Aloha Kakou,
Thank you to everyone who provided comments specific to your individual areas of work and involvement with regards to collectively shaping the definition of an agricultural water consumer.
As a result of the continued dialogue, we were successful in bringing the bill back to the Council's Water Resources (WR) Committee for more discussion to ensure a fair and equitable definition for all ranges of agriculture activity in Maui County.
This is to update you that the WR Committee met yesterday on 06/01/10, and while nothing was passed out of committee, there appears to be a consensus to define the income portion of the definition from between $1,000 - $5,000.
Furthermore, a definition for community gardens has been added, but will most likely be amended to include more specifics. For example, the Water Director recommended a specific area of 22,000 sq. ft. or ½ acre and a specific number of ten participants be included in the definition. The Director, however, did not include a basis for this recommendation, so further justification will be needed in this area. The other entity recognized in the current draft is the non-profit entity.
One area that was raised in testimony by a federal agency is the inclusion of subsistence activity for food and fiber provided to Maui County. We will need to work this factor into the language of the bill - again to provide fair and equal access to all levels of agriculture.
As a side comment, the previous draft bill that included a minimum revenue amount of $10,000, was noted as being in conflict with a 1975 Federal definition of a farm, and the 2008 Farm Bill guidelines which supports farmers whose annual revenue is a minimum of $1,000.00.
If you would like to receive a copy of the new bill draft or the 2007 National Agriculture Statistics Survey for Maui County, please leave me a message with your email address and I will forward it to you as soon as possible.
Mahalo,
Sol P. Kaho`ohalahala
Thank you to everyone who provided comments specific to your individual areas of work and involvement with regards to collectively shaping the definition of an agricultural water consumer.
As a result of the continued dialogue, we were successful in bringing the bill back to the Council's Water Resources (WR) Committee for more discussion to ensure a fair and equitable definition for all ranges of agriculture activity in Maui County.
This is to update you that the WR Committee met yesterday on 06/01/10, and while nothing was passed out of committee, there appears to be a consensus to define the income portion of the definition from between $1,000 - $5,000.
Furthermore, a definition for community gardens has been added, but will most likely be amended to include more specifics. For example, the Water Director recommended a specific area of 22,000 sq. ft. or ½ acre and a specific number of ten participants be included in the definition. The Director, however, did not include a basis for this recommendation, so further justification will be needed in this area. The other entity recognized in the current draft is the non-profit entity.
One area that was raised in testimony by a federal agency is the inclusion of subsistence activity for food and fiber provided to Maui County. We will need to work this factor into the language of the bill - again to provide fair and equal access to all levels of agriculture.
As a side comment, the previous draft bill that included a minimum revenue amount of $10,000, was noted as being in conflict with a 1975 Federal definition of a farm, and the 2008 Farm Bill guidelines which supports farmers whose annual revenue is a minimum of $1,000.00.
If you would like to receive a copy of the new bill draft or the 2007 National Agriculture Statistics Survey for Maui County, please leave me a message with your email address and I will forward it to you as soon as possible.
Mahalo,
Sol P. Kaho`ohalahala
Comments
Luwella here this sounds fishy, just my opinion. I hope you got this one under control, it seems that it's got you by the da kine. But, not really reading this piece in debt. May you find this communication in good health. Hows the Ohana, mines okay, but community doing badly in Waianae. The water has always been a never ending story with lot's of enforcements,especially when you don't have money to pay for water services.
Recently, a Kupuna from Waianae Hawaiian Homestead (DHHL) had his water shut off because he fell behind his bill. Not sure if he will live through this problem. Does "Hawaiian Usage" common law mean water usage too for native Hawaiians? I'm just wondering about this problem.
I'm so straped down with soooo much social ills here in Waianae. Love you much