It is of no surprise that the SHAKA Movement activists have decided to change its focus from GMOs and pesticides to another agricultural entity.  Hawaii Cane and Sugar is being attacked by the activists with regards to their practices of cane burning.  I’ve been seeing some really ugly comments happily hoping to send people who work on these farms back to where they came from.  The activists have offered no alternative and show no sense of community in helping those displaced should they get their way.

These people show little desire in wanting to understand local culture and the importance of agriculture in Hawaii.  If they don’t like it, then it has to go.  They do not know the stories of devastation of plant diseases upon papaya farmers or the loss of work when the sugar cane or pineapple fields were shuttered.  They never saw old communities suffering from the closures of these farms.  They probably don’t even know of anyone who lived through all of this.  The sad thing is that these same activists will proudly announce on their car bumper to “Keep the Country Country,” but then attack the people and entities who do keep it that way.

I somehow feel like these activists are creating their own sense of culture, which I see it as the “malama the aina” culture.  They talk about how we all have to care for the land but then fail to realize that if you don’t care for the people or educate them, how can they possibly know the best way to do so?  It’s a pseudo-culture that tries to take Hawaiian wisdom and mix it with the go green thinking trend.  It’s not a really deep culture but one based on social media memes and what’s hip at the moment

A genuine culture goes much further than opinions and is usually deeply rooted in knowing the history of one’s ancestors.  Through learning and sharing of stories about failures and successes, the future generations can have a guiding set of values and expectations that create a strong foundation to move forward with.  It is these values that keep people on the right path for their entire life and is easily passed down to the next generation.  The simplicity of these lessons are clear: hard work, honesty, appreciation, and accountability.  These were lessons learned through life on the plantations.  These people also seem to have no respect for hardwork either.

The new natives definitely like to mock plantation life in Hawaii.  They’ll say stuff like it was no different than slavery or just a bunch of ignorant people who didn’t know any better.  I despise the stuff they say about it because they are clueless in the results of the plantation days.  So many people immigrated here with nothing and worked their way up and held high expectations to get their children educated.  They obviously had a vision and instilled it in their children.  Those kids are now the leaders in our state and well respected professionals. The workers who come here now aren’t any different.  Their children are now community contributors as nurses, doctors, and other professionals.  The enduring lessons learned from those plantation days live on in so many generations that we sometimes forget our roots.

A huge reminder of those plantation days is usually found on our tables when we sit to eat.  Much of the local foods we love is a reflection of our humble roots and our countries our ancestors left.  We would have never had the rainbow of flavors if it weren’t for those awful plantation days.  Of course we know that the new natives have no appreciation of this and enjoy the native foods of ancient cultures, like quinoa and amaranth.  Just looking at what my favorite foods are, it really shows the results of many people from around the world sharing their own culture with one another.  Our local foods reflect how agriculture has had a huge influence in Hawaii.  If we don’t help to protect it, we chip away at our roots.  I personally really love my local style, unlabeled GMOs.  It’s pretty obvious that I sure won’t find those haupia (Hawaiian coconut pudding) filled Malasadas (Portuguese donuts) at the Kailua Whole Foods anytime soon.

 I’m thankful for those plantation days.   If it were for my great grandparents and others for taking that ride across the ocean, we would never had local style.  Do you enjoy the rainbow of local foods?

  An assortment of poke from Fresh Catch.

Spicy Korean pork plate from Bull Kogi.    

The ultimate local favorite, Spam musubi.

  

A summer favorite, pickle mango with some ling hi mui seed.

  

Puerto Rican pasteles from a neighbor.

  

Okinawan fried soba from Utage Restaurant.

  

Steamed mochi rice from Happy Days Chinese Restaurant.

Soft and sweet mochi from Nisshodo Mochiya.    

Furikake popcorn found at Longs Drug Store.

Assorted Japanese rice crackers, Chinese preserved seeds, dried seafoods, and other local goodies found at Longs.

Diamond Bakery cookies and crackers.
   

Tropilicious sorbets and ice creams in local flavors. 

 

Taro Brand Poi in its famous bags.

  

The local favorite, katsu plate lunch.

  

The delicious loco moco plate.

The L&L Drive Inn original saimin burger.

  

The Honolulu Cookie Company dipped shortbreads.

Yokan, a Japanese bean dessert.

  

A Japanese teishoku style lunch from Yohei Sushi in Honolulu.

Mochi and manju from Nisshodo Mochiya.  

