the original legislation intended to fund papaya research through the ADC.

The House Committee on Agriculture, which Creagan chairs, connected an audit of the ADC to SB 3087 after it crossed over.

The measure never made it out of conference committee.

Following the House amendment to SB 3087, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Dela Cruz, subsequently attached the papaya funding to Creagan's HB 1883 to fund the agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project.

Keeping a program in place

One agricultural theft enforcement position, filled by investigator Shane Muramaru, was created on Hawaii Island through a partnership last year between the DOA and the Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Despite a lack of legislative funding, Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said, maintaining the position is a top priority.

"We have seen it to be very effective," he said.

Agricultural thieves are notoriously hard to catch because of the remote locations of the goods they steal, and the cases that are made often prove difficult to prosecute, Roth said.

DOA allocated $92,000 from its budget to fund the initiative, which works mostly to establish verified paper trails to validate product origin as well as cut off vending opportunities for those trafficking in stolen goods - namely farmers markets and roadside stands.

Jeri Kahana, DOA Quality Assurance Division administrator, is working with Roth to secure funding. The current deal expires sometime in mid-July, she said, and the parties are aiming to increase the program budget to $102,000 this time around.

Kehana was skeptical as to how long HDOA could keep digging into its coffers to support the initiative without help.

"Of course not," she said when asked if the current financial model was sustainable. "That's why we try to introduce a bill every year to get the legislative support."

Creagan and Gabbard envision the pilot project jumping off in Hawaii County but ultimately spreading to all islands. Both said they planned to bring the initiative back to the table in the 2019 legislative session.

Representative Chris Lee Announces Passage of Bills Making Hawai‘i Carbon Neutral

Originally published by Maui Watch; click here to read the article on mauiwatch.com.

By MAUIWatch Staff
May 9, 2018

Community, business, and government leaders gathered today to announce the passage of House Bill 2182, a new law making Hawai‘i the first state to commit to a zero emissions clean economy and statewide carbon neutrality by 2045, and House Bill 1986, which directs the establishment of a carbon credit program to bring investment in carbon offsets to Hawai‘i businesses and agriculture.

While the federal government has deferred action on renewable energy and climate change, Hawai‘i continues to boldly lead the country and set a new precedent with the passage of HB 2182. This first-in-the-nation law will make Hawai‘i the first state committing to a zero emissions clean economy. Together with HB 1986, the bills will accelerate outside investment in the State's renewable energy and clean transportation sectors, and catalyze new investment in local agriculture as other jurisdictions begin to invest carbon credit dollars in Hawai‘i to offset their own carbon emissions.

The islands already face costly impacts from climate change, with expected losses of $19 billion in coastal infrastructure to sea level rise in coming decades so taking this next step is important for the growth of our economy today and important to the future for the next generation.

HB 2182 passed in a bipartisan 76-0 vote and HB 1986 passed 75-0 with one member excused at the close of the legislative session last week. Both measures now head to Governor David Ige for consideration.

"Fighting climate change and building a zero emissions clean economy over the next two decades means catalyzing huge opportunities for new investment, jobs and growth in our economy today," said State Representative Chris Lee (Kailua, Waimānalo), author of HB 2182 and Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection. "This is the biggest step forward on climate change any state has yet taken, but we know we can do this and it's going to benefit everyone."

"HB 2182 meshes nicely with our existing 100 percent renewable energy portfolio standards law that's already on the books. By setting a target that we sequester more carbon and greenhouse gases than we produce by 2045, we're creating economic opportunities and also ensuring that we do our part to fight the impacts of climate change," said Senator Mike Gabbard (Kapolei, Makakilo, and portions of ‘Ewa, Kalaeloa, Waipahū), Chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Committee.

"The intent of HB 1986 is to take the lead in the nation on the partnership between environment and business. If this measure becomes law, our state will lead the way in sustainability,” said State Representative Ryan I. Yamane (Mililani, Waipio Gentry, Waikele), author of HB 1986 and Chairman of the House Water and Land Committee.

"Moving forward on this bill will help catalyze additional investment in local businesses while helping us reach our 100% renewable energy by 2045 goal and achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability," said Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i President and CEO Sherry Menor McNamara.

"This is an unprecedented revenue opportunity especially for farmers who want to get creative. They can have new crop lines, and have significant capital invested into their businesses, including opportunities to scale up their own organizations and be more sustainable financially and ecologically while they replenish and regenerate the soil," said James McKay of the Hawai‘i Farmers Union United.

"Hawai‘i is mastering its own destiny for the benefit of future generations by doubling down on its commitment to a truly sustainable, clean energy economy that minimizes the financial losses to residents, protects taxpayer investments in critical infrastructure, and rewards environmental stewardship. Passage of HB 2182 ensures that protecting Hawai‘i's environment also promotes Hawai‘i's economy and protects Hawai‘i's taxpayers," said Mari Townsend, Director Sierra Club of Hawai‘i.

"Our utilities are already on track to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity by 2040 at a savings of nearly $6 billion over status quo fossil fuels," said Rep. Lee. "Our transportation sector is quickly changing with the proliferation of electric vehicles that can lower costs for commuters. This bill, directing statewide carbon neutrality by 2045, ties all our efforts together while catalyzing new investment and clean jobs in our economy."

Bill sets ambitious goal to make Hawaii carbon neutral by 2045

Originally published by Hawaii News Now; click here to read the article on hawaiinewsnow.com.

Published: Wednesday, May 9th 2018, 3:33 pm HST
Updated: Wednesday, May 9th 2018, 3:57 pm HST

By Olivia Peterkin, Digital Content Producer

Hawaii could be the first state to be carbon neutral, and have a zero-emissions clean economy by 2045 if a new bill passed by legislators on Tuesday becomes law.

If passed the new bill, paired with House Bill 1986, will accelerate outside investment in the state's renewable energy and clean transportation sectors, according to state lawmakers. Legislators are also hopeful that the bills will influence new investments in local agriculture.

"Fighting climate change and building a zero emissions clean economy over the next two decades means catalyzing huge opportunities for new investment, jobs and growth in our economy today," said State Representative Chris Lee, author of House Bill 2182, in a news release.

"This is the biggest step forward on climate change any state has yet taken, but we know we can do this and it's going to benefit everyone," Lee said.

"HB 2182 meshes nicely with our existing 100 percent renewable energy portfolio standards law that's already on the books," said Sen. Mike Gabbard.

"By setting a target that we sequester more carbon and greenhouse gases than we produce by 2045, we're creating economic opportunities and also ensuring that we do our part to fight the impacts of climate change," Gabbard said.

Both bills are on their way to Gov. David Ige for consideration.

Hawaii Just Found A New Way To Fight Climate Change

Offsetting carbon emissions by doing things like planting trees is the vision, but it's far from ready to be implemented.

Originally published by Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.

By Stewart Yerton | May 8, 2018

How much is a tree worth to the environment?

It might seem like an abstract, even whimsical question. But it's one that Hawaii policymakers soon will try to answer, thanks to two bills passed by the Legislature during the session that ended on Thursday.

House Bills 2182 and 1986 seek to make Hawaii a "carbon neutral" state by 2045. That means Hawaii would offset more carbon dioxide than it produces, through activities like planting trees, which can essentially store carbon, the greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.

HB 2182 sets 2045 as another landmark year for Hawaii. State law already establishes 2045 as the deadline by which utilities must produce 100 percent of the electricity sold in the state from renewable resources. The mayors from each county also have pledged to eliminate fossil fuels from their ground transportation fleets by 2045.

In a sense, by mid-century, Hawaii aims to be fossil fuel-free and carbon neutral. The bills now await Gov. David Ige's signature.

"The idea that we're monetizing our trees - that is so game changing," said Sen. Glenn Wakai, who spoke at a press conference discussing the bills.

Hawaii industries could buy carbon credits, but so could businesses in other states. California, for instance, generally sets caps on carbon production but lets carbon-producing businesses exceed the cap by buying carbon credits to offset the excess carbon they produce.

The idea is that by creating a carbon offset program in Hawaii, local farmers, for instance, could get cash from California industries in exchange for planting trees.

"The result is it's going to be an economic windfall for the state," Wakai said.

There's still a long way to go before any of this would get set up. HB 2182 mainly establishes a Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force and sets a 2023 deadline for crafting a plan to meet the zero emissions target by 2045. HB 1986 directs the state Office of Planning to work with the task force to create a carbon offset program.

For two wonkish bills that do little more than lay out a vision, Tuesday's press conference at Magic Island in Honolulu's Ala Moana Beach Park attracted a robust turnout with some legislative heavy hitters and the main players from Oahu's environmental and renewable energy community, as well as students from Punahou School's Sustainability Club.

Rep. Chris Lee and Sen. Mike Gabbard, who head the environment committees in their respective chambers, both spoke. So did Marti Townsend, director of the Sierra Club of Hawaii; Josh Stanbro, executive director of the City of Honolulu's Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency; and Dawn Lippert, chief executive of the Elemental Excelerator, an incubator for renewable energy startups.

"This is the biggest step forward on climate change any state has yet taken, but we know we can do this and it's going to benefit everyone," said Lee, who authored HB 2182.

"What excites us is that we're setting a line in the sand: zero carbon by this date," said Jeff Mikulina, executive director of the Blue Planet Foundation, which promotes the use of renewables as a market-based approach to address climate change.

Like other Pacific islands, Hawaii is viewed as especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change including increasingly severe storms, rising sea levels and damage to coral reefs and fisheries. And the bills spell out the stakes in stark terms, citing a record $306 billion in damage from natural disasters in the U.S. alone in 2017.

The state "must be prepared to provide more resources and support for those affected by disaster-scale flooding, coastal seawater inundation, and shortages of potable water and agricultural water," HB 1986 says in its preamble. One idea is that revenue generated from carbon offsets can be used to help mitigate such effects caused by climate change.

The offsets also could be used to address one of the thornier issues Hawaii faces in its quest to become the nation's greenest state: how to deal with the massive carbon footprint of the air carriers that link the archipelago to the rest of the world. One idea is that air carriers could use carbon offsets to mitigate the effects of their passenger jets.

Ann Botticelli, a spokeswoman for Hawaiian Airlines, said that, although the carrier had not studied the current bills, it is "absolutely" interested in carbon offsets.

"It's clear that for the foreseeable future, tourism is the major industry here," she said. "And tourism's success depends on keeping the environment clean and healthy."

Senator Mike Gabbard's Floor Remarks on SB 2571 SD2 HD2 CD1
(Oxybenzone/Octinoxate Sunscreen Ban) - May 1, 2018

Mr. President, I rise in strong support of SB 2571 SD2 HD2 CD1. Colleagues, this legislation is a big step forward for the protection of our coral reefs, marine life, and human health.

When it goes into effect on January 1, 2021, it will be the first law passed not only in this country, but in the entire world, to ban sunscreens that contain the dangerous chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. For the record, Mexico has taken administrative action to ban the use of sunscreens with these chemicals in their nature preserves.

But this measure, will be the first law. Scientific evidence indicates that these chemicals induce coral bleaching, harm and kill coral larvae by creating gross deformities, and act as an endocrine disrupter.

As it relates to human health, these chemicals are linked to causing breast cancer to become more aggressive, polluting breast milk, causing Hirschsprung Deformity in newborns, are associated with women's uterine diseases, threaten male sexual health, and can damage DNA.

There's evidence that oxybenzone is even showing up in our aquifers and drinking water. Worldwide, 50% of our coral reefs were lost in 2014 and 2015 because of coral bleaching. The main factor that has contributed to the decline of our coral reefs is localized pollution, such as sewage, pesticide runoff, and chemical sunscreens.

How much sunscreen are we talking about? According to US National Park Service, more than 6 thousand tons of sunscreen end up in Hawaiian waters every year. The Department of Land and Natural Resources has reported that 55 gallons. That's right, 55 gallons, of sunscreen are going into our nearshore waters each day on Maui. So, with this volume of chemical sunscreens pouring into our oceans in areas like Kapalua and Hanauma Bays, of course our reefs are going to have next to no chance of recovery.

The fact is: SB 2571 was inspired by the science! And my hat is off to Dr. Robert Richmond of UH, Dr. Ruth Gates of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, and Dr. Craig Downs of the Haereticus Environmental Lab for providing us the facts to help us make an informed and educated decision.

It's encouraging to know that our tourist industry is stepping up, with companies such as Hawaiian Airlines, Aqua-Aston, Sheraton, Outrigger, Kaanapali Resort, and Napili Resorts are all doing their part to provide reef friendly sunscreens to their guests.

For the record, reef-friendly sunscreens refer to those that have been scientifically proven to be safe in our environment and contain active ingredients such as non-nano size titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

As I mentioned, Dr. Craig Downs, a forensic eco-toxicologist has been one of our principal scientific experts in crafting this legislation. He informed us that he'll be excited to now allow his 6-year-old daughter, Evelyn, to swim in Kapalua and Hanauma Bays and outdoor swimming pools in our state once this ban takes effect.

Think about that for a moment...the scientist who has shown us the high concentration of oxybenzone in Hanauma Bay, thinks it's too dangerous for his daughter to get in the water there! Much has been said about whether there will be enough alternatives to sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. However, even the mainstream names of sunscreens already offer alternatives.

Not to mention eco-friendly ones, like Raw Elements, All Good, Babo Botanicals, Badger, Goddess Garden, Happy As Larry, Hawaii Medicinals, Kuleana Sun Production, Little Hands Hawaii, Mama Kuleana, Manda Naturals, Raw Love, and Sole Kine Maui that are on store shelves. And Little Hands Hawai‘i is actually making their sunscreen here!

SB 2571 is a good first step in keeping oxybenzone or octinoxate out of our water and away from our bodies. And is definitely the right thing to do! Please join me in supporting this important bill.

Mahalo.

Hawaii might be about to ban your favorite sunscreen to protect its coral reefs

Originally published by the Washington Post; click here to read the article on washingtonpost.com.

By Lindsey Bever | May 2 at 1:27 PM

From Banana Boat to Coppertone, major sunscreen brands may soon have to revamp their products or stop selling them in Hawaii.

State lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday that would ban skin-care companies from selling and distributing sunscreens on the islands that contain two chemicals deemed damaging to coral reefs.

If Gov. David Ige (D) signs the bill, it would make Hawaii the first state to enact legislation designed to protect marine ecosystems by banning such sunscreens.

A spokeswoman for Ige said the governor will address the news media later in the day. She did not indicate whether he plans to sign the bill, which is opposed by various companies and business associations.

SB 2571 states that the chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, "have significant harmful impacts on Hawaii's marine environment and residing ecosystems"; the bill aims to keep sunscreens that contain the chemicals off store shelves. The products would still be available to those who have a prescription from a licensed health-care provider, the legislation states.

State Sen. Mike Gabbard, the Democrat who introduced the bill, told the Star Advertiser that it would be "a first-in-the-world law."

"So, Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens," Gabbard said in an email to the newspaper. "When you think about it, our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow. This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life, and human health."

Gabbard could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

According to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, coral reefs are crucial to marine and human life.

In addition to protecting sea creatures, the Smithsonian said, the reefs provide food, medication and tourism jobs, among other things - at a value of $30 billion to $172 billion per year.

"Unfortunately, people also pose the greatest threat to coral reefs," according to the Smithsonian. "Overfishing and destructive fishing, pollution, warming, changing ocean chemistry, and invasive species are all taking a huge toll. In some places, reefs have been entirely destroyed, and in many places reefs today are a pale shadow of what they once were."

Environmental organizations argue that certain sunscreens - which research has shown can wash into the water while swimming or bathing - can be toxic to the coral reefs.

SB 2471 states:

Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause mortality in developing coral; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress, even at temperatures below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit; and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms. These chemicals have also been shown to degrade corals' resiliency and ability to adjust to climate change factors and inhibit recruitment of new corals. Furthermore, oxybenzone and octinoxate appear to increase the probability of endocrine disruption.

Hawaii Lawmakers Pass Ban on Coral-Damaging Sunscreen

Originally published by EcoWatch; click here to read the article on ecowatch.com.

By Lorraine Chow
May. 02, 2018 07:56AM EST

Lawmakers in Hawaii passed a bill Tuesday prohibiting the sale of sunscreens that are harmful to ocean ecosystems, including coral reefs.

The bill now heads to Governor David Ige for his signature. If signed, Hawaii will ban these sunscreens starting Jan. 1, 2021 and become the first state in the nation to enact such a law.

The measure, introduced by Democratic State Senator Mike Gabbard, bans in Hawaii the sale and distribution of all sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate without a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

As the text of the bill explains, studies have shown that the two chemicals can cause mortality in developing coral, increase coral bleaching, cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms, induce feminization in adult male fish and increase reproductive diseases in marine invertebrate species.

"These chemicals have also been shown to degrade corals' resiliency and ability to adjust to climate change factors and inhibit recruitment of new corals," the text adds.

The Senate approved the bill unanimously. Four members of the House were opposed.

"Amazingly, this is a first-in-the-world law," Gabbard told the Honolulu Star Advertiser via email. "So, Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens. When you think about it, our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow. This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life, and human health."

Oxybenzone and octinoxate, which filter UV rays, is found in some of the biggest sunscreen brands, including ones sold by Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat and Coppertone. These damaging compounds enter the environment when washed off in the sink or shower or directly from swimmers wearing sunscreen.

Extensive coral bleaching is occurring in Hawaii's most popular snorkelling spot, Hanauma Bay. While studies have shown than global warming is one factor behind the bleaching, scientists also blame the estimated 412 pounds of sunscreen that leaches into the tourist-heavy bay per day. Even a drop of oxybenzone in 4.3 million gallons of water, or six and a half Olympic sized swimming pools worth, is enough to harm corals.

But this problem is not just happening in Hawaii. Up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen bleed into the world's reefs every year, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.

There are many reef-safe sunscreen options available, which contain minerals such as zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Edgewell Personal Care, makers of Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens, also told Outside: "To meet consumer needs, we produce several Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic products that are free of oxybenzone and octinoxate."

Lawmakers take on housing crisis

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

By Nanea Kalani and Kevin Dayton
May 2, 2018 | Updated May 2, 2018 12:21am

Lawmakers say they made good on their pledge to address the state's homeless and affordable-housing crises with strategies they described as groundbreaking and bold during the 2018 legislative session, which ends Thursday.

Studies estimate the state needs to add more than 25,000 units to the housing inventory on Oahu alone over the next decade to keep up with demand, with much of the need for middle- and lower-income families. Meanwhile, Hawaii continues to lead the nation with the highest per capita rate of homelessness.