   

Big Island Candies Crunch Bar made with Mac nuts.

  

Ono Ono kalua style meats.

  

Lomi salmon and poi that’s already prepared.

  

Chinese style prune mui preserves made by my mom.

    

Deluxe Bakery eclairs from my favorite pastry shop.

  

A local favorite, POG, passion fruit, guava, and orange juice.

  

Samurai Hawaiian Frost sherbet bowls.

  

Halo halo, a Filipino favorite, from Times Supermarket.

  

Golden Coin, a Filipino food and bakery, taro rolls.

A Hawaiian plate with poi, Okinawan sweet potato, kalua pig and cabbage, lomi salmon, and brown rice.  

This is local style. This is reflects Hawaii.  This is my roots.  If you feel ono for these foods, you’ll know what I mean.

**And these people prove my point again.**

  
   
       

     

 

 
One again, my dad’s farm was hit by thieves again.  A few years ago, he had his farm office broken into and had it vandalized at the same time by thieves looking for money.  They got away with the petty cash for the farm sale that time.  After that, his Punaluu farm had the fence cut and 500 pounds of papaya stolen as well as a tractor battery taken out of the engine. 

 It’s bad enough that he’s had to deal with the anti-GMO activists year after year, but just a few days ago a blower was stolen from a refurbished tractor. The thieves cut off the hoses from his sprayer tank and sawed off the bolts from the platform he custom built for it.  The blower was a Shindaiwa EB 600 model valued at $600.

It’s easy to sit back and think that simply replacing the stolen goods are not a huge deal.  It’s just more unnecessary costs and time lost due to thievery.  As I look deeper into into it, the problem is much more that we realize.

Much of the thievery can be attributed to drugs in many cases.  They want to fuel their habit and resort to stealing goods.  People doing drugs are usually a result of families with a long cycle of drug problems that stem from generation to generation.  These people have poor examples to follow and little to know education.  Without education, they have no opportunities.  No opportunities leads to substance abuse, crime, and even homelessness.

What’s even more tragic is a higher proportion of those with substance abuse, criminal records, or who are homeless tend to be the native Hawaiians.  They make up a higher proportion of the prison population here too.  How can the native people enjoy opportunities and a fair shot at it if they are jailed or homeless?

It’s even more sad that there is the millennial “leaders” of the native Hawaiians preaching to others the reject science by participating in anti-GMO or anti-TMT protests under the facade of saving their culture.  A culture of rejecting or impeding everything isn’t providing opportunities or truly educating people to get them out of the cycle of crime, drugs, and poverty.  

 
Just in today’s front page was a story about the tragic death of a native Hawaiian, Jonathan Keliikoa.  This man spent 40 of his 56 years of life homeless.  It’s a very distubing story that is all too common.  This kind of thing that should be enough to bring about a protest!  While the millennialis are busy organizing protests and marches, their fellow Hawaiian suffers in the streets.  If every single protester gave their time and support to agencies like the IHS to help others, wouldn’t that make a difference on real problems?

If we as a state focus on the simple words that Hawaiians treasure like malama, to care, and aloha, our efforts can be so much more worthwhile.  If each person valued a true education and opportunities, maybe we can break the cycle that keep people from rising up in society.  True leaders with real visions direct people in that direction.  Trendy bandwagon leaders only get people all emotional for the transient cause but never teach the how to sustain a vision, set goals, and make their own real mark in the world.  

If people don’t rise up in society, they not only steal from farmers but from each and everyone of us.  We all pay for prisoners and those who are homeless or chronic drug abusers.  It takes away from resources that can be used for our keiki and kupuna.  We can never thrive if we don’t address the root of the problem.

Can a culture survive with leaders that direct people on the protest of the moment or do we need more visionaries that take the unpopular but right stance?  If people want to actually get somewhere, it’s time to scrutinize what you’re being told.  Is your leaders really educating you towards opportunities or using you to join the masses for their own fame?  

Dear Representative Gabbard,

I recently came across an article on Civil Beat mentioning that you are once again seeking mandatory labeling of GMOs.  It’s extremely saddening and disappointing to me that you are wanting to focus on this yet talk about sustainability.  You’ve chosen to stand with people like the Babes Against Biotech who have never farmed a day in their life or have any idea about what it takes to farm day after day, decade after decade.

  
Your staffer finally reached out to us and took a tour to learn about our farm and apparently, what she learned has not educated you on the issue of sustainability.  My dad’s farm would not be around if it weren’t for having access to every tool in the tool box.  His farm would have been gone 20 years ago.  It was because of research and biotechnology that he continues to farm along with my brother.  Your stance to force labeling only harms our farm and the many other papaya farms that exist today because of biotech.

Why do I say that a GMO label will harm the small farms? It’s pretty simple that you fail to disclose to the public the true intent of the law that seeks to penalize any type of mislabeling.  It also exempts certain instances from needing to labeling, which makes no sense if it’s a right to know. You also fail to disclose your own money ties to the organic and health food industry.  That industry claims that it’s the consumers’ right to know but then seek to use the label as a ban. 

I’ve heard your promises of making Hawaii better and it’s apparent that you’re not even following the news as to the real problems.  Despite trillions of GMO meals served local style, your focus is on making our food even more costly.  In the Civil Beat news today, there is an entire column focused on former locals seeking to come home to Hawaii but can’t afford to.  

Then there are lots of photos of all the homeless people filling our communities.  Is spending your taxpayer paid salary being put to good use to help your constituency? That GMO label isn’t going to make the local people’s way of living any better.  In fact, by ignoring the real problems, you are neglecting us in your district.

The greatest leaders of our country left us with lasting legacies of giving to others.  Abraham Lincoln fought against slavery which was not a popular stance to take.  Dan Inouye had a vision to make Hawaii the center of research with his work on the Pacific Basin Research Center and bringing in funding for UH research and other projects to keep us at the forefront of agricultural technologies. It appears that your legacy will be pandering to the Babes Against Biotech and getting a GMO label that makes living in Hawaii even more unattainable.  It’s sad and disturbing.

Your example and stance tells the world that this technology is somehow bad if it has to be labeled.  It hurts the poorest of farmers in developing countries from ever getting this technology that can reduce their pesticide exposure, grow more food, and actually make money for them to live better lives.  

It seems that you want to listen to well-fed people who need not farm and have plenty of time to petition you for this label.  Your elitist example tells our own poor that they are consuming something perceived as less nutritious and makes them feel bad about what they are eating.  

The most admired people in the world gave selflessly of themselves to help humanity.  It’s depressing that my own congresswoman is giving into selfish stances focused solely on the rights of people who have never faced a day of starvation or suffering.  Nor have you or any of the activists ever made a living off of farming but somehow feel entitled to take actions that disrespect their tireless work.  If you want more farmers and food, you have to listen to them first and foremost.  You as a leader have to be the bigger person and lead with fact and reason.  Don’t let fear and pandering be your legacy.

Sincerely,

Joni Kamiya

The Hawaii Farmer’s Daughter

Recently, I’ve noticed a series of letters being printed in the Star Advertiser again in an attempt to connect pesticides to any illness and now even death.  The GMO issue has turned its target now into the public’s lack of understanding behind pesticides in the public.  It’s a great tactic as so many folks don’t have a clue about why we need pesticides to begin with.

The Hawaii Center for Food Safety is an expert in stirring the pot of hysteria once again.  They, like many activists groups, use the general public’s lack of knowledge in basic science, law, and agriculture to create doubt.  The messages they spread can create doubt from the well educated all the way to the least informed.  It’s effective by really makes people fall into foolish stances when really challenged with logic and critical thinking.  

  
The LTE published a few days ago by Wynnie Hee shows their tactic of hitting the lowest tier of activists, the least informed.  She uses emotionally charged words to get people to jump into the hysteria bandwagon.  She claims that the story dismissing the Hawaii Center for Food Safety’s Pesticides in Paradise report was “astroturfing” and a “propaganda” tactic.  She of course ignores the substance of the report and the problems with the cherry picking of the data and skewing of the numbers that is easily debunked by others not even in the industry.  The typical reader of this claim will just believe the claims she made and not even go back and research it out.  Most people just won’t know how to research it out or even bother to question the claim at all, which is why I consider them as the lowest level believer who is easily persuaded into joining the bandwagon of bad evidence backers

 

Gary Hooser also utilizes the same tactic with his Island Voices view regarding the recent ruling with the dust issue in Kauai.  He takes advantage of people’s distrust and hate against corporations.  He too uses hot words to stir up emotions of anger in an attempt to garner support for his cause.  Joan Conrow’s blog easily rips apart his claims one by one.  He continues to make repetitive statements to quell any possibility of questioning his information by his followers.  He also knows how most of his followers lack of motivation to research any of the anti-GMO activists’ claims.  
  