The House and Senate gave final approval Tuesday to close to 200 measures, including several aimed at helping tackle homelessness and housing issues along with bills to ban use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos and certain sunscreen products, and prohibit conversion therapy for youth.

"Homelessness and housing was the top priority for this legislative session, and I'd like to say that we delivered," Senate Housing Committee Chairman Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) said. "I do believe that this is the year and the first step where hopefully down the road we will start to see some significant changes."

In all, lawmakers set aside nearly $50 million this year for homelessness initiatives and $600 million for affordable-housing programs.

State Sen. Josh Green (D, Naalehu-Kailua-Kona) called Senate Bill 2401 - which includes $30 million to establish ohana zones on public land - a "landmark piece of legislation."

"I know some people in the public wonder why we would invest so much in solving the homeless crisis," said Green, chairman of the Senate Human Services Committee. "When you look at the complexity of the lives of the 8,000 individuals in Hawaii who are homeless and see that 20 percent are chronically homeless, many of whom suffer with addiction or mental illness, you begin to see the value of taking on this problem aggressively."

Under the bill, the governor would need to determine the locations of ohana zones, with at least three sites on Oahu and one site each on Kauai, Maui and Hawaii island.

It defines ohana zones as places where homeless individuals can access resources for basic needs and where social and health care services and transportation could be offered. The stated goal is to "alleviate poverty and transition individuals experiencing homelessness into affordable housing."

The measure also calls for a $1 million pilot program to deter excessive hospital emergency room visits for nonemergency purposes by homeless individuals.

Green said roughly 3.5 percent of Medicaid users consume $1.2 billion of the state's annual $2 billion Medicaid budget, which provides health insurance for low-income and needy people.

"Not only are we going to help many of the individuals who suffer the greatest on our streets, which include many children; we will also see a good investment of our resources while people suffer less," he said.

The bill further sets aside funding for pre-­arrest diversion programs on Maui and Hawaii island, where homeless people who commit minor crimes could receive social services instead of jail time.

Funding for housing

Lawmakers also approved a hefty funding package to help finance affordable-­housing and rental projects.

House Bill 2748 provides $570 million for affordable housing, including money for the state Rental Housing Revolving Fund and an expansion of an excise tax exemption for construction. The investment is expected to fund development of 25,000 units by 2030 for middle- and lower-income families.

Senate Bill 2293, which also won final approval Tuesday, provides $30 million to expedite and complete construction of a 200-unit state affordable-­housing project in Lahaina.

In the House, state Rep. Gene Ward said that despite the commitment of large sums to provide more housing, the state will still be tens of thousands of units short of the demand in the years ahead.

"We're still going to be 25,000 short, so we've got to face the numbers," said Ward (R, Kalama Valley-Queen's Gate-Hawaii Kai). "This is a good election year gesture, but it doesn't solve the problem."

He said the bill should be a "lever" to free up more resources for housing "every year, not just this year."

Chemical bans

Lawmakers, meanwhile, approved a ban on the pesticide chlorpyrifos beginning Jan. 1, and another ban effective Jan. 1, 2021, on sunscreen products containing oxybenzone or octinoxate.

State Sen. Mike Gabbard, chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, said an estimated 6,000 tons of sunscreen ends up in the waters surrounding the islands annually. On Maui an estimated 55 gallons of sunscreen is deposited into nearshore waters daily.

"This legislation is a big step forward for the protection of our coral reefs, marine life and human health," Gabbard (D, Kapolei-Makakilo) said.

The effective date was delayed to allow sunscreen makers to reformulate their products and prevent an increase of skin cancer.

The pesticide bill calls for 100-foot buffer zones around public and private schools during school hours and requires all users of restricted-use pesticides to file annual disclosure reports on quantities, locations and dates.

State Rep. Lynn DeCoite (D, Lanai-Molokai-Paia-Hana) criticized the measure, saying, "The local farms targeted in this bill are the ones that supply most of our local food. Unwarranted and new regulations will hurt those local farmers. Can we afford to lose more farmers to unjustified new regulations?"

She also questioned provisions in the bill that allow the state Department of Agriculture to grant temporary permits for the use of chlorpyrifos until 2022, which she said is "not in line with the intent of this bill, which is to protect our keiki and our communities."

But state Rep. Matt LoPresti (D, Ewa Villages-Ocean Pointe-Ewa Beach) said, "People have been crying out for the state to take action, and this bill is a step in that direction."

The measure passed in the House on a 50-0 vote, with state Rep. Roy Takumi excused. It passed in the Senate 25-0.

Heated debate

In the House, debate over a bill to prohibit treatments designed to change the sexual orientation of minors led to an outburst on the floor. Senate Bill 270 would prohibit professional counselors from offering sexual orientation-change therapy to anyone under 18.

State Rep. Bob McDermott (R, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) called the bill "over-broad" and said some children have unwanted sexual attractions and might want to seek help but likely would be unable to under the bill.

At one point McDermott said that transgender people "by very definition have a psychological disorder." That prompted state Rep. Sean Quinlan to interrupt: "I disagree with calling, saying all transgender people have a psychological disorder. I don't think that's correct."

McDermott then demanded a recess, and witnesses said he complained that Quinlan was "out of order."

The bill passed 45-5 when the session resumed, with McDermott and state Reps. Ward, Isaac Choy, Sharon Har and Sam Kong voting against it. In the Senate the bill passed 24-1, with Gabbard voting no.

The approved measures next head to Gov. David Ige for further consideration.

Hawaii poised to be first in sunscreen legislation

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

By Nina Wu
May 2, 2018 | Updated May 2, 2018 12:25am

Hawaii lawmakers Tuesday passed a bill banning the sale of sunscreens containing chemicals deemed harmful to coral reefs.

If Gov. David Ige signs the bill into law, it will take effect Jan. 1, 2021, and make Hawaii the first state in the nation to enact such a law.

Senate Bill 2571, introduced by state Sen. Mike Gabbard (D, Kapolei-­Makakilo), prohibits the sale and distribution of over-the-counter sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in Hawaii. It sailed through the Senate, with no opposition, and received four "no" votes in the House on Tuesday.

Gabbard said it is a "first-in-the-world" law.

"So, Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens," he said in an email. "When you think about it, our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow. This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life, and human health."

The four opposing votes came from state Reps. Isaac Choy, Sharon Har, Sam Kong and Bob McDermott.

Gabbard, chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, said scientific research has shown oxybenzone and octinoxate have significant, harmful impacts on Hawaii's coral reefs, marine life and human health. Studies have shown they increase coral bleaching and reproductive diseases among sea urchins, eels and parrotfish.

The bill was supported by the Friends of Hanauma Bay, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, Surfrider Foundation and a number of nonprofit environmental groups, as well as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

"This is landmark legislation," said Lisa Bishop, president of Friends of Hanauma Bay. "We are grateful to the legislators for supporting this from the beginning, grateful to all the scientists who shared their up-to-date evidence of the problems oxybenzone and octinoxate pose not only to the marine environment, but to human health. Hawaii will once again lead the way internationally."

Bishop hopes the city will expand its education program at Hanauma Bay, which receives nearly 1 million visitors a year, to include more about harmful sunscreens. The gift shop there already has volunteered to stop selling sunscreens with the two chemicals, but she would like to see information about sunscreens included in the video visitors see before entering the preserve.

Craig Downs, executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Virginia, which in November measured the levels of oxybenzone in Hanauma Bay, also testified in favor of the bill.

He said there is a "clear and present threat to the coral reefs that tourists love the most," including Hanauma Bay, much of the west coast of Maui as well the Florida Keys.

The bill was opposed by ABC Stores, the Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Personal Care Products Council, as well as Bayer, which manufactures Coppertone sunscreens.

The Hawaii Medical Association said there was a lack of peer-reviewed evidence showing the chemicals cause coral bleaching, and overwhelming evidence showing that not wearing sunscreen increases cancer rates. Bayer cited limited active ingredients available in the United States and approved by the Food and Drug Administration with the proven effectiveness of oxybenzone for sunscreens over SPF 50.

Supporters of the bill, however, said there are plenty of mineral-based alternative sunscreens available. The bill does not not prohibit visitors from bringing their own sunscreens with the two chemicals from out of state.

Rosalyn Ardoin, a registered nurse and founder of Little Hands Hawaii, a mineral-based sunscreen, testified for the bill. With the birth of her first daughter seven years ago, she started researching sunscreens and began making her own with as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.

Her husband, Michael Koenigs, an avid surfer and diver, became interested as an advocate for the ocean.

"There's definitely a lot of alternatives that don't have oxybenzone," she said.

First In The Nation Chlorpyrifos Ban!

Hawaii did what Pruitt's EPA wouldn't.

Originally published by Hawaii Reporter; click here to read the column on hawaiireporter.com.

By Robert Kay | May 1, 2018

Today Hawaii did what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Scott Pruitt had failed to do: it banned the neurotoxin chlorpyrifos that can trace its genealogy to nerve agents used in World War 1. It took several years of grassroots activism, ongoing court battles, and a high profile advocacy campaign by a determined coalition, as well as leadership from key legislative champions like Senator Russell Ruderman, Rep. Richard Creagan, Rep.Dee Morikawa, Senator Mike Gabbard, and Representative Chris Lee.

"There is much to celebrate," said Gary Hooser, Founder President of the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (H.A.P.A.). "This was a compromise in which everyone's voice was heard, and most importantly, the community's well-founded fears about their health were addressed. Our families have some much-needed protections against powerful neurotoxins that we know are harming our children, pregnant women and families living close to test fields."

"In addition to banning chlorpyrifos, we fought hard for comprehensive reporting and no spray zones, and I am so pleased we got them," said Lauryn Rego who serves on the advisory board of the Hawaii Center for Food Safety. "We have shown that toxic pesticides like chlorpyrifos can and should be phased out of our environment. And agrichemical companies that use Hawaii as their open laboratory now must report to the Department of Agriculture what is being sprayed, how much is being sprayed, and when and where those applications occur. This reporting will create a wealth of valuable data for decision-makers and researchers. What we have had so far has been woefully inadequate," she said.

Molokai mother, lawyer, activist, Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, whose child goes to an immersion school on Molokai that is across from Monsanto fields, welcomed the news. "At last! This is the beginning of the end of our worries about what our children are being exposed to," she said.

The ban will take effect in January 2019. Companies that need more time to respond to the chlorpyrifos ban may apply for extensions via temporary permits which will be available only until 12/31/2022. After this date there will be no exceptions and chlorpyrifos will be banned from all use in the state of Hawaii.

Legislators listened to scientists and doctors

In the lead up to this vote, the coalition had showcased the views of several scientists who have studied these pesticides, and doctors who have long advocated for a ban on chlorpyrifos. Doctors wrote and spoke of their first-hand encounters with various health conditions known to be linked to pesticide exposure in large studies. Several physicians last year co-signed an appeal to the governor urging a ban on chlorpyrifos based on their concerns. They cited the findings of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) who noted that "the risk to infant and children's health and development is unambiguous." The Hawaii chapter of the Academy offered testimony in support of this measure.

Robust reporting requirements and public disclosure will enable better research and improved protections for public health and the environment.

The quantity and quality of the "individual entity reporting data" gathered annually has significant potential value for research, studies, and testing needs. The Public Report Summary itself will provide the average resident and visitor with data to make basic decisions such as where to live or where their children should attend school.

"Today we moved a step closer to addressing the huge risk posed by the spraying of restricted use pesticides. This is real progress in safeguarding the health of the community," said Hooser. "We thank the legislators for doing the right thing to protect public health and we count on their continuing vigilance in managing and reining in reckless corporate behavior," he said.

"This was a law that was years in the making. Its time had come." said Senator Ruderman, the bill's primary introducer, who along with co-introducers Senators Josh Green and Rep. Karl Rhoads, were among the earliest supporters of the bill. "We have been guided by the belief that we must always put our keiki first. On that we should all agree."

SB 3095 represents a turning point for Hawaii, and marks a new chapter for its residents and advocates in the Protect Our Keiki coalition who have repeatedly demande3:40 PM 5/2/2018d protection against pesticide harms. The world's largest agrichemical companies, such as Monsanto, Dow, and Syngenta, experiment and develop their genetically engineered crops in Hawaii. Because the majority of these crops are engineered to resist herbicides and pesticides, testing and development of these crops result in repeated spraying of dangerous chemicals. Many of their operations are adjacent to schools and residential areas, putting children and public health at risk. Voluntarily reported pesticide use data shows that these companies apply thousands of gallons and pounds of RUPs in Hawaii each year.

Chad Blair: The Most Progressive Legislative Session In A Long Time

From approving medical aid in dying to banning certain sunscreens and pesticide chemicals, legislators passed bills they only thought about in years past.

Originally published by Civil Beat; click here to read the column on civilbeat.org.

By Chad Blair | May 2, 2018

Doing his best Bob Dylan, a state senator literally sang the praises of the Hawaii Legislature on Tuesday.

Strumming a guitar and blowing a harmonica, Mike Gabbard opened the Senate floor session by singing about bills banning pesticides and setting up protective buffer zones around schools, restricting coral-damaging chemicals in sunscreens, expanding medical marijuana use for qualified patients, building legal homeless camps and asking voters to give the Legislature the authority to raise taxes in order to pay teachers more money.

Well, come gather 'round people (wherever you roam) and admit that - at least for the 2018 session - the times they are a-changin': Lawmakers marked one of their most progressive (meaning innovative, reformist, liberal) sessions in recent memory.

In addition to the aforementioned legislation, other bills passed this year prohibit sexual-orientation "conversion" therapy, ban the sale of trigger modifications on firearms, preserve parts of Obamacare under Hawaii law, start a pilot project on Kauai for all-mail voting and require the state to investigate unlicensed care homes.

Arguably the most progressive measure of all that passed in the 2018 session (already signed into law by Gov. David Ige) was the medical aid in dying bill, allowing qualified patients the right to obtain life-ending medication. The bill had failed to advance only a year ago.

"We responded to the calls of many," Sen. Brickwood Galuteria said at the close of the Senate's floor session Tuesday.

Not every measure passed, of course, but Galuteria said he and his colleagues had "done incredible things."

"This is exactly what we should be doing," he said.

Things Have Changed

The 2018 session, which formally concludes Thursday, stands in stark comparison to the events of just a year ago.

At that time, the House of Representatives removed Joe Souki as speaker, the Senate dumped Jill Tokuda as Ways and Means Committee chair and both chambers failed to strike agreement on a plan to pay for Honolulu's floundering rail system. Instead, lawmakers would have to return in special session in late August to craft a rail bailout.

What made the difference in 2018 - an election year, when conventional wisdom suggests lawmakers facing voters would play it safe?

One factor, say Capitol insiders and observers, was that the aid in dying bill was passed early enough in the session that lawmakers could then turn their attention to other controversial measures.

Another reason is that agreement was reached on the state budget prior to the give-and-take conference committee period where legislators scrambled to compromise on other bills. Having much of the state's financial outlays settled made it easier to decide what else - like new programs or employee positions - would live and die.

And a third reason for the passage of so many progressive measures is that the House, the Senate and the Ige administration all placed reducing homelessness and increasing the availability of affordable housing at the top of their priority lists.

While the intertwined issues have been at the forefront of state and local government for years, the Legislature dedicated a substantial amount of money - more than half a billion dollars - to provide more rental housing units and additional housing-related funding increases and tax exemptions.

It also took a risk on so-called ohana zones, government-sanctioned legal camps for homeless people. The administration has opposed ohana zones as not permanently putting people into housing, but the Legislature is directing the administration to spend more than $30 million to build and provide services at six zones throughout the state.

Sometimes it takes time for an idea to be accepted, said Rep. Tom Brower, who was among a few lawmakers who proposed the idea a decade ago. Speaking on the House floor Tuesday, Brower said homelessness is "perhaps the ultimate challenge facing Hawaii today."

"For 10 years we had people laughing at us thinking we're kind of crazy," said Rep. John Mizuno. "There are no throwaway people in our society."

Knowing Which Way The Wind Blows

Another reason for the change in policy has to do with changing public opinion. Recent surveys showed that solid majorities wanted medical aid in dying and all-mail voting.

Still, the 2018 session's variety of progressive legislation is remarkable compared to the sluggishness of past sessions. For example, Hawaii may have been one of the national leaders in passing medical marijuana legislation, but it took far longer to set up dispensaries. Hawaii's courts were way ahead of the curve on same-sex marriage, too, but it took until 2013 to make it law.

"This is really the example of the best of the Legislature," House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke said Tuesday. "This is an example of how people came together, both the House and Senate, the various members and various community members, with a lot of hard work, a lot of late nights."

It's not that lawmakers agreed on everything.

Gabbard, a Democrat in a Capitol near totally controlled by Democrats, was the lone Senate vote against the sex-conversion therapy bill. But then, he is often conservative on social issues.

Tangled Up In Blue

In the House, Republican Rep. Bob McDermott was among the opponents of SB 270 to ban state-licensed professionals from engaging in conversion therapy for minors. Children who are questioning their sexual identity and unhappy with their same-sex attractions should be able to seek help from a professional, he said.

And conversion therapy would benefit transgender individuals, McDermott said, "who by their very definition have a psychological disorder, gender dysmorphia."

Rep. Sean Quinlan interrupted McDermott in disagreement. McDermott called a recess, dropped his microphone and spoke briefly with House leadership.

"He was out of fucking order," he yelled twice, referring to Quinlan.

From across the room, Luke reminded McDermott that his microphone was still on.

The recess was over after a few minutes. Quinlan apologized for interrupting McDermott's remarks. McDermott apologized too.

"My testosterone therapy must be on overdose today," he said.

The bill passed on a 45-5 vote.

There was some squabbling in the House between the full five-person Minority Caucus and various members of the 46-person Majority Caucus. Democrats chided their Republican colleagues several times for being "out of order" and veering off topic.

They Gotta Serve Somebody

Still, the passage of several pieces of legislation was unprecedented.

The ban on oxybenzone and octinoxate in sunscreen (except by prescription) is said by lawmakers to be a first in the nation. Banning the use of chlorpyrifos in pesticides, meanwhile, was called "groundbreaking" by Rep. Matt LoPresti. While the data is not conclusive, opponents of chlorpyrifos believe it is deadly.

"This potent effect on our keiki and our aina is not something that can go unchecked," said LoPresti.

There were areas where the Legislature fell short of progressive goals.

A bill requiring the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish paid family leave for all workers by 2023 was changed to require that a study be done on the matter. A related measure, requiring employers to provide a minimum amount of paid sick leave to employees to care for loved ones, died in conference committee.