Another sign that the Hawaii Center for Food Safety is ramping up showed up in today’s letters to the editor.  Suzanne Luard Lenz tried to claim that pesticides from a non-biotech crop is responsible for the death of her father.  The lowest level activists will quickly jump on to this as “proof” that pesticides must be banned or regulated even more.  These readers won’t bother to ask the question of where’s her actual proof to support this claim and what other factors could have contributed to this.  This isn’t proof of anything, just an assumption not backed by evidence.  It’s also shameful that the Star Advertiser is printing this stuff.

It’s clear that Gary Hooser and Ashley Lukens are at it again trying to rally their uninformed emotion based masses to support their cause.  They are also fundraising for their coffers too which isn’t surprising either.

 One would think that all this money could really be put to a good cause like actually getting evidence to prove their points and determine the real sources of their issues rather than just speculate on it.  The truth is that it isn’t about anyone’s health or standing with facts.  When Ashley and Gary can tout Vandana Shiva as their spokesperson, it’s clear that the entire issue is just one of pure manipulation.

The day that the anti-GMO groups like Hawaii SEED, the Center for Food Safety, and the Babes Against Biotech show their own transparency about their agendas and actually give something tangible to people, maybe I’ll see them as more credible.  They should readily post the fees they paid Shiva to make the rounds here and match it with that same amount to gather data that supports their accusations.

  
The discerned reader with a good skeptical eye can see what’s happening.  The pot stirrers are at it again.  How many unsuspecting people can we get on board again for the cause? It’s like the high school tactic of spreading a false rumor about someone and repeating it over so that it’s believed and never questioned.  I’m tired of seeing people being made into fools by falling into this immature behaviors.  

 

 
It’s ironic that those who claim to love nature and environment tend to have the most dishonest type of tactics and yet demand transparency of others.  Some feel that the farmers should submit to some of their demands to “work” with them.  These people are not about collaborating and always have ulterior motives.  No one should ever cave to the demands of the dishonest folks.  It’s no wonder they protest instead of sitting down to an honest discussion to actually accomplish anything.

It really bothers me that Hollywood stars have convened upon our state when it comes to supposed hot topic issues.  We’ve had Darryl Hannah, Roseanne Barr, Kelly Slater, Bette Midler, and Ben Stiller getting involved with the GMO protests.  Now Jason Momoa is involving himself in the TMT protests also.

If you’re going to block something, I hope that there is a tangible alternative that could be offered.  It’s one thing to be against something but hopefully have something to give.  When Hannah, Barr, Stiller, and Midler got involved with the anti-GMO issue, did we see something come out of it? Did we get more local foods grown? Has more farmers farmed? Have they made farm land cheaper? Did they create economic alternatives to those who would be displaced by getting seed farms shut down? None of these alternatives were ever thought of and backed by a real action plan.

It’s fine that Jason Momoa can protest the telescope but will he provide a plan to help the community that stands to benefit from it? How will he help stimulate Hilo’s economy long after the protesters leave? Will he provide educational funding that was agreed upon with the building of the TMT? What high tech opportunities will be replaced in that area? What construction jobs will be provided if it isn’t built? Has he promised to provide financial support to educating the Hawaiians long after the protests are done? 

Just like the biotech issue, it seems that people are so willing to block everything and use a lot of false information to base their assertions upon.  Yes, we need to malama the Aina and that means everywhere.  Who is cleaning up the junk cars left in the rural areas of our island? Who is cleaning out the water ways that run into the ocean like the Ala Wai canal? Who is cleaning up the trash piles left by the homeless in our communities? Who is refusing to drive their car to keep the air clean? How is each and every person restoring the sacredness back to our whole island? 

It’s one thing to protest, but we’ve got to stop and ask ourselves, what have we given back? How are we contributing to the big picture of helping our communities, the aina, and the people? Focusing just on one issue doesn’t serve us well.  Let’s expand that attention and energy everywhere to Hawaii to have an even bigger impact for everyone.

   

I had a very interesting discussion the other night with my husband about why we had kids.  I honestly never thought I’d ever want kids when I was a summer fun leader back in college.  I thought they were dirty, gross, and to some degree, bratty.  Why would I ever want that in my life?

I can honestly say that I totally feel differently now that I’m a mother to three kids.  None of them were planned either.  I didn’t expect to have them, they just happened when I least expected it.  I do feel blessed that my stubbornness to not want them in my 20’s changed in me.  My children have given me new vision for what life is really about.

The actions we take now and the lessons we teach them all shape our future world.  I my kids aren’t here just for me to love and develop a bond with.  It’s so much more than that.  They are my hopes and joys.  They are my chance to instill important lessons I learned as kid into them so that they can continue the legacy of our family.  My dad always told me that no matter what I did, I had to make the world better in some form or fashion.

The anti-everything people are right in some ways with preserving our past and malama the keiki.  They are dead wrong with the way they do it however.  We must use education to make this next generation better than the one before.  This is the expectation that my dad held for me and my siblings.  It’s the same expectation I hold for my own kids.

I believe that every child has the potential to be a contributor to making the world a better place.  The only way we can achieve that is through education to inspire our kids to go over and beyond what’s expected. After the disturbing anti-GMO excerpts found daughter’s textbook, I decided to contact the teacher and the principal about it.  I was not the only person to see that the material presented was not evidence based.  I was invited to speak to the kids today.

I took the teacher up on the offer and went in today to talk about the issue.  My goal was to give them tools that will help them think critically about anything that pops into their radars.  If I could give this tool, it would serve as a lifelong lesson in how to vet eivedence and protect them from getting sucked into the latest scheme.  These kids learned about the basics of how Google works and how to pick correct terms to see what is evidence based.

I then proceeded to talk about why so many of us don’t farm.  The kids threw out numbers like 50% of folks farm to 30%.  Only one kid gave me the correct percentage of less than 2% farm.  I told them the story about how my grandfather farmed with a water buffalo and how my dad farms.  I added the analogy about how our phones used to be all corded and now are connected via satellite.  Technology has changed around us and the same applies to how we grow food. 

I touched upon various topics like basic genetics, plant breeding, how science works, and current events on various crops that may affect them like oranges and chocolate.  We even talked about how and why seeds are grown here in Hawaii and how it comes back to us in the form of various proteins like beef, chicken, and pork.

I gave them lots of time to ask questions and realized that the problem isn’t only coming from the fact that we are so farm removed from agriculture but also that we don’t know the basics about our foods, textiles, and other products.  They do not realize how nearly every aspect of our lives are touched by a farmer.  

I reminded them about how lucky we are to have so many modern conveniences that because of it, we should be responsible for sharing good information that can help others. I asked them if they have gone without food or water or had no shelter over their heads.  None had ever experienced this.  These kids could never understand what it’s like to suffer.  If we have to power to alleviate suffering, we should do that for others as we are global citizens.

I briefly spoke about school gardens and how it’s good to know how to grow plants.  However, a garden can’t feed the masses 365 days a year 3 meals a day or clothe them or provide other useful products for them.  That’s the reality that our keiki just can’t comprehend.  They can’t even comprehend what it’s like to go hungry day after day either.

I took my two friends along, Frank N. Foods and Lanakila Anuenue Papaya to tell the story of agriculture to these kids.  Even though I did the teaching, I got the most important lesson of all. The people who know and love agriculture must tell their stories not only to adults but to our future consumers, the children.  If we miss them, we will lose a generation of young minds, who can continue our legacies to leave their mark in the world to make it better?

Our kids deserve to remain fascinated by the world around them, not fearful of what they don’t understand.

  

Everyone has to start somewhere.  The majority of us don’t have everything served to us on a silver platter.  It was no different over a hundred years ago when people made their way over from the Philipines, Japan, China, Korea, Portugal, and other countries.  They left their familiar places in search of better opportunities and hopefully a new chance at life in many cases.  They all took a huge risk but did so for a better future for their families. My great grandparents left Okinawa for that same opportunity.  Agriculture was what allowed for this to happen.  It was a stepping stone to a better life.

Although agriculture has changed significantly over time where only 2% make up its labor force, it still remains as a good first step for many people.  Whether it’s a large corporate seed company or a small local farmer, the opportunities available provide a stepping stone for many local folks across our state.  It’s an unheard story not told often enough in any sensationalist news story in today’s media.

People don’t realize that a farmer also has to cultivate good people and values.  Without the people power to run the farm, there would be no farm.  He needs hard working, honest, and reliable folks to grow his crops.  He helps cultivate these values in the many workers he has hired over the past 4 decades.

When he started off farming, the workers were mostly all teenagers from around our neighborhoods.  My grandmother would call the neighbors to see if anyone wanted a job.  Because opportunities for teens weren’t plentiful, many jumped at the opportunity to earn some money.