And a bill prohibiting the sale and use of polystyrene foam containers statewide fell by the wayside, too, in spite of the assurances of legislative leaders that protecting the aina is top of mind. But it still appears that smoking tobacco and using electronic smoking devices will be banned on University of Hawaii premises.

All in all, say many Capitol observers, the 2018 session was one to remember in terms of progressivism. They can savor the accomplishments for now - at least until next month when Gov. Ige identifies which bills he will veto.

Courtney Teague contributed to this report.

Hawaii May Be The First State To Ban Reef-Killing Sunscreens

Studies show that chemicals in popular sunscreen brands are extremely harmful to coral reef.

Originally published by Huffington Post; click here to read the article on huffingtonpost.com.

By Carla Herreria
05/02/2018 08:51 am ET | Updated 4 hours ago

Hawaii may soon be the first state in the U.S. to ban sunscreens with chemicals that harm nature.

State lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bill that bans the sale of sunscreens that have chemicals believed to damage coral reefs. The ban is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2021, once it is signed by Gov. David Ige (D).

The bill specifically prohibits the sale and distribution of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. The ban will not affect medically-prescribed sunscreens containing those chemicals.

Years of studies have shown that many chemicals in some of the most common sunscreens have chemicals that damage - and sometimes kill - fragile coral reef systems.

Oxybenzone, which is found in more than 3,500 skin care products, is effective for protecting skin from damaging sun rays. However, a 2015 study revealed that the chemical is toxic to developing coral and increases the coral's susceptibility to bleaching.

"The chemical not only kills the coral, it causes DNA damage in adults and deforms the DNA in coral in the larval stage, making it unlikely they can develop properly," researchers wrote in the study of the chemical's effect on reefs in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

And about 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in coral reefs worldwide, according to that study.

"Amazingly, this is a first-in-the-world law," state Sen. Mike Gabbard (D), who introduced the bill, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "So, Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens."

"When you think about it, our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow," added Gabbard, who posted a video on Facebook last weekend of himself singing a song in support of the bill. "This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life, and human health."

Those who oppose the bill worry that the ban could discourage people from using sunscreen altogether, leading to more instances of skin cancer.

In a column for Honolulu Civil Beat, Doug Johnson, a dermatologist and spokesman for the Hawaii Dermatology Society, said that the "more important concern" is the "indisputable evidence that links the tragedy of sun exposure to the epidemic of skin cancer including melanoma."

"A ban on these sunscreens in Hawaii - the state with the highest daily UV index warnings and very high rates of skin cancer and melanoma - would be a public health disaster," Johnson said.

However, lawmakers who voted for the bill agree with researchers and environmental activists who believe the new law will protect one of Hawaii's most important attractions: the colorful reefs.

"We have to be making in-roads to reduce the damage to all of these sources because our corals are under such stress. And if they go, our whole fishery, ecosystem and habitat go. So we need to protect them," state Sen. Laura Thielen (D), told local news station KHON 2.

Bill to ban 2 chemicals in sunscreen up for vote

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

By Nina Wu
May 1, 2018 | Updated May 1, 2018 12:05am

Hawaii is poised to become the first state in the nation to pass a law banning the sale of sunscreens containing chemicals believed to harm coral reefs, if legislators vote to pass a bill today.

Senate Bill 2571, introduced by state Sen. Mike Gabbard (D, Kapolei-Makakilo), prohibits the sale and distribution of over-the-counter sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in Hawaii. The bill passed out of conference committee at the state Legislature on Friday and is headed to floor votes by both the House and Senate today. Following House and Senate approval, it goes to Gov. David Ige for his signature.

Gabbard, chairman of the agriculture and environment committee, lauded the progress on Facebook as "a huge win for our state, for our near shore, our coral reefs, oceans, and marine life. I'm happy we're taking this step to protect our environment and our people."

Gabbard said scientific research has shown the two chemicals have significant, harmful impacts on Hawaii's coral reefs and marine environment by increasing coral bleaching and reproductive diseases in ocean inhabitants such as sea urchins, eels and parrotfish.

The bill is supported by the Friends of Hanauma Bay, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, Surfrider Foundation and a number of nonprofit environmental groups, as well as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Craig Downs, executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Virginia, which tested Hanauma Bay in November to measure the levels of oxybenzone in waters there, also testified in favor of the bill.

The bill is opposed by ABC Stores, the Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, American Chemistry Council and Personal Care Products Council, as well as Bayer, which manufactures Coppertone sunscreens.

Bayer said there are limited, active ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration available within the U.S. with the same proven effectiveness as oxybenzone for sunscreens over SPF 50. The Hawaii Medical Association said there was a lack of peer-reviewed evidence suggesting sunscreen is a cause of coral bleaching, and overwhelming evidence that not wearing sunscreen increases cancer rates.

Two amendments were made to the final version of the bill. The date that the proposed law would go into effect was pushed back from July 1, 2019, to Jan. 1, 2021. In addition, sunscreens that fall under the category of cosmetics intended for use on the face are not included. The state law also would pre-empt county laws.

Committee OKs pesticide bill

Originally published by the Garden Island; click here to read the article on thegardenisland.com.

By Jessica Else | Saturday, April 28, 2018, 12:05 a.m.

The House and Senate Conference Committee approved a pesticide regulation bill Friday, two hours before their deadline and after rescheduling the hearing twice.

The vote was unanimous.

"We all know for many years people across the state have been demanding the state take action on pesticide use and environmental health ramifications and we have been slow to act, and I apologize for that," said Sen. Mike Gabbard, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee.

Rep. Chris Lee said there is no safe use for the pesticide chlorpyrifos and with the lack of federal regulations, now is the time to pass this bill.

"With a lack of federal leadership on this issue, we needed to pass this bill to protect our children and families from possible negative effects of chemical pesticides," he said. "With careful regulation we can still allow some agricultural businesses to use some pesticides on their farms and away from schools."

Representatives from the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association say the organization is concerned about the bill.

HCIA members voluntarily cooperate with Hawaii Department of Agriculture programs that are in place that regulate restricted use pesticides, HCIA representatives said, and they hail the bill as having "detrimental, wide-ranging impacts on farm and pesticide users."

"If signed into law, SB3095 will have a profound impact on everyone who uses any type of pesticide, including using home products to control roaches and ants," said Scott Ishikawa, communications manager on behalf of HCIA. "Pesticide uses are regulated by the most stringent federal and state standards. Members of our community already comply with these strict regulations, including all applicable buffer zones as mandated by the EPA."

Gary Hooser, head of Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, says he's thankful for the hard work of the community and the lawmakers' decision.

"Today marks an auspicious moment in the legislative history surrounding pesticide regulation," he said. "The bill passed today contains a first in the nation ban on the use of chlorpyrifos, which is phased in gradually over four years, as well as a comprehensive statewide RUP reporting requirement."

Some of the changes that are included in the draft include expanding reporting requirements to all users of Restricted Use Pesticides rather than just to commercial agriculture use, extending temporary use permits for chlorpyrifos to Dec. 31, 2022 and requiring the Department of Agriculture to develop pesticide drift monitoring programs by Jan. 1.

"This bill is the first step in the right direction to protect people from these chemicals," Gabbard said.

The bill is expected to be on the House and Senate floors on Tuesday.

Legislature wrap up: what bills survived

Originally published by KITV; click here to read the article on kitv.com.

By Brenton Awa
Posted: Apr 27, 2018 8:30 PM HST
Updated: Apr 27, 2018 8:30 PM HST

All of their work this legislative session came down to today.

Some lawmakers watched as their bills were shelved, put off for another year, others saw them die.

Bills that passed conference today means it's only missing the governor's signature from becoming law.

One of the big bills throughout the entire session has been how to help the homeless. Lawmakers agreed to put millions of dollars towards the issue just a few hours ago.

"I think this is the greatest year ever for the Hawaii State Legislature in dealing with homeless and affordable housing," Rep. John Mizuno said.

The $50 million includes $30 million in state funds to the Governor's office to create "Ohana Zones" or "Safe Zones" to give the homeless a place they can live without fear of having to constantly move due to "sweeps."

"The governor and his team would be out of their mind not to accept this opportunity of $30 million to solve the homeless crisis," Sen. Josh Green said.

Lawmakers say three safe zone sites would be located on Oahu, one on Kauai, another on Maui and one on Hawaii Island. Lawmakers also told Island News the Ohana Zones could include hygiene centers, secure dwelling places and support services. It's been ten years in the making for this bill.

A care homes bill also passed, focusing on unlicensed operations, which will soon be prohibited. This bill puts regulation on those unlicensed homes. It also allows the Department of Health to investigate care facilities reported to be operating without appropriate certificates or licenses. There are more than 2000 licensed care homes in Hawaii. Some of them said they were contemplating giving up their licenses and providing illegal underground care if this bill didn't pass.

"We did the right thing, this is two words, consumer protection," Mizuno said.

Getting paid to take family leave, supporters of this bill were hoping for six weeks of paid time off for family care. The bill that passed calls for a study so state lawmakers can determine how to better set up a paid family leave program for the State of Hawaii. The study is a precursor to creating a program. Lawmakers want to make sure they know how mandating paid time off will affect both employers and employees before implementing any new standards.

"You want to make sure you do this right so at the end of the day, people can get the progressive leads they need at a cost that is right for the taxpayer," Sen. Jill Tokuda said.

An equal pay bill passed just before that, it would prohibit employers from asking a job applicant's wage or salary history during a job application process. It also prohibits wage secrecy meaning lawmakers want employees to know what each other are making to help close the gap.

A major bill on pesticides also passed. Hawaii could become the first state ever to ban a type of pesticide chemical called chlorpyrifos. The bill is meant to protect people from the effects of pesticides. It would require disclosure of who is spraying what chemicals and where. It also creates a buffer zone of 100 feet around schools where no one would be able to spray chemicals during school hours.

"It's a good first step compared to being able to spray anything you want right outside the window while the kids are in there, it's protecting our kids," Sen. Russell Ruderman said.

The chemicals we put on our skin when heading to the beach will likely have to be redeveloped. Lawmakers voted to ban all sunscreens containing oxybenzone. The ban goes into effect in 2021. Island News was told 95 percent of all sunscreens contain the chemical.

"This is huge and it's another example of Hawaii setting the standard for taking care of marine life as well as human life," Sen. Mike Gabbard said.

To the roads, illegally passing a school bus in the near future will result in a more costly fine. Lawmakers have agreed on a bill to increase the fine for passing a school bus while it's stopped and using it's hazard lights from $500 to $1000.

Pesticide Compromise Reached As Conference Committee Time Expires

Measures on medical marijuana and all-mail voting are moving forward before the session wraps up next week.

Originally published by Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.

By Courtney Teague and Chad Blair | April 27, 2018

One of the most controversial measures of the Hawaii legislative session cleared a major hurdle Friday.

Senate Bill 3095 calls for mandatory disclosure of pesticide use, a reporting and regulation program and the creation of buffer zones around schools when restricted-use pesticides are sprayed.

It also would ban the use of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos starting in 2019, though there's some debate about the chemical's impact on human health. The bill allows the state Department of Agriculture to grant permits allowing its use through 2022.

The department would receive $300,000 to monitor pesticide drift at three schools.

A draft put forward by the Senate passed out of conference committee Friday, where lawmakers from both chambers attempt to resolve differences between drafts.

The bill came down to the wire, its final hearing hours before the end of conference committee.

"We have been slow to act and I apologize for that," said Sen. Mike Gabbard, a supporter of the bill whose lead author is Sen. Russell Ruderman.

He noted that Hawaii would be the first state to ban chlorpyrifos.

SB 3095 was one of many bills that passed Friday ahead of the conference committee deadline. They include measures related to medical marijuana, unlicensed care homes, voting by mail, paid family leave and sunscreen restrictions.

Most of the measures await final floor votes next week. The session concludes Thursday.

Vaporizers, But No Edibles

A conference committee passed a wide-ranging bill related to the state's medical marijuana program. House Bill 2729 would allow patients to purchase vaporizers and tourists to purchase the drug while visiting the islands if they are medical marijuana patients where they live.

Patients with chronic conditions would no longer have to renew their cards annually, as the bill would extend certification to three years.

But the bill was stripped of two major provisions: allowing edibles and establishing workplace protections.

Advocates have long called for the sale of edible, cannabis-infused products so patients don't risk ingesting the wrong dose in products made on their own. Advocates have also called for workplace protections to prevent patients from being punished by employers if they test positive for cannabis. Both of those provisions were removed Friday.

Instead, lawmakers opted to form a working group to study the issues - although a separate working group has already recommended approval of the measures.

Care Home Crackdown

State inspectors would have more power to investigate and penalize unlicensed care homes under House Bill 1911, which cleared conference committee Friday. There have been a growing number of reports about such homes caring for up to 20 people without oversight.

Voter Turnout

All-mail elections would be piloted on Kauai in 2020 thanks to House Bill 1401, which passed out of conference committee. Mail-only voting has been touted as a way to save money and increase voter turnout. An earlier draft of the bill would have implemented the program statewide.

Shortly after the vote on HB 1401, the Hawaii chapters of Common Cause and the League of Women Voters issued a joint press release thanking lawmakers for passing the bill in spite of its changes.

"Vote by mail will provide more convenience for young people, members of our local military, homebound seniors and voters in rural areas who may not be able to visit the polls on election day," said Janet Mason of the League of Women Voters.

Banning Oxybenzone

Coral-damaging sunscreen would no longer be sold in Hawaii stores under Senate Bill  2571. The bill passed out of conference committee Friday and would prohibit the sale or distribution of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate after July 2021.

An earlier draft of the bill would have put the ban in effect two years earlier.

Exceptions are made for people with prescriptions and cosmetic products such as facial sunscreens.

Hawaii would be the first state to ban sunscreen with ingredients that harm sea life.

Read the rest of the article on civilbeat.org.

Hawaii could become the first state to ban chlorpyrifos

Activists have been fighting for years for a comprehensive pesticide regulation bill. Now one is heading to a final floor vote after passing through conference committee.

Originally published by the Hawaii Independent; click here to read the post on hawaiiindependent.net.

By Will Caron | April 27, 2018 04:56 PM

A bill that would put in place several different regulations on industrial agricultural restricted pesticide use has passed it's biggest hurdle on the way to becoming a groundbreaking law. Earlier today, the bill passed through conference committee with unanimous support from both house and senate conferees, including Maui Senator Roz Baker, who has been a staunch industry ally in the past, leveraging her power to kill previous years' iterations.

But activists organized a strong campaign this session that involved flying in sister island constituents, who are the most likely to be affected by industrial agricultural pesticide use, to testify; coordinating media and messaging between multiple entities; and a strengthened public awareness campaign that was able to create critical mass among the thousands of supporters of these restrictions statewide who phoned in with, what one staffer referred to with great understatement as, "an impressive volume of calls."

"To all the people who put so much time and effort into this campaign, just know that you proved today that your voice does matter," said Leslee Matthews, a legislative fellow for the Pesticide Action Network who is a student at UH Richardson School of Law. "Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."

SB3095 SD1, HD1, CD1 includes provisions to establish 100-foot buffer zones around all state schools and prohibits the spraying of agricultural pesticides during school hours. It includes mandatory disclosure and annual reporting for all restricted pesticide users of what, when and where they sprayed restricted use pesticides (RUPs) to the Department of Agriculture (DOA), making it public information. It includes a pesticide drift study to determine the effects of upwind ag operations on downwind communities. And, in an historic first, it includes a complete ban on the pesticide chlorpyrifos by 2019, with exemptions allowed through 2022.

"This is huge, not just for our farmers and communities, but for farmers and communities around the nation," said Autumn Ness, a Maui resident and organizer with the Hawaii Center For Food Safety. "It only takes one state to step up and do the right thing. Farmers that are forced to work with these chemicals all over the U.S. are going to be looking to Hawai‘i as an example."

"This bill is an important statement by our state, that has national implications," said House Agriculture Committee Chair Richard Creagan. "It will bring attention to the risk to pregnant women from chlorpyrifos. It will also send a message to the 100 countries still using chlorpyrifos that tens of millions of their babies and children's brains are at risk and show them how to reduce that risk."

Chlorpyrifos kills as many as 10,000 people annually around the world. Its use is already prohibited in Europe and other places. In 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibited the residential use of chlorpyrifos but did not issue an outright ban. The EPA was poised to ban the substance outright until 2017 when the Trump administration reversed that position. With this measure, Hawai‘i becomes the first state to prohibit the use of the substance to protect public health.

"Protecting the health of the people in our communities is paramount," said House conference committee co-chair Representative Chris Lee. "This bill strikes a thoughtful balance that protects the health of Hawai‘i's children and families and also helps ensure agricultural companies use pesticides responsibly to prevent unintended consequences."

The bill now goes to a final floor vote before heading to the governor for approval. But the amount of time, money, energy, sweat and, indeed, tears, that have gone into getting a pesticide regulation bill this far is staggering. On behalf of the legislature, Senate Conference Chair Mike Gabbard, who chairs the Senate Ag committee and has been supportive of these efforts, apologized to the "thousands of Hawai‘i voters who have been demanding the legislature take action on this pesticide issue" for taking so long to realize their demands.

"It should not be this hard to get this basic of bill, with these common sense regulations, through the legislature," Ness agreed. "Getting your government to work for you should not be this hard. The good news is, we have learned so many lessons over the past few sessions about how this system works, or does not work, and what we need to do to fix it. That includes getting new people into that building, so that our allies that are already in there can be better at doing the right thing more quickly."

Activists said they have already whipped at least 14 votes in the senate, which is enough to pass the bill through its final reading, which means the final step should be making sure the governor signs the bill.

Big Island receives LFA funding as Legislature mulls Hawaii Invasive Species Authority

Originally published by West Hawaii Today; click here to read the article on westhawaiitoday.com.

By Max Dible | Tuesday, April 24, 2018, 12:05 a.m.

The state is sending reinforcements to West Hawaii to help aid in the fight against little fire ants (LFA), an invasive species that's grown steadily more prevalent in the region over the last decade.

Lawmakers included $200,000 in the state budget to support education and outreach in West Hawaii and establish a full-time position to direct efforts on the leeward side through the Hawaii Ant Lab of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii.

"It's a great start. Certainly more would be better, but we really need staff," said Carolyn Dillon, founder of the LFA Hui, which lobbied West Hawaii legislators to push for more support of the issue this session. "There's an ongoing need on this side for education and assistance. We're pulling staff from Hilo to come over here and that's creating inefficiencies for Hawaii Ant Lab."

Rep. Nicole Lowen, D-North Kona, introduced House Bill 2046 to establish the new position and secure the funding. However, the measure became redundant once the funds were included in the state budget.

After a legislative shuffle, HB 2046, which is currently in conference committee, has become a vehicle for the creation of the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority, which is related to protection against LFA but has a much wider function on a much broader scale.

Sen. Mike Gabbard, D-Oahu, introduced Senate Bill 2399 to develop the authority, an administrative entity with "more clout" to replace the Hawaii Invasive Species Council and help facilitate the implementation of priorities outlined in the ambitious 10-year Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan.

The measure stalled in the House and when HB 2046 crossed over to the Senate, the Senate Ways and Means Committee included in the bill the language from SB 2399 by way of the amendment process.

Gabbard, presiding over the conference committee on HB 2046 as Senate chair, said the creation of the authority will allow for better funding and ease cooperation among several agencies relevant to Hawaii's biosecurity plan, including state departments of Health, Agriculture and Land and Natural Resources.

"Establishing the authority will raise the profile of this issue in the state government and allow us to bring more attention and resources to bear to address ... little fire ants or any other existing invasive species, or new ones that may arise," he continued.

Lowen, who is presiding over HB 2046 in conference committee as House co-chairman, said she supports the concept of the authority.

"The deliberation now is about if that's what's needed, if we can do it, if we can do it this year and if we should do it this year even if we can't fully fund it," she said. "We probably couldn't fund all the positions this year."

Also included in discussions around HB 2046 will be the purpose behind another bill introduced by Lowen this session, HB 2045.

That measure, which died in the House, would have allowed relevant authorities to enter private property and administer LFA treatments as long as there was a "reasonable suspicion" LFA existed there, whether it had been positively identified yet or not.

"That language isn't in (HB 2046)," Lowen said. "But it could get stuck in there if there's a will to do that because it would fit in."

Dillon said she and the LFA Hui would support such an amendment, as anything to raise awareness and combat complacency is still crucial in the early stages of West Hawaii efforts by groups like the LFA Hui, Hawaii Ant Lab and the Big Island Invasive Species Committee to contain LFA infestations.

"Half-measures are not going to work," Dillon said. "I hear so often people saying, 'I have (LFA) but it's not really that bad.' If they don't do something, it's going to get bad. And that's part of education. I would say the majority of people still don't understand."

Pesticide-Free Buffer Zones Around Schools Measure Could Fail

A bill to create restricted pesticide-free buffer zones around Hawai‘i schools is currently stalled at the legislature. HPR's Wayne Yoshioka reports.

Originally published by Hawai‘i Public Radio; click here to read the article on hpr2.org.

By Wayne Yoshioka | APR 23, 2018

Senate Bill 3095 is currently in conference committee. But, the Senate has not assigned any of its members to work on the measure and it could die if there's no agreement by the April 27th deadline. Senator Russell Ruderman introduced the bill.

"The bill, as it is, is still a very modest first step. If you're using 35 pounds or more of restricted use pesticides, then you have to disclose. You have to tell at the year's end how much you used. And also, not spray within a hundred feet of schools during school hours. You know, a hundred-foot buffer zone is so modest. California recently enacted a quarter of a mile buffer zone."

The bill limits restricted pesticide use during school hours only and not during evenings or weekends. It also bans the pesticide Chlorpyrifos in 3 years. Representative Richard Creagan, chairs the House Agriculture Committee, and was also a human geneticist at Yale before becoming a physician.

"Chlorpyrifos is a dangerous pesticide. It's been around a long time and over the past almost 20 years, the evidence that it damages the brains of children, but, in particular, a fetus unborn children, it's become overpowering. And the problem is, there's no lower limit. So, even if it's a very small amount, it can get to the fetus and damage the baby's brain."

Creagan says House members voted unanimously in favor of the current version of the bill. Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee chair, Mike Gabbard, agrees.

"My preference is to go with the House version. Because, it includes some solid components and it's reporting requirements for large-scale users of restricted use pesticides; it establishes a hundred-foot buffer zone around our schools and also the banning of the use of a dangerous pesticide over a 3-year period. So I'm very hopeful this important bill will get passed."

Meanwhile, State Board of Agriculture chair and department director, Scott Enright, says the legislature will do what it wants to do.

"California Departments of Agriculture did an exhaustive 3-year study on this molecule. They're not choosing to ban it. They are putting further restrictions on it and at the direction of Governor David Ige, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is going to look at those restrictions they're putting in place and follow those restrictions going forward."

But, Senator Ruderman, would like lawmakers to take a modest step for Hawai‘i's children.

"For those of us that care about this bill are very concerned about what will happen to it in conference committee. A lot of bills die mysterious, unexplained deaths in conference and that's a way bills can die without being blamed for it."

For HPR News, I’m Wayne Yoshioka.

Bill seeks to ban 2 sunscreen chemicals suspected of damaging coral

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

April 19, 2018 | Updated April 19, 2018 12:05am
By Nina Wu

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve attracts nearly 1 million visitors a year from around the world, and supporters of a bill making its way through the state Legislature say the preserve's coral reefs need protection from harmful chemicals found in popular sunscreens.

Senate Bill 2571, introduced by Sen. Mike Gabbard, seeks to prohibit the sale and distribution of over-the-counter sunscreens containing the more commonly mentioned oxybenzone as well as octinoxate. They held a sunscreen swap and rally Wednesday at the state Capitol, hoping to garner enough support to push the bill through this session.

"There's more and more scientific research coming out about the dangers that oxybenzone and octinoxate pose to our coral reefs, marine life and human health," Gabbard said in an email.

Leading up to the session, Gabbard said a coalition of concerned parties formed Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, and this is one of their top priorities.

With their input, he introduced the bill, which crossed over to the House and now heads to conference committee.

"There is a clear and present threat to the coral reefs that tourists love the most," said Craig Downs, executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, a nonprofit based in Virginia. "Hanauma Bay, ‘Ahihi Bay, Honolua Bay, Kapalua Bay. Now the West Coast of Maui. Most of the reefs are gone."

Downs recently conducted a study at Hanauma Bay, where he and volunteers sampled water on Nov. 17, 2017, examining levels of oxybenzone, which can make coral more susceptible to bleaching.

A total of 10 water samples were collected representing the coral reef closest to the beach. The average concentration of oxybenzone in Hanauma Bay was was 4,661 nanograms per liter of seawater. The lowest was 30, and the highest, 27,880 nanograms per liter of seawater.

His conclusion was that Hanauma Bay "is experiencing intolerable levels of oxybenzone sunscreen pollution." If nothing is done to reduce this, he said, the bay will degrade to the point where it no longer will be a sought-after resource for locals and tourists alike.

All one has to do, he said, is look at coral reefs in West Maui or the Florida Keys.

Supporters of the bill include Friends of Hanauma Bay, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Supporters said alternative, mineral-based sunscreens, which feature zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are available on the market.

Lisa Bishop, president of the Friends of Hanauma Bay, said she is deeply concerned about the survival of the inner coral reef at the "crown jewel of Oahu."

"It is the No. 1 environmental tourist destination, so it has suffered the greatest effects from oxybenzone pollution and we can fix that," she said. "There's a lot of the inner reef already dead over the last 30 years, and if we don't take care of this, within the next 15, 20 years, the inner reef will be dead."

The gift shop at Hanauma Bay voluntarily stopped selling sunscreens containing oxybenzone, she said, and is working on plans to expand outreach and education to visitors.

Testimony in opposition to the bill came from Bayer, which manufactures Coppertone sunscreens; the Hawaii Medical Association; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Personal Care Products Council; and American Chemistry Council.

Bayer said there are limited, active ingredients available within the U.S. with the same proven effectiveness as oxybenzone for sunscreens over SPF 50. The Hawaii Medical Association said it wanted the issue to be studied more deeply because there was a lack of peer-reviewed evidence suggesting sunscreen is a cause of coral bleaching, and overwhelming evidence that not wearing sunscreen increases cancer rates.

The HFIA, which represents distributors of food and beverage products, said "higher standards of review" were needed to "ensure that taking this action would indeed improve outcomes for reefs."

Some private companies, such as Hawaiian Airlines, are taking initiative on their own, without legislation.

This month the airline announced it would be offering free samples of Raw Elements' reef-friendly sunscreen to passengers on flights from North America to Hawaii and airing an in-flight video, "Reefs at Risk." Aqua-Aston Hospitality and Outrigger Resorts also support reef-safe sunscreen initiatives.

Robert Richmond, a research professor and director of Kewalo Marine Laboratory run by the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was at the rally Wednesday to support the bill.

"It's not to say if we stop using oxybenzone, reefs are going to live happily every after," said Richmond. "For me it's death by a thousand cuts. If we can stop several hundred cuts today, that's how we can buy time to deal with these other compelling issues in the future."

Hawaii Seems Poised To Ban Coral-Damaging Sunscreen

Updated: It would be the first state to prohibit the use of sunscreen containing ingredients that scientists say harm sea life.

Originally published by Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.

By Courtney Teague | April 18, 2018

Environmental groups and lawmakers gathered Wednesday at the Capitol in support of a bill to ban coral-damaging sunscreens.

Senate Bill 2571 would prohibit the sale of sunscreen with oxybenzone and octinoxate without a prescription. Although coral bleaching is mainly caused by the warming of ocean temperatures and increased ocean acidification, research shows the chemicals can also bleach corals and inhibit the growth of sea life.

The bill is headed next to conference committee, where representatives from both chambers will try to hammer out differences in the versions that have been approved.

Samples of eco-friendly sunscreen were handed out. The stage was decorated with buckets of reef-toxic sunscreen that a group of Kaiser High School students took from Hanauma Bay visitors in exchange for reef-safe sunscreen.

More than half of Hawaii Island's coral is bleached, said Elyssa Farmer of the Maui Ocean Center. The same is true for more than 40 percent of West Maui corals and 30 percent of those on Oahu. Fish, seaweed and other food sources have been contaminated with sunscreen chemicals, she said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misquoted Farmer as saying that half of the state's coral is bleached.

On Maui alone, it's estimated that 55 gallons of sunscreen are dumped into the water every day. No sunscreen is good for reefs, but some ingredients are worse than others, said Craig Downs, a scientist who tested water samples at Hanauma Bay.

His test results indicated sunscreen levels were high in the bay, "very close to the point of no return," he said. Dead reefs could degrade to rubble and sand. Hawaii's reputation as a tourism destination could be marred without sea life and reefs, he said.

"The weather's great in California, too," Downs said. "Hawaii has a lot to lose."

Sen. Mike Gabbard, equipped with a guitar and harmonica, was on hand to sing a brief song about banning oxybenzone. Gabbard introduced SB 2571.

Despite pushback from the cosmetic industry and dermatologists, Sen. Will Espero said Hawaii is poised to make history as the first state to ban sunscreen with hazardous chemicals.

Rep. Nicole Lowen, who has previously introduced similar legislation, said a fifth of the world's coral is dead. Ninety percent of reefs could be dead in 30 years, she said.

Lowen said her district, west Hawaii Island, once had the healthiest and most vibrant reefs in the state. The difference is palpable since the world's last major bleaching event a few years ago.

"We have to do everything we can to prevent this from happening," she said.

Rep. Gene Ward, a member of the House conference committee, warned participants to be wary of any last-minute changes to the bill. He compared the month of April in the legislative session to the Bermuda triangle.

"Be alert, be sober," he said. "It ain't over yet."

Industrial Hemp Trial Program to Begin

Originally published by Big Island Now; click here to read the article on bigislandnow.com.

April 18, 2018, 11:43 AM HST (Updated April 19, 2018, 2:38 PM)

The State of Hawai‘i's Industrial Hemp Pilot Program will begin accepting applications for licenses to grow the crop beginning Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The objective of the pilot program is to allow the cultivation of industrial hemp in Hawai‘i for the purposes of agricultural and academic research. The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) will open the program incrementally beginning with the June 2018 licensing period and will issue licenses on a quarterly basis. There is an application fee of $500 and it is non-refundable.

"Many believe that industrial hemp can be an important crop in Hawai‘i. This pilot program is a strong and prudent step in helping to determine the viability of this crop in Hawai‘i," said Gov. David Ige. "The Department of Agriculture has conducted extensive planning and has overcome significant legal obstacles to launch this program."

In July 2016, Gov. Ige signed Act 228 and in July 2017 signed Act 199 (amendment), which established the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. HDOA then established the rules for the program which were approved by the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture in September 2017, and signed by Gov. Ige in September 2017.

"In establishing this program, we had to consider many complex issues including growing climate, seed varieties, laboratory testing, legal issues and program management," said Scott Enright, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. "From here, we will depend on the licensed growers to raise the crop and develop their specialty market."

State Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee and introducer of the legislation which became Act 228 and Act 199 said, "I commend the Governor and Department of Agriculture for working hard to make our pilot hemp program a reality. I'm convinced that Hawai‘i is well-positioned to become a leader in hemp and we'll have many farmers applying to be licensees. My vision is that we'll one day, in the not too distant future, have a hemp cottage industry that’s the envy of the world."

Some of the challenges that HDOA had to overcome included the importation of hemp seed that is considered by the federal government as a Schedule 1 Drug, which is highly regulated especially when transporting within and into the U.S. HDOA worked with federal and state drug enforcement agencies to successfully import the hemp seed varietal, Yuma, from China which will be provided to the licensed growers. Based upon its own research and tests in Malawi and Australia, HDOA believes that the Yuma varietal is suitable to grow in Hawai‘i's climate.

Industrial hemp and marijuana are both members of the same plant species, Cannabis sativa L. However, industrial hemp refers to cannabis plants with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration at or below 0.3 percent, which is about 33 percent lower than the least potent marijuana. Although industrial hemp and marijuana may look the same, it is not possible to get a chemical high from industrial hemp.

In granting licenses, HDOA will be considering the following factors:

• Completeness of applications
• Licensed to do business in Hawai‘i
• Agriculturally zoned land
• Legitimate Research Plan
• Best management plan for growing of hemp
• A laboratory provisionally certified or certified by the Hawai‘i Department of Health to test cannabis and is willing to collect samples from the growing location.
• Application Fee ($500 non-refundable)

Each license is valid for two years, as long as the licensee complies with the program rules, including submission of annual fees of $250, plus a $2 per acre assessment.

Licensed growers will be required to submit extensive reports on planting, harvesting and movement of industrial hemp and due to the research nature of the pilot program, should track items such as production costs including pest management, water usage, security measures, labor, marketing and other cost factors. Routine sampling, testing (for THC and pesticides) and inspections of crops will also be mandatory during this program.

The program will be administered by HDOA's Quality Assurance Branch.

There are about 38 states that allow or proposing to allow industrial hemp cultivation.

The 11-page application for the program is available on the HDOA website at http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/hemp/.

Questions about the program may be sent to: hemp@hawaii.gov or call (808) 832-0676.

Three States Aim to End the Sale of Cruel Cosmetics

Originally published by the Kind Life; click here to read the post on thekindlife.com.

March 19, 2018 | By Cruelty Free International

New York, Hawaii, and California are already arguably three of the most popular states in the nation and now there may be even more reason to love them as each have proposed legislation that would end the sale of animal tested cosmetics within their boundaries.

The New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act [A 5145], Hawaii Cruelty Free Cosmetics [SB 2115]and, you guessed it, the California Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act [SB 1249] all aim to harmonize state law with regulations in over 30 countries (30 countries and US is not one of them... What the F***! – Alicia) which already prohibit the sale of new animal-tested cosmetics.

March 11th marks the 5 year anniversary ("banniversary" anyone?!), of the European Union ban on the sale of animal tested cosmetics. While many countries including Norway, Israel, and India have followed the EU's lead, the US has been slow to get on board, so now these individual states are stepping up thanks to compassionate legislators who have introduced these bills - Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal of New York, Senator Mike Gabbard of Hawaii, and Senator Cathleen Galgiani of California.

Here's what they had to say about going cruelty free:

"The cosmetics industry was forced to respond to public clamor for environmentally conscious and safe cosmetics by creating paraben-free, BHA-free cosmetics and green cosmetics. Now the public is demanding cruelty-free cosmetics because many understand one can't look or feel beautiful if animals must suffer for it. My legislation will require that all cosmetics sold in New York State are cruelty-free. Beauty might come with a price, but animal cruelty is far too high a price to pay," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manahttan).

Senator Mike Gabbard (D-Kapolei/Makakilo) said, "Cosmetic companies must already use modern non-animal test methods in order sell products in more than 30 countries around the world. Meeting the same standard for Hawaii makes good sense."

"Inaction at the federal level compels California to lead the way in ensuring a cruelty-free cosmetics market for its citizens by barring any new ingredients or cosmetics that are tested on animals," said Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton)

If passed, these bills would make it illegal to sell cosmetic products in the state if they contain ingredients that were tested on animals after the date that the laws go into effect. Let's face it, nothing can be done now about animal testing that took place in the past, but we can stop new animal tests from taking place and by doing so finally consign animal testing for cosmetics to the history books.

You can help:

If you live in New York, California or Hawaii you can help by asking your state legislators to support or cosponsor these bills. In New York ask your State Assemblymember to support A 5145. In Hawaii ask your State Senator to support SB 2115 and in California ask your State Senator to support SB 1249.

No matter where you live you can ask your US Representatives to support the Humane Cosmetics Act which would end animal testing for cosmetics nationwide. Contact your US Representative today and ask that they co-sponsor this important legislation.

Lawmakers crack down on crop theft

Click here to watch the video on kitv.com.

Measures seek to extend ag theft and vandalism pilot program on Hawaii Island

Originally published by West Hawaii Today; click here to read the article on westhawaiitoday.com.

By Max Dible | Monday, February 26, 2018, 12:05 a.m.

Agricultural thieves and vandals created enough disruption on Hawaii Island last year to grab the county’s attention. Now, they’ve caught the eye of the state Legislature.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture in 2017 entered into a contract with the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office developing a pilot program to target agricultural theft and vandalism across the island. Two bills moving through the state Legislature this session would expand and extend that program for two more years.

Senate Bill 2111 cleared a joint committee of Judiciary and Ways and Means Friday morning and moves next to a vote on the Senate floor, likely on March 6. Its companion, House Bill 1883, cleared the Finance Committee Wednesday and is destined for a floor vote, as well.

The measures would bolster the pilot program by adding a second investigative position to the one established in September. It would also require the HDOA provide the Legislature with an assessment of the program’s effectiveness prior to the 2020 session, when it would be considered for continuation and statewide implementation.

“Ag theft and vandalism, they are problems that are statewide,” said Sen. Mike Gabbard (D-Oahu), who introduced the Senate measure. “But I believe it makes sense to start this initiative on Hawaii Island, which in a lot of ways is our state’s breadbasket.”

Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth said the first few months of the initial program were comprised mostly of logistical work and training, but that investigator Shane Muramaru has already made a tangible impact on ag crimes perpetrated countywide.

“Obviously one year is probably not enough to get everything done that you want to do, but we’ve been successful with it, so we want to continue that,” Roth said.

One investigation Roth mentioned in which Muramaru played a significant role is the “famous goat case,” involving the felony theft of seven goats, spray-painted green, from a fenced area in Paukaa last St. Patrick’s Day.

The eventual arrests spawned other charges, all of which took place before Muramaru began in the new position. However, agricultural crimes are notoriously difficult to stop, investigate and prosecute, and work after the fact with the Hawaii Police Department is an important part of Muramaru’s duties, Roth explained.

“Shane is carrying a lot of water on these cases,” he said.

Muramaru spends a lot of his time working with farmers and investigating farmers markets, looking to crackdown on thieves after the fact who try to move stolen produce themselves or through a third party.

Roth said considering the size of the island and the scope of the work, an extra investigator would be a boon in the effort to curb and prosecute ag crimes throughout Hawaii County.

“Shane is covering the whole island. That’s not only quite a bit of work but quite a bit of driving, and there’s some pretty serious stuff, especially on the Kona side, that we’re looking into with coffee,” Roth said. “Coffee is the one product of Hawaii that we’re at the top of the chain. There’s a lot of people that rely on that.”

Gabbard, who attended a meeting in South Kona in October and spoke to several exasperated farmers, said he’s pleased with the progress thus far, adding the state “definitely needs to continue the program.”

“These guys are trying to earn a living and trying to feed their families and feed others and (then they have) to deal with this crap,” Gabbard said. “I am hopeful.”

Scott Enright, chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, testified HDOA supports the program and the accompanying legislation, assuming it doesn’t supersede any of the department’s other budgetary priorities.

The department is paying for the one-year program now in effect out of the HDOA budget, which is how the two-year program extension will be funded if it comes to fruition.

While the funding total remains blank on both legislative measures, Gabbard said he’s spoken to decision makers within HDOA and the general consensus is that $200,000 over two years, or roughly $100,000 per year, appears to be the magic number.

Randy Cabral, president of the Hawaii Farm Bureau, testified in support of the program, saying that when one considers all the other issues farmers face — weather, pests and labor shortages, among several others — it’s “a wonder farms and ranches remain viable.”

Ramped-up ag theft enforcement, he said, is crucial to protecting the industry in Hawaii.

“In working with our members, HDOA, and law enforcement, we have collectively concluded that dedicated enforcement officers housed in the county prosecutor’s office would be a giant step forward in minimizing agricultural crimes and enhancing public safety,” Cabral wrote.

“Too often a farmer or rancher has sweated, worried, and worked to the bone to produce a crop, only to wake up one morning to find that an opportunistic criminal has helped himself to the harvest.”

Bill seeks funds for Hawaii Ant Lab

Originally published by the Hawaii Tribune Herald; click here to read the article on hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Published Thursday, February 8, 2018 - 12:05am | By KIRSTEN JOHNSON

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would appropriate $750,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 to help combat little fire ants.

Senate Bill 2124 seeks $650,000 for six full-time positions at the Hilo-based Hawaii Ant Lab to maintain ongoing statewide mitigation activities.

The funds also would be used for vehicle and operating costs for public outreach and treatment, ant baits, field equipment, computers and printers, according to the bill. It seeks an additional $100,000 for one Hawaii Ant Lab position focused on West Hawaii-based mitigation efforts.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Mike Gabbard, an Oahu Democrat, passed a second reading this week.

Hilo state Sen. Kai Kahele, along with Puna state Sen. Russell Ruderman, co-signed the bill. It also received testimony in support from Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim and Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara. A similar measure introduced last year did not pass.

“The Hawaii Ant Lab has been around about 10 years, and in those 10 years funding has always been fairly irregular,” lab research manager Casper Vanderwoude said Wednesday. “It has depended on competitive grants, so it’s an ongoing process that lurches from grant to grant. ... So this would give us some kind of feeling of tenure. And the new funding would bolster our efforts in West Hawaii where, over the past few years, little fire ants have become more prevalent.”

State Rep. Nicole Lowen, who represents North Kona, also introduced House Bill 2046, which would appropriate $50,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 for West Hawaii-specific outreach and education.

Lowen said this week that little fire ants “are particularly destructive because they have the potential to greatly impact agriculture, tourism and property values.”

“This is becoming more widespread in West Hawaii, and any funds we can put toward it now would be very proactive,” she said.

Lowen’s bill cleared a second reading and was referred to the House Finance Committee.

First Year Update on Hawai‘i Biosecurity Plan

Originally published by Maui Now; click here to read the article on mauinow.com.

February 2, 2018, 1:02 PM HST (Updated February 2, 2018, 1:06 PM)

In the first year of its 10-year plan to strengthen biosecurity, the State of Hawai‘i reports it took dozens of steps to better present, detect and control invasive species in Hawai‘i.

The Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC), co-chaired by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), has released the first of ten annual progress reports detailing implementation of the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan (2017-2027). It was released in January 2017 and describes 147 action items that various agencies, the Legislature, and other collaborators can take to control invasive species. At an informational briefing on January 24th organized by Senator Mike Gabbard, representatives from HDOA, DLNR, the Department of Health (DOH), and the University of Hawaii (UH) reported that they have begun work on approximately 40% of the tasks in the bio-security plan.

“This is a shared effort,” said HDOA Chairperson Scott Enright at the informational briefing. He added, “This work is a collaboration across the legislative and executive branches and across the agencies and stakeholders connected to the issue of biosecurity. It’s an all-hands-on-deck issue.”

For HDOA, first-year achievements include the restoration of detector dog teams that are used for agricultural inspections and work on new technologies for digitally tracking incoming cargo that may be considered high-risk for bringing in invasive species. The Department also received the ability to engage in public-private partnerships for inspection facilities, thanks to authorizations in the 2017 Clift Tsuji Act. In the coming year, HDOA will seek funds to develop a biological control research facility as well as additional agricultural loan funds to support local farmers.

At DLNR improvements are being made to the management of ballast water that enters the state within the hulls of ships, often carrying invasive aquatic organisms. DLNR also noted the importance of legislative appropriations in the first year of the Plan, enabling work on complex issues like rapid ‘ōhi‘a death and rose-ringed parakeets. In coming years, DLNR will be seeking funds and personnel described in the Biosecurity Plan to increase invasive plant and animal control in native forests.

“The Biosecurity Plan highlights how interconnected our work is,” said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case. “The HDOA inspection work at airports directly impacts our ability to protect our mauka forests. Collaborating with DOH on marine vessel cleaning helps reduce new species introductions while ensuring we meet clean water standards. When we work together on these issues, we all win.”

DOH reported at the informational briefing that almost all new positions have been filled following the restoration of Vector Control Branch by the legislature in 2017. The branch is rebuilding a mosquito surveillance network and engaging in outreach on rat lungworm disease. UH provided updates on work by island Invasive Species Committees and the Hawai‘i Ant Lab, projects of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit that specialize in detection and rapid response, as well as outreach and training for residents.

At the one-year mark of Biosecurity Plan implementation, the HISC agencies are also collectively announcing the release of a new invasive species reporting site at 643pest.org and a “643-PEST” mobile app available for Android and iOS platforms. The new services are designed to complement the existing 643-PEST invasive species telephone hotline, which will continue to function alongside its new online counterparts. The new initiative allows people to upload photos and map coordinates when reporting invasive species sightings, allowing for faster response by the appropriate agencies. “We need the public to be our eyes and ears to detect new pests and keep them from becoming established. This new system makes that really convenient.” said Enright. “The new website and app let us receive reports about any type of invasive species and then get it to the appropriate experts,” said Case. “Whether it’s a new threat to agriculture, natural resources, or human health, we want to know about it and make sure the right agencies are working together on a response.”

The system was developed by the Hawai‘i Biodiversity Information Network (HBIN), a project of the University of Hawai‘i’s Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, with app development by Natural Resources Data Solutions, LLC. In addition to uploading photos and map coordinates, the new system allows users to submit any notes they feel necessary and provides an option for anonymous reporting.

Bill to ban 2 sunscreen chemicals advances

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

February 14, 2018
By Tyne Phillips

A bill to ban the sale of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone or octinoxate received overwhelming support and won approval Feb. 7 in its first joint public hearing at the state Legislature.

Those chemicals increase coral bleaching and reproductive diseases and cause deformities in some marine life, according to the bill.

Both chemicals have been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, but Senate Bill 2571 would prohibit the sale of sunscreen in any form that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate without a medical prescription.

“The science is now clear that oxybenzone and octinoxate are damaging our coral reefs and are a danger to human health,” said Sen. Mike Gabbard. “There are plenty of alternative sunscreens on the market with local companies even producing them.”

Gabbard (D, Kapolei-­Makakilo) is chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Committee and is lead sponsor for the bill.

Supporters of the bill included the Sierra Club of Hawaii, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Friends of Hanauma Bay, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus Democratic Party of Hawaii and the Lost Fish Coalition.

“No one likes to see a film of floating chemical-laden sunscreen on our ocean surfaces,” the Sierra Club of Hawaii said in its written testimony.

With millions of visitors coming to Hawaii each year, the Sierra Club contends the bill will promote the use of mineral-based sunscreens and help reduce the amount of chemicals in the ocean.

Opponents of the bill included the American Chemistry Council, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association and Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

“This legislation, although well intended, lacks sufficient scientific evidence demonstrating that this sunscreen ingredient is responsible for coral bleaching,” said Tim Shestek in testimony on behalf of the American Chemistry Council. “This legislation could create consumer confusion and unnecessarily put consumers at risk by discouraging the use of sunscreen.”

The SB 2571 was tentatively approved by the Senate committees on Water and Land, and Agriculture and Environment, and now advances to the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health committees.

Lawmakers have considered similar bills, including a measure proposed in 2017 by Sen. Will Espero, but the Legislature thus far has refused to impose a ban.

Citizens, lawmakers form front line in West Hawaii fight against LFA

Originally published by West Hawaii Today; click here to read the article on westhawaiitoday.com.

By Max Dible | Sunday, February 11, 2018, 12:05 a.m.

Picking fruit on some West Hawaii farms is more than just precarious.

As soon as the trees start shaking, farmers and field workers are as likely to get an armful of little fire ants as a handful of coffee berries.

Maki Morinoue, a fourth-generation coffee farmer who works her family acreage in Holualoa, became wise to that reality the hard way when she encountered LFA for the first time two harvest seasons past.

“(The ants) basically dumped down my shirt all the way across my torso, and it was this stinging,” she said. “I didn’t know what it was. It got bumpy and itchy and it lasted for three or four months. I was totally scarred up for a long time.”

The scars weren’t merely physical. It took Morinoue a few months to figure out what it was that had left her body burning, as uncertainty bred a lingering apprehension about heading back out to harvest — not only for herself, but for her father as well.

“The old-timers around me didn’t know what this was,” she explained. “We didn’t grow up with it.”

After her cousin attended an LFA meeting and relayed what she learned, Morinoue checked out a meeting herself. It was an LFA infestation plaguing her farm. She was sure of it. But identifying the problem has done little to allay her concerns.

“It was traumatizing. It kind of damages you mentally and emotionally because you know you’re going to get stung,” said Morinoue, adding her father suffered the brunt of an even worse LFA attack during last year’s harvest.

“It was quite daunting to learn how invasive these are,” she said. “We just started treating finally for the last four months ... but I’d rather not pick around this area and keep treating. I don’t think it’s physically safe.”

LFA sting business directly

Little fire ants showed up on Hawaii Island in 1999 and were largely an east side problem, believed to have been aided in their spread across the island by community utilization of green waste, namely mulch.

Zack Weimer, managing partner with Tropical Tree Care Inc., has been working in the tree tops of West Hawaii going on eight years now. It’s in the palms, specifically, where West Hawaii’s LFA population favors building its nests, but any tree top is fair game.

Back then, he said, LFA were all but nonexistent on the Big Island’s leeward side. But over the past five years or so, particularly during the last three, Weimer said LFA progression in West Side neighborhoods has been “aggressive.”

Holualoa is home to the densest concentrations of LFA in the area, he said, and their proliferation is noticeable in the neighborhoods above the intersection of Lako Street and Kuakini Highway. But LFA show no signs of stopping there.

“To be honest, they’re pretty much everywhere,” Weimer said. “If you’re working in the trees and these things are shaking off on you all day, it’s pretty brutal. The feeling is almost similar to the burning of an acid on your skin. And once it’s there, it’s there.”

Weimer and Joe Pereira, owner of landscaping company HIL Maintenance, both said West Hawaii has become so infested with LFA that some companies refuse to accept landscaping contracts where the ants are known to reside in force.

“I’ve seen guys turn down work,” Weimer said. “Coffee orchards can’t get their coffee picked and people can’t get their yards landscaped because the fire ant problem is so bad.”

Some of Weimer’s workers, against his recommendation, have gone so far as to rub chainsaw oil on their skin around their necklines and shirtsleeves because they believe it offers a measure of protection against LFA bites.

The state Legislature has taken the matter of slowing LFA proliferation in West Hawaii seriously for several sessions, but Pereira’s outlook was bleak as to what impact such legislation can realistically create on the Big Island’s leeward side.

“It’s bad,” Pereira said. “I don’t even know what you could do. The only thing you could do is make everybody treat for these ants, but there’s hundreds and thousands of acres up there (on the mountain) people aren’t going to go up and treat.”

Fighting the problem with money

The three elements of LFA detection and elimination lawmakers are focused on are money, expertise and access.

Kona Rep. Nicole Lowen has introduced two bills this session, House Bill 2045 and House Bill 2046, to get at the problem.

The latter would grant the Hawaii Department of Agriculture $50,000 out of the state’s general fund to help detect and treat LFA in West Hawaii specifically. The former expands on a bill passed last year that gives relevant agencies at the state and county levels permission to enter private property to treat invasive species like LFA with definitive proof of their presence.

“This year, we realized the problem with something like little fire ants is ... you can be pretty sure they’re there, but you can’t know for sure until you go see it,” Lowen said. “So this gives that same power (to inspect and treat private property) under not only affirmatively knowing little fire ants are present, but also with a reasonable suspicion they’re there.”

HB2045 passed through the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee with minor amendments and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. HB2046 is on its way to the House Finance Committee after moving through the House EEP Committee with amendments rendering the monetary allocation unspecified rather than sticking firmly to the $50,000 figure.

Oahu Sen. Mike Gabbard has introduced Senate Bill 2124, which would pull $750,000 from the general fund and send it to the Hawaii Ant Lab of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii to battle LFA across the state.

Six full-time positions would be created for statewide efforts and would soak up $650,000 for total expenditures, including operating costs and equipment. LFA have been identified on both Oahu and Maui.

The other $100,000 would be earmarked specifically for the creation of a full-time position and related costs in West Hawaii to bolster the battle on the Big Island.

SB2124 has passed both the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment as well as the Senate Committee on Higher Education unamended. It will be considered next by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Maui watches Big Island, as it fights its own battle

Maui didn’t confirm the presence of LFA until 2009, and the Maui Invasive Species Committee has been working to get a handle on the problem ever since.

Brooke Mahnken, MISC’s LFA coordinator, said a proactive approach and lessons learned from LFA efforts on the Big Island have helped MISC and the DOA get a handle on several LFA introductions early on, stamping them out before they can proliferate extensively.

His organization pays particular attention to plant nurseries who do regular business with companies on Hawaii Island.

But several other sites, Mahnken explained, haven’t been so easy to control, and MISC has been burned more than once believing they’d eradicated LFA from an area only to return years later and find the ants back in force.

“We currently have seven sites on Maui under active management, and it’s my belief that there are other infestations here on Maui that we just don’t know about,” Mahnken said. “Generally, the way you find out is somebody gets stung and reports it.”

Proactive surveys and investigations often don’t turn up LFA nests, but they’re an integral part of MISC’s control plan nonetheless.

Of the seven known sites, Mahnken said one is recent — a plant nursery he believes may have been an active site for a considerable amount of time before its identification, spreading LFA to different parts of the island. He added, however, trace forwards, or investigations running down potential LFA contamination potentially linked to the nursery, haven’t yet turned up any evidence to support his suspicions.

The rest of the sites are shrinking, he said, save for one.

“They are getting ever-smaller, and one showed up without any ants the last time (we) surveyed,” he said. “That often gives people false hope that they’re gone. Our policy now is to do surveys for at least two years and up to five years at sites before we say the ‘E’ word.”

One area where Mahnken fears the “E” word — eradication — will never ring out is Nahiku, located on the windward side of the island near Hana. An LFA infestation was traced to a residence mauka of the highway on steep terrain, and from there streams carried the ants all the way down to the ocean through 40 acres of dense jungle inaccessible to ground crews.

“We’re working toward getting a special local needs permit to use a specific product from a helicopter and broadcast it,” Mahnken said. “If we do that, we might be able to get that population under control.”

More likely, though, Maui’s best chance is to eradicate the rest of its island and through control measures keep LFA localized to one patch of jungle.

Citizens take action

Such a hope, which is reasonable for Maui, is perhaps beyond reach on the Big Island, even in West Hawaii.

New LFA sites pop up all the time and on the leeward side, LFA are as much a residential concern as they are a problem in the island’s more wild places.

Lawmakers can bolster education and outreach with increased funding, expertise and attention, but curbing West Hawaii’s growing LFA infestation will ultimately fall to the citizens who make their homes here.

An entire Homeowners Association’s efforts to eradicate an LFA infestation can be derailed by one unconcerned or absentee resident, making clearing even one neighborhood of LFA a monumental task requiring unanimous diligence for more than a year.

Pet owners, meanwhile, have cause for concern. LFA stings can cause animals to go blind. Affected animals will have cloudy, milky pupils. The Hawaii Island Humane Society said it has come across such animals, mostly strays.

Carolyn Dillon, a Holualoa resident and founder of Little Fire Ants Hui, has made citizen action her mission since 2017. Dillon coordinates with Hawaii Ant Lab and the Big Island Invasive Species Committee to extend LFA education, training and resource access to homeowners, pest control operators and landscaping companies across West Hawaii.

Most recently, LFA Hui hosted a community outreach event at Holualoa Elementary School on Jan. 31, which was attended by several dozen local residents. The next meetings are 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Keauau Community Center and 6:30 p.m. March 1 at Konawaena High School.

Information on identifying and eradicating LFA is available beyond the meetings, namely at the Hawaii Unite Against Invasives website, HIunite.com.

The website is dedicated to combating invasive species beyond little fire ants, but LFA still have their own tab on the website’s homepage. There is also a citizen action tab that lists links to relevant biosecurity legislation, as well as brief descriptions of the bills. Finally, there is a mechanism to submit testimony on that legislation directly from the page.

“We are the eyes and ears of our communities,” Dillon said. “And if we can give (legislators) our stories and share what the invasive experience is here for us, either directly or through testimony, that will really make a difference.”

Worries about the future

Morinoue’s story about learning of LFA the hard way is a tale that continues to replicate itself on other farms and in other homes throughout West Hawaii the longer LFA populations run unchecked.

As she’s learned more about the ants’ stings and the poison they carry, Morinoue has become more and more concerned members of her family might end up with allergic reactions so severe they go into shock.

Her fears have left her unsettled enough that she’s considering an array of solutions, many of which would have been unthinkable to her only a few years ago.

“I almost want to just chop down all the trees in that area,” Morinoue said. “But then we have mango trees that have been in our family for generations. (One is) huge. Do you chop that down? It’s heart-wrenching in so many ways.”

“It’s my responsibility coming up to have to look after the land,” she continued. “And I have a son. How do we leave our future?”

New Invasive Species Mobile App Launched (Big Island Now)

Read more on BigIslandNow.com

Update on Hawai‘i's Interagency Biosecurity Plan Presented to Legislators

State Senator Mike Gabbard (Dist. 20 - Kapolei, Makakilo, and portions of ‘Ewa, Kalaeloa, and Waipahu), Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, will be leading a joint informational briefing on the Hawai‘i Interagency Biosecurity Plan on Wednesday, January 24, 2017 at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol, Conference Room 325.

The meeting is open to the public. The Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Branch will bring live invasive species specimens to the informational briefing.

The State of Hawai‘i released the Hawai‘i Interagency Biosecurity Plan for 2017-2027 on January 10, 2017. This Plan is the state's first interagency, coordinated comprehensive plan to tackle the threats and harms from invasive species.

Senator Gabbard said, "As Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair, I'm introducing several pieces of legislation this session that support recommendations of the Plan, including bills to develop the Invasive Species Authority, fund plans for a biocontrol containment facility, establish an agriculture import substitution grant program and local agriculture marketing campaign, create a biosecurity emergency response fund, and expand Hawai‘i Island Little Fire Ant control."

Presentations will be made by:
• Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council
• Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine Branch
• Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control Branch
• Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
• Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources
• Department of Health, Vector Control Branch
• University of Hawai‘i, Invasive Species Committees
• University of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Ant Lab

More information on the briefing can be found on the hearing notice: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/hearingnotices/HEARING_AEN-WTL-EEP-AGR-WAL_01-24-18_INFO_.HTM

For questions about the informational briefing, contact the Office of Senator Mike Gabbard at 808-586-6830.

Community Meeting to Address Ag Theft

Originally published by Big Island Now; click here to read the article on bigislandnow.com.

October 24, 2017, 3:29 PM HST (Updated October 24, 2017, 3:29 PM)

A community meeting will be held on Friday, Oct. 27, to address the increasing agricultural theft issues on Hawai‘i Island.

Guests at the meeting will include Sen. Mike Gabbard, Rep. Richard Creagan, Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Chairperson Scott Enright, Shane Muramaru from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and police, county and grower representatives.

Organizers of the meeting say growers statewide have been plagued with continuous theft of orchard crops, making it extremely difficult for small farmers to achieve sustainability.

The scheduled meeting is to identify problems and work towards solutions with the State Legislature, Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and local police departments.

The meeting will be held at UH Kona Cooperative Extension Service located at 79-7381 Mamalahoa Hwy in Kealakeakua across from the Aloha Theater in Kainaliu beginning at 1 p.m.

Hawaii Farm Bureau annual meeting here Monday

Update on drone industry set for Nov. 1

Originally published by the Garden Island; click here to read the article on thegardenisland.com.

By Dennis Fujimoto
October 22, 2017

LIHUE - The Hawaii Farm Bureau's 70th annual meeting will be prefaced Monday by the Ag Summit Reception and screening of "Food Evolution" on Kauai.

The Ag Summit, a partnership with the Kauai Chamber of Commerce, will feature a mini sunshine market and Kauai Made product showcase from 5 p.m. at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall with the movie starting at 6:45 p.m.

Tuesday morning, the 70th annual meeting gets under way at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club with discussions on tourism and agriculture led by Mufi Hanneman, the president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.

Scott Enright, the chair of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, will be providing an HDOA update, and Vincent Kimura of Smart Yields will be talking about agriculture technology for the 21st century.

Delegates to the convention on the Monday Farm Tour to Clay Ueno's taro farm will get a taste of technology when Fred Cowell of Kauai Coffee Company demonstrates the use of his drone in farming.

Also on the agenda are the Produce Safety Network, a Farm to School discussion, and a legislative update from Sen. Mike Gabbard. Gov. David Ige will lead a tribute to Rep. Clift Tsuji and his contributions to agriculture.

In related news, on Nov. 1, Randy Francisco of the county's Office of Economic Development will be hosting an unmanned aircraft vehicle and drone industry update for business and commercial users.

The event will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall, said Laurie Ho, secretary of the Kauai County Farm Bureau.

Co-hosted by the Kauai Economic Development Board, the Kauai Visitors Bureau, the Kauai Board of Realtors, the Kauai County Farm Bureau, the Kauai Wedding Professional Association and the County of Kauai, the presentation by the Kauai Film Industry will be led by Kela Pinto of Skies the Limit Production, who specializes in designing, building and flying UAV/drones for television and film.

Threat To Drinking Water Remains As Navy Studies Options For Fuel Tanks

Some 27,000 gallons of fuel spilled at the Red Hill facility in 2014. City, state and federal officials aren't satisfied with all the steps taken since then.

Originally published by Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.

July 13, 2017
By Anita Hofschneider

Some critics say the Navy isn't moving fast enough to comply with an 18-month-old agreement to upgrade the underground fuel system at Red Hill.

There's disagreement about whether the project is actually behind schedule, but it's still in the information-gathering stage and state and federal officials have complained about the quality of data the Navy has provided so far.

The facility has 20 tanks with a total capacity of 250 million gallons of fuel. It is the largest underground fuel tank system in the nation, and the Navy says it's essential to military operations in the Pacific.

But the aging tanks are near two Oahu aquifers that supply thousands of residents with drinking water, and they have a history of leaking. In January 2014, 27,000 gallons of fuel spilled, prompting a public outcry and regulatory agencies to take action.

In October 2015, the Navy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii Department of Health signed an "administrative order on consent" that set out a 22-year timeline to upgrade the tanks. The agencies' press release announcing the agreement said the Navy would "evaluate potential cleanup methods and assess the risk the facility poses to Oahu's drinking water resources, all within the next two years."

But the Navy is still six months away from turning in a report analyzing various options for upgrading the tanks, and state and federal officials anticipate it will take three to six months to choose the best one.

"I can't say the exact schedule because it will depend on a number of factors," said Tom Huetteman, assistant director in the Land Division for EPA Region 9. "Once we have the document on hand we will get to work."

Steven Chang of the health department said additional reports on assessing risks and investigating fuel releases aren't expected until next year.

The EPA and DOH sent a letter to the Navy last month criticizing the quality of the data it has provided so far.

"The Navy has spent almost two years on the environmental investigation and modeling aspects of the Red Hill AOC, yet little additional information about environmental conditions in the area has been collected," the regulatory agencies wrote.

In response, the Navy hired more consultants to beef up its expertise. Mark Manfredi, the lead Navy official on the project, acknowledged the data fell short but said that doesn't mean the final reports will be delayed.

Manfredi said since the agreement was signed in October 2015, the Navy has spent about $20 million on various improvements including installing additional monitoring wells, increasing the frequency of tank testing and completing multiple reports.

Huetteman, Chang, and Manfredi all say that the process is still on schedule.

But Erwin Kawata from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply said the agencies gave the impression that studies and analysis would get done within the first two years, and that's not the case.

"It's going to go beyond that," he said. "There's just so many technical issues, concepts, principles that need to be evaluated. They didn't have a full, good grasp of the degree of the work that's involved."

He thinks it will take longer than expected to decide which alternative to pursue, and said he's concerned about the potential for additional contamination if the process of upgrading the tanks is dragged out.

Jodi Malinoski from the Sierra Club Hawaii is also worried that the Navy is falling behind schedule. She's frustrated that the Navy gets 22 years to upgrade the tanks to begin with.

"By the time it's finished the tanks will be nearly 100 years old and the tanks were not built to last forever," she said.

Kawata was disappointed that the Legislature didn't approve a bill this year that would have required the Navy to double-line the tanks.

Sen. Mike Gabbard introduced the proposal with the support of groups like the Sierra Club Hawaii, but it died quickly in the Senate.

Chang said the bill was premature because figuring out the best way to prevent future leaks requires more analysis.

"It's not an off-the-shelf solution," Chang said.

Meanwhile, lack of staffing and resources is a looming potential challenge. The health department has been trying to hire an engineer, geologist and environmental health specialist to better understand the Navy's reports, and the state agency is bracing for potential budget cuts because many of its positions are federally funded.

Chang himself is thinking of retiring, in part because the division is moving from Kakaako to a new location in Pearl City and he lives in East Honolulu, although he's considering staying on as a volunteer.

Manfredi said he understands concerns about potential delays, but that the Navy is taking the process seriously.

"At the end of the day the Navy isn't gaining anything by delaying any of this work," he said. "The longer it takes us to make a decision the less time we have to do this. It's in our best interest to get this knocked out as soon as we can."

New Hawai‘i Law Bans Wildlife Trafficking

Originally published by Maui Now; click here to read the article on mauinow.com.

July 4, 2017, 9:14 AM HST (Updated July 5, 2017, 1:28 PM)

As the "endangered species capital of the world," Hawai‘i knows first-hand the devastating impacts of losing significant and iconic native species. Now, state have taken a historic step in helping to prevent the further loss of critically endangered species within its own borders and abroad.

Senate Bill 2647 (Act 125), sponsored by Senator Mike Gabbard, is described as the most comprehensive US state law targeting the illegal wildlife trade.

The bill prohibits the sale, offer for sale, purchase, trade, possession with intent to sell, or barter for any part or product of any species of elephant, mammoth, rhinoceros, tiger, great ape, shark and ray, sea turtle, walrus, narwhal, whale, hippopotamus, monk seal, lion, pangolin, cheetah, jaguar, and leopard, all identified as threatened with extinction by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the Endangered Species Act.

The law does not prohibit the mere possession of such items.

While the bill passed in the 2016 legislature, enforcement of the law was delayed until June 30, 2017, to grant individuals and businesses with wildlife products in their possession time to lawfully dispossess of the items. The law also provides continued reasonable exemptions for bona fide antiques, musical instruments, guns and knives, and traditional cultural practices.

"I worked on this issue for a number of years after learning that a 2008 investigation identified Hawai‘i as having the 3rd largest ivory market in the US, only behind New York and California. Many may not be aware that globally, wildlife trafficking falls right behind, and often hand in hand with illegal drugs, weapons and human trafficking crimes. Act 125 now serves as a model for other states and nations to emulate," said Senator Mike Gabbard.

"Wildlife trafficking remains a high priority for enforcement. We support any legislation that recognizes the importance of protecting species that are at risk of exploitation. Hawai‘i is doing its part to be globally aware of this issue", said the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement Chief Robert Farrell.

In the past four years, a number of states across the US have pushed for stricter laws to crack down on illegal wildlife trafficking. New York, New Jersey, California and most recently Nevada have each passed laws prohibiting the purchase and sale of products made with elephant ivory and rhino horn and other imperiled species. Washington and Oregon enacted similar measures through ballot initiatives.

The Hawai‘i bill was supported by dozens of grassroots and national conservation and animal protection groups including The Humane Society of the United States, Conservation Council for Hawaii, NSEFU Wildlife Foundation and the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos, Vulcan Inc., International Fund for Animal Welfare , Humane Society International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Defying Trump, Hawaii Becomes First State to Pass Law Committing to Paris Climate Accord

Originally published by the New York Times; click here to read the article on nytimes.com.

By Jonah Engel Bromwich
June 7, 2017

Hawaii on Tuesday became the first state to pass a law committing to the goals and limits of the Paris climate accord, defying President Trump, who announced last week that he would withdraw the United States from the historic agreement.

The state's governor, David Y. Ige, signed two bills at a ceremony at the state's capitol rotunda in Honolulu. One of the bills was explicitly geared toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the landmark goals adopted by world leaders with the Paris Agreement in 2015. The other will establish a task force to help the state improve soil health and remove carbon from the atmosphere.

He was joined by mayors from around the state, who signed an agreement to commit to the goals of the accord.

"Many of the greatest challenges of our day hit us first, and that means that we also need to be first when it comes to creating solutions," Mr. Ige, a Democrat in his first term as governor, said in remarks before the signing. "We are the testing grounds - as an island state, we are especially aware of the limits of our natural environment."

"Climate change is real, regardless of what others may say," he added.

Mike Gabbard, the chairman of the state senate's agriculture and environment committee was more blunt.

"I don't think it's a surprise for any of us to be here, when the president of the United States had climate change removed from the White House website," he said.

Many references to climate change were removed from the White House site in January, as part of the routine digital turnover from one administration to the next. In April, the Environmental Protection Agency removed much of the climate change information from its website, saying in a news release that the updates were made to "reflect the approach of new leadership."

Hawaii is one of more than 10 states that have joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition committed to upholding the Paris accord despite the federal government's withdrawal from it. The alliance, announced by the Democratic governors of California, Washington and New York last week, also includes Minnesota, Virginia, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Those states are working parallel to a broader effort being coordinated by Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, of cities, corporations and universities that together will submit a plan to the United Nations pledging to meet the targets for the United States specified by the accord. It is unclear how exactly that submission will take place.

On Tuesday, Gov. Jerry Brown of California met in Beijing with President Xi Jinping of China, upstaging the White House and further suggesting the determination of some states to hew to the climate accord.

Hawaii is on the front lines of climate change, so much so that in September, President Barack Obama used it as the base from which to discuss his legacy on the issue, as well as the continued threat from rising seas, extreme weather and other byproducts of a warming planet. A report published by the Environmental Protection Agency last August named a shortage of fresh water, ocean acidification and shoreline loss as threats that the state faces as a result of climate change.

The Paris accord, which required that each country submit an individual plan for reducing its carbon emissions, was agreed to by 195 countries in 2015. Though the plan was nonbinding, supporters saw it as an important framework for holding countries accountable in the fight against climate change.

Critics: Water Bill Could Hurt Customers And The Environment

The Sierra Club is mounting a last-minute push amid worries the measure will remove private water distribution companies from state regulation.

Originally published by Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.

April 28, 2017
By Anita Hofschneider

The Hawaii chapter of the Sierra Club is trying to persuade lawmakers to amend a bill that the organization fears would remove governmental oversight of private companies that distribute non-potable water.

House Speaker Joseph Souki and Rep. Ryan Yamane introduced House Bill 1536 to help farmers by clarifying that the Board of Agriculture can use eminent domain to acquire and run irrigation systems.

The proposal also sought to ensure that those state-owned irrigation systems would be exempted from oversight by the Public Utilities Commission.

The bill received strong support from farmers and groups that represent the agricultural industry, along with the state Department of Agriculture.

"Affordable and reliable waters for irrigation is a basic requirement for sustainable agriculture," wrote Randy Cabral from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation in supporting testimony.

Why Opponents Are Concerned

Townsend says the Sierra Club supports the idea of clarifying the Department of Agriculture's eminent domain power and exemption from the Public Utilities Commission. But she said that an amendment added by the House could have unintended consequences by exempting private distributors of non-potable water from oversight as well.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Dean Nishina, who leads the Hawaii Division of Consumer Advocacy, raised similar concerns.

"The Consumer Advocate contends that exempting all non-potable water facilities from Commission review, especially when such services are also offered in conjunction with regulated water or wastewater services could adversely expose customers to various rate issues, quality and access issues, as well as possible subsidization issues for the customers of the regulated operations," Nishina wrote.

The Public Utilities Commission said in testimony that the exemption would affect 11 utilities that are currently regulated.

Sen. Mike Gabbard, who is leading negotiations for the Senate and heads the chamber's environmental committee, proposed Wednesday changing the bill to get rid of the language that the Sierra Club, OHA and Consumer Advocate are concerned about.

"It's about making sure that that there's not a profit motive behind the distribution of water," Townsend said after the hearing, suggesting that the exemption could benefit companies like Alexander and Baldwin and the Wailuku Water Co.

What Water Companies Say

Darren Pai, spokesman for A&B, said that the company is aware of the bill but hasn't taken a position on it.

"We have been concentrating on our efforts to transition the former plantation lands into diversified agriculture, and prefer not to speculate about how the proposed bill might or might not apply to us," he wrote.

Avery Chumbley, a former state senator who leads Wailuku Water Co., said while he would like his company to be exempt from PUC oversight, he isn't sure that the language of the bill would accomplish that.

"Bluntly, we would welcome this bill if it does what (Townsend) says," he said, adding that he needs to read the bill more carefully to determine its potential impact. "I don't have the same interpretation of it as the opponents do. I'm not sure it exempts us."

He said that his company has been tied up at the PUC since 2008, and has been suspended from seeking new customers, raising rates and selling assets.

"For nine years in a row this company has lost money," he said, noting that when Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company shut down its sugar operations, his water company lost 35 percent of its revenue. He says if the situation lasts much longer, his business won't survive.

"It's just been very burdensome and ridiculous that we've been stuck nine years in this process," he said.

Negotiating Until The Last Minute

Like Chumbley, Rep. Ryan Yamane also doesn't share opponents' concerns about the bill.

"The House was confident about the language being tight enough so that it still has the proper enforcement and oversight," Yamane told Civil Beat after Wednesday's hearing.

He added that the purpose of the bill is to help farmers get access to water for crops.

"We are making an emphasis on growing our food and the most important thing for agriculture is water," he said.

Advocates and opponents will have to wait until 3:30 p.m. Friday to find out what happens with the bill. Even then, any decisions could be pushed back until later that afternoon. The deadline to finalize bills for the 2017 session is the end of the day Friday.

"This is kind of like a poker game of sorts and so they have to play their cards close," Townsend said. "That's just the way it is."

Isle lawmakers intend to push insecticide ban

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

April 2, 2017
By Sophie Cocke

Hawaii lawmakers who oversee committees on agriculture and the environment indicated a new resolve last week to ban a commonly used insecticide that could be harming the brains of fetuses and young children, as well as farm workers.

The issue arose following a decision by the new chief of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to continue allowing use of the chemical on food crops nationwide. Scott Pruitt, the new head of the EPA under the Trump administration, rejected the scientific recommendation of his own agency on Wednesday that the insecticide chlorpyrifos be banned on all food crops.

The staff recommendation came after 10 years of scientific review spurred by a 2007 petition brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Pesticide Action Network to ban the product.

Earlier this year, Hawaii legislators had introduced a bill that would have banned the insecticide statewide, saying the cause was all the more urgent now that President Donald Trump had assumed office and vowed to roll back environmental regulations. But the House measure failed to advance last month after Rep. Angus McKelvey, the former chairman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee, declined to schedule a hearing on the measure.

Agricultural interests had urged state lawmakers to await the EPA ruling. Now that the decision is out, Hawaii lawmakers have indicated a new urgency in moving forward on statewide restrictions.

The chemical is widely used on fruits and vegetables, including seed corn, pineapple, melons and other produce grown in Hawaii. It's also used on golf courses, tree farms, turf grown for sod and in nurseries, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

"It is frustrating that we are seeing a rapid rise in corporate influence in the decisions being made by the EPA, the FCC and other federal agencies that undermine the common good to allow a few companies to profit at the expense of the people," said Rep. Chris Lee, chairman of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, who has pushed bills increasing oversight of pesticides. "We have an obligation as elected officials at the state level to take action to protect our people when the federal government won’t."

Rep. Richard Creagan, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, who introduced the bill banning chlorpyrifos in Hawaii, said it was unlikely that the measure would be resurrected this late in the legislative session, but that a new bill could be pushed next year.

"As much as I would like to ban chlorpyrifos this year, I don't anticipate that happening," he said, while calling the EPA decision "egregious."

On the Senate side, Mike Gabbard, chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, also said he would support an effort to ban chlorpyrifos. So did state Department of Agriculture Director Scott Enright.

"I thought that the (EPA) decision might have missed some of the points that have been made earlier," Enright said.

In the meantime, Creagan has amended Senate Bill 804 to allocate funding to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine to study the risk that chlorpyrifos spraying could pose to pregnant women on Oahu, Hawaii island and Kauai. While the EPA had recommended that the insecticide be banned because of concerns about the chemical's residue on produce and ability to penetrate drinking water supplies, there are also concerns that spraying agricultural fields could harm nearby residents.

Creagan, who is also a medical doctor, said that scientific studies had shown clear links between exposure to high levels of the chemical and brain abnormalities, a particular concern for fetuses and young children whose brains are rapidly developing.

"In this case, it's more subtle because their physical appearance might be normal, but their brain development is potentially, severely altered," Creagan said. "And therefore the functioning of their brain and their cognitive abilities in childhood and later in life is permanently impacted."

The EPA, under the Obama administration, also raised concerns that workers who mix, load and apply chlorpyrifos to ag fields and enter the fields after they have been treated could be exposed to unsafe levels of the chemical.

Last year, the EPA slapped Syngenta with a $4.9 million fine for directing workers to enter a research field in Kekaha, Kauai, too soon after it was sprayed with chlorpyrifos.

During the January 2016 incident, 19 workers entered the field and 10 of them were later taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Chlorpyrifos has been used in the U.S. since 1965, but federal regulators have recently scaled back its uses amid growing concerns about the chemical's safety. In 2000 the agency banned its use in homes, except for ant and roach bait sold in child-resistant packaging.

In recent years, the agency has also banned its use on tomatoes, reduced the quantity at which it can be sprayed on other produce, and required buffer zones between fields where it is sprayed and public spaces.

In rejecting the petition to ban chlorpyrifos on produce, Pruitt said in a news release Wednesday that the agency needs to study the science more.

"We need to provide regulatory certainty to the thousands of American farms that rely on chlorpyrifos, while still protecting human health and the environment," Pruitt said. "By reversing the previous administration's steps to ban one of the most widely used pesticides in the world, we are returning to using sound science in decision-making - rather than predetermined results."

The Natural Resources Defense Council quickly promised legal action.

"The Trump administration is putting the needs of chemical corporations before children's health. Parents shouldn't have to worry that a dangerous chemical might be lurking in the fruits and veggies they feed their kids," Miriam Rotkin-Ellman, a scientist at NRDC, said in a news release. "If the EPA refuses to protect the American people from this hazardous pesticide, we'll take them to court. The health of our children depends on it."

HEMP FOCUSED DAY AT THE CAPITOL

WHO:
Sen. Mike Gabbard

WHAT:
• State Senate Floor Presentation for Dr. Harry Ako, Principal Investigator of the Industrial Hemp Research Project
• Joint Informational Briefing on the state Industrial Hemp Pilot Program

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
11:30 a.m. (Floor Presentation)
1:15 p.m. (Informational Briefing)

WHERE:
State Senate Chambers and Conference Room 224
Hawai‘i State Capitol

State Senator Mike Gabbard (Dist. 20, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, will lead a day focused on the production and uses of industrial hemp at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 29th.

"Hemp is an incredible crop that has big potential in our islands", said Senator Gabbard. "This is an opportunity to bring some attention to what kind of exciting opportunities are just around the corner as our state Industrial Hemp Pilot Program is rolled out. I'm confident hemp will be a niche crop for our farmers that will make good use of the Hawai‘i brand."

The day begins in the State Senate Chambers at 11:30 a.m. as Senator Gabbard honors Dr. Harry Ako, Principal Investigator of the Industrial Hemp Research Project, and his team for their efforts in proving industrial hemp can grow well in Hawai‘i. In December 2015, the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources released a report on a successful, two-year industrial hemp remediation and biofuel crop research project that was conducted in Waimanalo in compliance with Act 56 (2014): https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eaur/govrel/reports/2016/act56-slh2014_2016_industrial-hemp_report.pdf

The Senate floor presentation will be followed by a joint Informational Briefing at 1:15 p.m. in Conference Room 224 to provide an update about industrial hemp research, the current status of the state Industrial Hemp Pilot Program, and the future of hemp development in Hawai‘i.

The informational briefing will include presentations by the following:
• Dr. Harry Ako, Principal Investigator of Industrial Hemp Research Project
• Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture
• Maui Hemp Institute for Research & Innovation

The hearing notice can be accessed at this link: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2017/hearingnotices/HEARING_AEN-AGR_03-29-17_INFO_.HTM

For questions about the informational briefing, contact the office of Senator Mike Gabbard at 586-6830.

Senators shelve foam ban proposal

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

March 12, 2017
By Kathryn Mykleseth

A bill seeking to ban foam containers was shelved this session, despite sizable public support.

Most of the 615 submitted testimonies supported Senate Bill 1109, which would have prohibited the use of polystyrene foam products by food vendors starting in January 2020. The material is commonly used for coffee cups and takeout containers.

Sen. Mike Gabbard, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, said the foam ban received the second highest number of public testimony submissions out of the 91 bills that came before his committee. The first was a pesticide buffer bill (SB 29) with roughly 700 testimonies.

Both failed to cross over to the House, despite their popularity with the public.

"Sometimes it takes five or six years for good bills to pass," said Gabbard (D, Kapolei-Makakilo). "You can have everything going for you. You can have the science behind you. You can have the emotion behind you, the numbers behind you and still sometimes things don't pass."

Rafael Bergstrom, Surfrider Oahu chapter coordinator, said in a post on Facebook the result is an example of public voices not being heard in the lawmaking process.

"I don't care what the issue is or which side you are on, if it brings about huge public engagement only to see it closed for debate by a few single people, then our democracy is not functioning properly," he said.

Opponents of the bill were pleased with the result after arguing the ban would increase costs for consumers and hurt mom-and-pop restaurants.

"This government mandate would place an undue burden on grocers, restaurants, mom-and-pop establishments and others as their cost of business would increase," said Tina Yamaki, president of Retail Merchants of Hawaii, a nonprofit trade organization, in her written testimony. "Many businesses are already operating on a very thin profit margin."

The foam ban failed to make it through the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health and the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Sen. Roz Baker (D, South Maui-West Maui), chairwoman of the Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Committee, said Tuesday, "Public comment is always taken into account," but she decided not to move forward with the bill based on the information provided in the state Department of Health's testimony.

The Department of Health, which would be responsible for establishing rules tied to the ban, recommended putting off the state legislation to allow counties the opportunity to decide whether to implement their own bans.

"This issue should be the province of the individual counties to include different definitions, parameters and prohibitions as each county sees fit to adopt," Baker said.

Sen. Jill Tokuda (D, Kaneohe-Ahuimanu), chairwoman of the Ways and Means Committee, did not respond to a request for comment.

Baker said the issue should be taken up with the counties because of the efforts underway on different islands for diverting trash and banning foam, noting the system on Oahu disposes of all single-use food containers and turns them into energy at HPOWER, the city's waste-to-energy facility. The Maui County Council is expected to soon revisit a proposed ordinance to ban polystyrene products.

On Oahu, a study conducted by the city's Department of Environmental Services found that most of the cities that now have foam bans do not have waste-to-energy, relying on recycling and composting to divert waste from landfills.

Environmentalists had galvanized support for the foam bill and encouraged individuals to testify, said Sen. Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point), one of the senators who introduced the bill.

"The environmentalists have a large base and have access to many individuals and many emails," he said. "Many of these individuals either sent in emails or came in (and) testified ... so you have the lopsided number, so to speak."

In February, the foam ban drew a crowd of 321 people to the Capitol to voice their support, along with environmental organizations and food vendors.

That level of turnout "doesn't happen all of the time," Espero said, adding that it's not only the number of emails or people that changes the outcome, it's the arguments.

"Do we just base it on numbers? No, we don't," he said. "We vet the bills properly. Sometimes there is just differences of opinion, or legislators see things in their own lenses."

A dozen high school students joined environmentalists at the state Capitol in February to support the ban.

Kaiser High teacher Paul Balazs, who brought some of his students to testify, said the results were "disheartening."

"After taking the students to the Capitol, I saw them re-enter the classroom with so much pride," he said. "They were in a lot of ways more aware of themselves and their voice. ... Hearing, however, that the bills had died left many of them with an empty feeling - not so much a feeling of lost hope or even the tightrope of cynicism that many environmentalists walk every day. They felt severely let down - not by themselves, but by the State of Hawaii and the lawmakers we elected to lead this state."

Espero said he expects to see the bill in the future. "We will try again."

Bill would have state uphold terms of Paris accord

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

March 4, 2017
By Taylor Polson

Hawaii legislators have drafted a bill that would make the state an eco-friendly outlier.

In response to President Donald Trump's withdrawal from some international environmental commitments, lawmakers have introduced a measure to incorporate requirements into state law that reflect many of the environmental obligations agreed to in the 2015 Paris Agreement on global warming.

Senate Bill 559 would require the state to adopt "the best available science to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

"Regardless of federal action, the legislature supports the goals of the Paris Agreement to combat climate change and its effects on environments, economies, and communities around the world," the bill states.

The Paris Agreement was the product of a collaborative effort among 195 countries in December 2015, during the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agreement was ratified in November. So far, 133 counties have endorsed the accord, according to the U.N. convention's website.

Senate Democratic Majority Leader J. Kalani English said the vast majority in Hawaii wants to do something about global warming.

"If the federal government is going to pull out, we still have the ability to participate in it in our own way," English said of the Paris Agreement. "We're facing climate change much more drastically than other parts of the Union and other territories and countries. We have flooding, strange weather ... mangoes, breadfruit and lychees coming in off-season.

"It's been the long-standing policy of Hawaii to participate in international forums and also to do our part to protect the environment," said English (D, Molokai-Lanai-East Maui).

Sen. Mike Gabbard (D, Kapolei-Makakilo), chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, said the bill "is about continuing our state's international leadership on climate change."

"President Trump has made comments that he's not on board with climate-change efforts," Gabbard said. "The idea with the bill is to ensure that our state stays the course on the Paris Agreement and to continue with greenhouse gas reductions."

Organizations supporting the bill included Healthy Climate Communities, The Maritime Group, The Nature Conservancy, Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii Green Growth, Life of the Land, Conservation Council for Hawaii, The Island Agency and the Sierra Club of Hawaii.

Only a few residents opposed the bill. Anthony Orozco said in written testimony that the measure amounts to "pure arrogance."

"That's all this bill is," he wrote. "That some humans think they can control the weather. I don't want any of my tax dollars going into this climate change foolishness."

The bill would assign the Department of Accounting and General Services to implement strategies to reduce emissions across all government agencies in the state. DAGS would be required to post emission contribution levels every five years online.

The measure also delegates responsibilities - such as climate-change education and ensuring public participation, awareness and open access to information - to various state departments and agencies.

The bill was approved by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Monday with an 8-0 vote. The bill will now go to the full Senate for final consideration.

Measures target abuse of ag land

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

February 26, 2017
By Rob Perez

Regulators will gain more authority to crack down on illegal structures and uses on agricultural land if two bills advancing at the Legislature become law.

The legislation was introduced to address enforcement gaps that emerged over the past several years as dozens of unregulated buildings, including illegal dwellings, were erected in an off-the-grid ag development in West Oahu.

Houses with generators or solar panels and makeshift water systems have been built in the 854-acre Kunia Loa Ridge Farmlands even though a state law and the project's own bylaws prohibit residential use.

A dog day care operation, Buddhist temple, vacation rentals and a church have been among other unauthorized uses that appeared in the development despite zoning regulations limiting activities to agribusiness only.

Regulators have struggled to enforce the rules because of a variety of factors, including their inability to access a property - even if officials suspected unauthorized uses - without the permission of the owner or tenant.

Senate Bill 698, which has cleared several Senate committees, would give state and county agencies specific authority to enter leased or subdivided ag property to conduct investigations if they suspect violations and provide sufficient notice to the owner or occupant. A similar measure, SB 689, also is advancing.

Sheila Valdez, chairwoman of Na Wahine Kunia O Lihue, a Native Hawaiian group that advocates for the protection of culturally significant sites within Kunia Loa, maintains the legislation is sorely needed. She said government oversight of Kunia Loa has been poor.

"The enforcement system is very dysfunctional," Valdez said. "Everybody is just passing the buck."

For the past few years, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser has chronicled the proliferation of unregulated building and activities at Kunia Loa and the struggles of the city and landowner to crack down on violations.

The development, nestled in the foothills about a mile off Kunia Road and several miles from the H-1 freeway, is unconnected to Oahu's power, water, sewer and phone grids. It has no paved roads, formal street names or addresses - but has stunning views of Pearl Harbor and beyond.

The project was launched about seven years ago and promoted as way to get small farm and ranch operations onto ag land that largely was sitting fallow. Buyers purchased membership interests in the nonprofit cooperative that owns the land. As part of the transaction, they received proprietary leases for specific parcels.

Although some members are successfully farming their land, the development has become better known for the proliferation of unregulated construction, especially over the past two to three years as dozens of houselike structures sprang up.

"It's just like mushrooms growing wild," said Romy Mindo, who has largely given up farming his lot there because of difficulties in getting sufficient water.

The legal structure of Kunia Loa's ownership and a 2012 law have added to the challenges facing regulators.

The 854 acres are owned by a nonprofit, Kunia Loa Ridge Farmlands, but the land, which is zoned Agriculture 1, was never formally subdivided into the 99 lots - no smaller than 5 acres - that were shown on initial planning maps and other documents.

So the city considers the development one giant ag parcel, rather than a bunch of small ones. And the 5-acre minimum lot size that normally would apply to Ag 1 land does not in this case, given that the parcels weren't officially subdivided.

That has enabled the property to be split into parcels as small as 1 acre, resulting in denser development than what would typically be found on Ag 1 land.

And the 2012 law that exempts certain nonresidential ag structures under 1,000 square feet from building permit requirements has exacerbated the regulatory challenges, leading to numerous buildings being erected without any government oversight.

Legislators passed the exemption law to help cut red tape and costs for farmers and ranchers wanting to erect small toolsheds and other such ag buildings.

But the law has led to abuses at Kunia Loa by individual users.

The city's Department of Planning and Permitting has issued more than 40 citations to Kunia Loa's landowner and members since 2010, but most have come since the Star-Advertiser started reporting on the unchecked development several years ago.

In the face of continuing publicity, the city launched an aggressive enforcement operation in June, using aerial visuals taken from a drone and inspections by on-the-ground teams who scoured the property.

"That was music to my ears," Sen. Mike Gabbard, who was dismayed by the city's earlier efforts, said of the June operation.

Gabbard (D, Kapolei- Makakilo), a supporter of the bills advancing at the Legislature, contends the proposed changes will help prevent future abuses like those happening at Kunia Loa.

"We support measures that will assist us not only in our enforcement of zoning and building codes, but also in the monitoring of activity on agricultural land," said acting Planning Department Director Kathy Sokugawa in a statement to the Star-Advertiser. "These measures would provide us with a mechanism to increase our enforcement of the unregulated parceling, sale and lease of agricultural land, and unpermitted uses on land for non-agricultural purposes."

The city's June enforcement effort led to the issuing of more than 30 citations, including three for illegal dwellings, online department records show.

At least one of the cited homes features a full kitchen with a stainless steel double-door refrigerator, stove and oven, microwave, sink and multiple cabinets, according to a photo the city used in issuing a violation notice. The citation described the structure containing the kitchen as a two-family detached dwelling.

At least 13 of the citation cases, including two of the dwelling ones, remain unresolved. One of the violation notices for an unauthorized dwelling was resolved when a refrigerator and stove were removed from the unit, according to city records. The structure must have a refrigerator, cooking appliance and a sink to be considered a dwelling.

The city can impose fines and pursue legal action if violations go uncorrected.

Attorney Christopher Shea Goodwin, who represents Kunia Loa's landowner, declined comment for this story.

The sponsors of SB 698 are Sens. Gil Riviere, Will Espero, Josh Green, Breene Harimoto, Les Ihara, Lorraine Inouye, Donna Mercado Kim and Maile Shimabukuro. It passed the Ways and Means Committee on Friday on a 9-0 vote, with four abstentions.

Other legislation indirectly affecting Kunia Loa also is advancing at the Legislature, including a bill (SB 988) that would amend the 2012 exemption law and require owners proposing to construct ag structures in flood-prone areas to obtain building permits. A hearing on that bill will be held at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday in Room 211 at the Capitol.

The federal government has threatened to suspend the sale of federally backed flood insurance in Hawaii unless the state amends or revokes the law, which conflicts with the national insurance program. The changes proposed in SB 988 would address the federal government's concerns, according to legislative testimony.

Legislation seeks commitment to Red Hill

Originally published by the Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.

February 18, 2017
By William Cole

Hawaii's congressional delegation is weighing in on the Red Hill fuel farm, saying in proposed legislation that the "sense of Congress" is that the facility is a "national strategic asset" whose relocation or closure would undermine Pacific security and strategy.

The lawmakers are calling for "sustained" federal commitment to see through fixes to be agreed to by the Navy, state Health Department, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Defense Logistics Agency.

Senate Bill 437, introduced Thursday by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, requires the Defense Department and EPA to include funding to make identified improvements at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, his office said. A companion bill was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

"The EPA, the Navy and the state agree that protecting the aquifer that supplies Oahu's drinking water is essential," Schatz said in a release. "Our bill firms up that commitment into federal law by making sure the agencies responsible for improving Red Hill have the federal funding they need to implement the actions that are agreed to."

Hanabusa's bill notes that Red Hill "directly supports" vessels and aircraft of the Navy and Air Force, Pacific theater, Hawaii National Guard and Coast Guard, and allows the United States to maintain a forward presence, ensure maritime security and maintain regional stability.

"If the facility were closed, the United States armed forces would be unable to support the national military strategy, including the goals of the United States Pacific commander, and national security interests would be significantly undermined," the bill states.

Alternatively, moving the facility elsewhere in the Indo-Asia-Pacific would have "implications for the United States military force structure in the state of Hawaii and put at risk billions of dollars in annual economic activity that the armed forces bring to the state of Hawaii."

The lawmakers acknowledge there have been more than 30 leaks at Red Hill dating back to 1947 with reports suggesting at least 170,000 gallons of fuel have leaked since the facility began operating.

But the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency "have kept the drinking water safe through 70 years of operation," and the "Administrative Order on Consent" involving the Navy, state Health Department, EPA and Defense Logistics Agency already is working through Red Hill infrastructure options, the lawmakers said.

The proposed federal legislation comes amid state consideration of Senate Bill 1259, which would require the Red Hill fuel tanks to have secondary, or double-walled, containment by 2027, or closure by 2030 if that is not possible.

The Navy said the World War II-era steel-lined and concrete-encased tanks are not leaking, with testing confirming that drinking water from the Red Hill shaft is safe.

Red Hill has 20 underground tanks, each able to contain up to 12.5 million gallons of fuel. The facility is the state's largest field-constructed underground tank system and stores more fuel in a single location - up to 187 million gallons per day - than any other underground tank system in Hawaii, according to the state bill.

The state Health Department said in written testimony on state Senate Bill 1259 that its "top priority is the protection of public health and the environment," but "due to the unprecedented and massive scale of this project, rushing to implement secondary containment may actually not result in the best practicable solution."

The Administrative Order on Consent established after a 27,000-gallon fuel leak in 2014 at Red Hill to minimize the threat of future releases "remains the best and most comprehensive path forward" to protect drinking water, the Health Department said.

The Navy said Feb. 10 that it "may be exempt" from the type of underground fuel storage tanks that are targeted in the state bill.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply said in December that although sampling indicates that drinking water remains safe, fuel impacts "to the groundwater beneath the underground storage tanks at the facility pose an unacceptable risk" to drinking water.

"There is no reasonable basis" for the military not to consider tank replacement and relocation as alternatives to upgrading the facility, the Water Board said.

Behind the state bill is the accusation that the Navy has been dragging its feet on added protection of drinking water sources near Red Hill.

"The Navy has had three full years since the latest spill to build public confidence through quick, deliberate actions that bring these tanks in line with current expectations for all underground storage tanks. That hasn't happened," said state Sen. Mike Gabbard, who introduced the bill. "SB 1259 will ensure that the needed fuel tank improvements are made at Red Hill in a quicker fashion to protect our drinking water supply for future generations."

Will This Be The Year For A Styrofoam Ban?

A Senate bill to ban polystyrene food containers is slated for its first hearing Wednesday.

Originally published by Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.

February 6, 2017
By Natanya Friedheim

The quintessential Hawaii plate lunch comes with meat atop two scoops of rice next to mac salad, with sauce overflowing from the cracks of a styrofoam takeout clam.

This year lawmakers hope a bill will force vendors to replace those single-use containers with more environmentally friendly ones.

Scheduled for a joint committee hearing Wednesday, Senate Bill 1109 would ban food vendors from using styrofoam and other polystyrene containers.

"From an environmental standpoint, it makes sense to move forward on (the bill)," said Sen. Mike Gabbard, who chairs the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee.

The committee is expected to review the bill Wednesday along with the public safety committee, chaired by Sen. Clarence Nishihara.

Gabbard introduced a similar bill in 2013, but it died after its first hearing.

If signed into law, the ban would take effect Jan. 1, 2018.

"The environmental impact is very severe because there are so many creatures affected by it," said Stuart Coleman of the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helped draft this year's Senate bill.

Sitting in landfills or littered on land, polystyrene foam products leach a byproduct - styrene - into land and water, according to the bill. A known carcinogen, the chemical can poison birds, fish and other ocean animals when ingested.

Hawaii residents generate more trash than the national average, about 6.6 pounds of waste per resident per day compared to the national average of 4.4 pounds per day.

That's especially problematic for polystyrene products. The light material flies away in the wind and ends up on the side of the highway and in oceans.

Worldwide, of all plastics thrown away only 5 percent are effectively recycled while 40 percent ends up in landfills, according to report published last year by the World Economic Forum.

Locally, seabirds are being "devastated by plastic," says Margaret Wille, co-chair of the Hawaii Democratic Party's legislative committee. This bill, along with bills to ban oxybenzone sunscreens and bills regarding pesticides are priorities for the Hawaii Democratic Party this year, she said.

Of the 30 testimonies submitted so far on the bill, Gabbard said 26 are in support of the ban.

"Hawaii's main economic engine is tourism," Coleman said. "We can't have foam broken apart and strewn all over the island littering it."

Hawaii Food Industry Association and the American Chemistry Council opposed a similar Senate bill in 2013, citing faults in biodegradable alternatives to polystyrene containers.

"This bill makes the false assumption that products that would replace polystyrene are somehow manufactured in a vacuum without the use of any raw materials, energy, or water, or fuel to deliver the product," Lauren Zirbel, the association's executive director, wrote in testimony then.

The organization also cited concerns that such a ban would put a financial burden on local food establishments.

According to the bill, the Department of Health would issue a warning to vendors that continue to use styrofoam containers. Vendors could be fined $200 if they don't comply, and fines of $500 thereafter.

Zirbel did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

Last year, San Francisco implemented an extensive ban on polystyrene products. A statewide ban died in California's state senate in 2011.

Since 2009, six similar bills have been introduced in legislative sessions in Hawaii. Most never made it to a committee hearing.

This year's Senate bill has no companion measure, though a House bill would ban polystyrene food containers in state-owned and state-run facilities, including public schools.

"Sometimes it takes one, two, three years to pass a bill," said Sen. Will Espero, who introduced this year's Senate bill. "It depends on the sentiment of key legislatures and chairs."

State Senate committee moves pesticide measures

Several Kauaians testify that changes could better protect health

Originally published by the Garden Island; click here to read the article on thegardenisland.com.

Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 12:05 am | Updated: 5:24 am, Tue Jan 31, 2017

By Jessica Else

The Hawaii Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment voted Monday to adopt three measures dealing with pesticide exposure and safety.

Several Kauai residents testified on the matter.

Jeri Di Pietro, president of Hawaii SEED and GMO Free Kauai, said it's imperative to see the recommendations implemented.

"Citizens on our island have done everything we can think of as far as following the steps of law," Di Pietro said. "We think these recommendations should be (implemented) on Kauai, but also across the island chain."

The first measure, SB 778, seeks to implement the recommendations of the Kauai Joint-Fact Finding report.

SB 779 expands the membership of the state Pesticide Advisory Committee, and SB 804 increases the amount of money the state Department of Agriculture may retain from the pesticide use revolving fund.

"Concerns about pesticide use continues in communities across our state," said committee chairman, Sen. Mike Gabbard at the Monday hearing. "Federal courts have determined it's not the counties, but the state's kuleana to deal with this issue."

Kauai residents Clayton Kubo, Carol Hart, Margaret Maupin, Felicia Cowden, Gary Hooser and JFF Group member Dr. Lee Evslin all testified in support of passing the three bills.

SB 778 provides $3 million a year for two years for implementing the recommendations of the DOA mandated JFF report.

Hawaii Crop Improvement Association's executive director, Bennette Misalucha in a written statement, supported the Legislature fully funding HDOA.

Maupin, a primary care provider and nurse practitioner on Kauai, urged the committee to set up an enforceable timeline and standards for implementation.

Kauai residents also expressed a desire to expand the membership of the Pesticide Advisory Committee to include labor workers and more seats for physicians.

Misalucha said HCIA agrees with the intent to allow greater diversity of participation in the Pesticide Advisory Committee, but the organization has reservations.

"We feel the suggested additional responsibilities should remain with HDOA, whose duty is to enforce the safe use of pesticides based on scientific assessments and established rules," she said in a submitted statement.

The passage of the three measures is necessary to determine if residents living near agricultural operations are at risk from exposure to pesticides and to provide adequate buffer zones for pesticide applications, according to Milton Clark, who was a pro bono adviser to the JFF group.

"As recommended in the JFF report, we need to know if there are unsafe levels of pesticides in soils, dusts, air, and in people," Clark said. "Passage of SB 778 will fund those studies that will resolve lingering questions, protect pubic health and fulfill important recommendations of the JFF report."

Pesticide oversight, buffer zone bills advance out of committee

Originally published by Hawaii News Now; click here to read the article on hawaiinewsnow.com.

Published: Monday, January 30th 2017, 6:34 pm HST
Updated: Monday, January 30th 2017, 9:17 pm HST

By Rick Daysog, Reporter

The Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee has approved two measures that provide more oversight over pesticide use by Hawaii's seed industry.

One bill calls for an expanded oversight committee that would establish statewide standards for long-term, low-level exposure to pesticides, as well as creating policies for buffer zones from spraying.

"It's important to continue this conversation. As you can see, so many people testified," state Sen. Mike Gabbard, who chairs the committee, on Monday. "There was a lot of community interest in this bill."

A second bill would provide $3 million in funding to implement the recommendations suggested by a May 2016 report on pesticide use on Kauai.

The report, by a fact-finding group made up of both industry and GMO critics, found elevated levels of ADHD, diabetes and renal disease for residents in West Kauai, which is home to several seed companies.

"West side residents suffer from numerous health conditions than residents living anywhere else on Kauai," said former state lawmaker Gary Hooser.

Added Waimea resident Clayton Kubo: "There is no good poison. There is no good poison."

While the report does not say pesticides are the cause of the health problems, it does recommend buffer zones around homes, schools and hospitals, as well as statewide standards for long-term low-level exposure.

Senate Bill 779 empowers the state pesticide advisory committee to establish the policies for these buffer zones, and standards for chronic exposure.

Industry officials, however, say the state Department of Agriculture should take charge.

"Simply stated, that's where the purview is, and we fully support the DOA because they have the scientific and technical expertise to determine what is appropriate," said Bennette Misalucha, executive director of the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

The bills next go the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Money Sought To Protect Watersheds And Grow More Food

Hawaii Gov. David Ige joins department heads asking legislators to approve funds for his Sustainable Hawaii Initiative.

Originally published by Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.

January 26, 2017
By Nathan Eagle

Gov. David Ige and key state department heads made a public pitch to legislators Thursday for resources to implement the administration's broad Sustainable Hawaii Initiative.

The governor is seeking new positions and hundreds of millions of dollars for land, environment, agriculture, business and economic development agencies to double local food production, implement a biosecurity plan, protect watersheds, manage marine resources and transition to 100 percent renewable energy over the coming years.

Members of the relevant House and Senate committees seemed generally on board with Ige's vision for the state but wanted more details from the administration during a two-hour briefing at the Capitol.

Many of the answers will be rooted out - or not - over the next few months as the Legislature considers a bundle of bills aimed at achieving the governor's sustainability goals.

"State funding for these initiatives is an investment," Ige said. "As we become more sustainable, it will create more opportunities for our people."

The governor's appearance alone was noteworthy. His Cabinet members have typically represented the administration at these informational briefings for legislators, which have been happening all month.

Sen. Mike Gabbard, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, and Rep. Chris Lee, chair of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, orchestrated the briefing and provided opportunities to the heads of other key committees to ask a series of questions.

Lawmakers wanted to know more, for instance, about a $15 million request to build more fences over the next two years to keep invasive species like pigs and goats out of native forest areas.

One of Ige's goals is to protect 30 percent of the state's top-priority watersheds by 2030. That's about 253,000 acres.

Rep. Ryan Yamane, chair of the House Water and Land Committee, asked how much each mile of fencing costs, noting how President Donald Trump's proposed wall along the U.S. border with Mexico is estimated at $4 million a mile.

DLNR Director Suzanne Case said it won't be nearly that much, but the cost depends on terrain that includes cliffs and dense forests. She estimated roughly $100,000 a mile on average and underscored how hard the work is to do. Supplies often must be helicoptered to the site and contractors may spend a week at a time working and camping in an area.

"This is real people doing real work for Hawaii," she said. "It's a slog."

Gabbard said he had seen firsthand how 200 feral goats on Maui had "literally ravaged a mountain."

Before fresh water reaches people's faucets, Case said, it flows down mountainsides and through ditches.

Yamane said he understood the need to protect watersheds, but questioned why the administration was not also coming to the Legislature with a request for additional people to do the work instead of just asking for capital funding for the fencing.

Rep. Cindy Evans raised concerns about fencing off hunting areas on the Big Island where she resides. Case said that is not the intent and that there are many great hunting areas in Hawaii.

Case estimated only a quarter of Hawaii's forests are in good condition and that they remain under threat from climate change, invasive species and disease.

Rapid ohia death has destroyed more than 50,000 acres of one of the state's most iconic tree species. Case said additional funding will be key in stopping the spread.

"It's like having holes in your carpet and many, many threads unwinding," she said.

Case also discussed the need for new positions pertinent to the goal of "effectively managing" 30 percent of nearshore waters by 2030.

Species like ulua, spiny lobsters, moi and opihi have been decimated over the past several decades due to unsustainable fishing practices, climate change, sea warming, coral bleaching and sediment coming from offshore, Case said.

"We would of course like to effectively manage 100 percent but we have a long way to go," she said. "We like to be realistic and ambitious at the same time."

Case said "effective management" doesn't mean closing off all the fisheries. She said it means looking at what the threats are and what actions the state can take to overcome them.

On a slide during her presentation, "effective management" was defined as collaborative science and monitoring, active management and better enforcement.

Case said the department needs the Legislature's support in reaching the goal by funding a community planner, legal fellow, marine invasives specialist and a marine enforcement unit in each county.

State Agriculture Director Scott Enright told the panel of lawmakers that achieving the state's "aggressive" goal of doubling local food production by 2020 hinges on "land, water and capital."

He encouraged them to put additional funding into programs that help the next generation of farmers lease land. The average age of a farmer in Hawaii is 60, he said.

"They're never going to be able to buy the land," Enright said, underscoring that "the state's land resources will be invaluable."

Lawmakers were on board with growing more food locally, but had doubts about the details of the goal. As Rep. Matt LoPresti pointed out, the state lacks a solid baseline of how much food it's currently growing.

"What's the metric we're going to be using?" he said. "It's 'I don't know times two.' ... We don't want alternate facts to be an invasive species in Hawaii."

Enright said determining the baseline is a "work in progress." But he said the state does have good numbers for products like poultry, beef, milk, papaya and macadamia nuts, but not so much for vegetables.

Noting how in the 1980s there were six planners, Enright said he now has just two and they mostly work on land use issues.

He also pointed at the challenge of the state transitioning from a 100-year history of growing sugar and pineapple for export to growing food for its own residents. He said the big businesses that used to grow those crops have little interest in farming food for Hawaii, in large part because the land is more valuable when put to other uses.

Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director Luis Salaveria told lawmakers that they can make a few strategic changes to statutes that will help with the state mandate of getting 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources.

The state is at about 25 percent right now, he said, which puts it ahead of schedule. The next benchmark is 30 percent by 2020.

One of the changes Salveria said he wants the Legislature to make is the definition of "renewable portfolio standard," which is what's used to calculate the percentage of renewable energy.

"It's incorrect," he said. "It's based upon sales versus generation."

Efforts to change the formula last year were unsuccessful.

Salaveria said the state is also working aggressively with utility companies on a power supply improvement plan that looks at future electricity generation.

INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON SUSTAINABLE HAWAI‘I INITIATIVE

WHO: Sen. Mike Gabbard, Rep. Chris Lee, Sen. Karl Rhoads, Rep. Ryan Yamane, Sen. Lorraine Inouye, and Rep. Richard Creagan

WHAT: Informational briefing on the Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative, its components in the proposed state budget, and related 2017 legislative proposals

WHEN: Thursday, January 26, 2017
10:00 a.m.

WHERE: State Capitol, Conference Room 325

State Senator Mike Gabbard (Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair) and Rep. Chris Lee (Energy & Environmental Protection Committee Chair) will be leading an informational briefing on the Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol, Conference Room 325. The meeting is open to the public.

Governor David Ige announced the Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative during his remarks at the Opening Ceremony at the World Conservation Conference in Honolulu on September 1, 2016. The Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative has these important goals: 100% increase in local agricultural production by 2020; stronger invasive species policy, infrastructure, and capacity by 2027; 30% of priority watersheds protected by 2030; 30% of nearshore marine areas effectively managed by 2030; and complete transfer to clean, renewable energy by 2045.

"This informational briefing will give us a good opportunity to hear from the Governor's Administration on his plans to help us reach the goals laid out in his Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative plan," said Senator Gabbard. "The timing is perfect because as we kick off the 2017 legislative session, I want to make sure that sustainability is a key priority."

The informational briefing will include presentations from the following speakers:

• Scott Glenn - Director, Office of Environmental Quality Control
• Suzanne Case - Chairperson, Board of Land and Natural Resources
• Scott Enright - Chairman, Board of Agriculture
• Luis Salaveria - Director, Department of Business Economic Development, and Tourism

The hearing notice can be accessed at this link: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2017/hearingnotices/HEARING_AEN-EEP-WTL-WAL-TRE-AGR_01-26-17_INFO_.HTM

For questions about the informational briefing, contact the office of Senator Mike Gabbard at 586-6830.