Many of these teens had family issues occurring at home.  Some came from single parent homes, some were experimenting with drugs, failing school, or on the verge of getting busted for drug crimes.  My dad worked with these kids to keep them out of trouble and stay out of mischief.     He taught many boys what good work ethic and not to be afraid of hard work.  It was these values that indeed helped the in the future.  Many of the followed through and became a police man, electrician, and plant pathologist.

As the years went by and his farm moved to the BYU campus, the labor pool changed too.  College students and high school graduates became the next farm hands.  Teens no longer wanted to work the farms in this day and age.  With limited opportunities for local folks in these rural areas, any job was good.

Many people who have been hired on the farm haven’t had many work opportunities before and have had some trials in their lives.  Not many employers want to hire someone with no skill set or past criminal history.  With no work, some of these folks get into trouble that further sets them back.  Working outside and being given a chance to work is a stepping stone for these folks.

My dad gives anyone willing to work hard a chance at the farm.  He mentors them on how to work hard and sets expectations of them.  He is the best example of someone who work hard and expects that of his workers.  He helps them even with setting goals for their life and mentors them.  Farm work doesn’t care if you got busted for something or don’t know how to work.  It’s a place where one can learn how to develop yourself as a person.

As tough as he is as a father, he has the heart of gold when it comes to people.  Note that this does entail some yelling and nitpicking on how he wants the job done. He helps his workers to develop good work ethic and teaches them to take initiative.  The belief is that by instilling these values in a person helps them in every aspect of their lives.  Many of his workers have come from broken homes and have not had good examples to follow.  He becomes their role model to them and they learn to respect him.

Some of his workers haven’t had good educational experiences either.  He has taught them basic math many times and basic finance issues.  Some can’t read or write well either and he gives them the skills to develop these basics that too many of us take for granted.  He doesn’t turn these people away as he sees the opportunity for them to learning it while on the farm.  Farm work doesn’t discriminate against a person but takes them in and teaches them so many lessons.

The activists who have never been on a farm or even ran a farm will never understand or see this picture.  When given a chance, a person can develop many skills and learn the value of hard work.  It’s something that can’t be learned on the Internet or by protesting.  Neither do activists ever give a chance to people who are down and out.  If anything, they take away these opportunities by their misinformation campaigns and scare slogans.  They don’t realize that their hobby activism goes beyond hurting just farms.  It hurts the people who work on these farms.  The same applies to all the politicians who jump on this bandwagon and misinform the public about agriculture.  They do favors to no one.

Farming is so much more than growing things.  It’s a place to learn, grow, and develop oneself through hardwork and dedication.  A farmer is not just a cultivator of plants but a cultivator of people.



It’s nice to see Kauai County Council member, Gary Hooser, and the Center for Food Safety’s Ashley Lukens on the defensive when speaking lately.  They are repeating, “This law won’t affect small farmers!” I think to myself, how the hell can then know when they have NEVER ran a farm here themselves?! Hooser even had the nerve to say that people stating that are lying.  Whatever sir, as if you have the knowledge and skills to even make  that claim.  When have any of these two ran a farm here to know what it is really like? *crickets*

Ashley and Gary think they know farming but are clueless.  They don’t know that my dad has multiple small fields around the island.  Land prices are high here as leasing it is too. One field is next to a church and another borders a school and others in in ag lots that have homes around it and possibly some childcare occurring in them.  With unknown parameters given in the bills, it’s hard to determine how the farm will be hit.  It’s even more concerning because of his plans to expand to help meet the demands for his product.  More fields means more crop protection products which may or may not subject him to these onerous regulations.  Then on the opposite hand they talk about growing the local food supply while attacking the farmer’s tools.  

It’s amazing how politicians and activists keep repeating phrases that they really no nothing about.  I doubt Senator Josh Green, who is also a medical doctor, would want a patient telling him what to do.  These people see no problem with being downright dishonest and having no ethics about their actions and impacts.  Then they wonder why the local folks are getting angry with them.  

Local style means not speaking up and go with the flow.  The predominantly Asian culture looks down upon standing out and speaking up to draw attention to oneself.  These transplants have taken advantage of that fact and are out to make Hawaii their Hawaii without even consideration for local culture.  These people are launching laws against fishing, hunting, and farming using misinformation to portray us as destroyers of the environment.  Meanwhile, these local folks are the ones who know the issues the best and have practices supported with evidence.

It’s easy to talk about someone’s line of work when you have no clue about it.  Taking advantage of the public’s poor awareness about the infrastructure, economics, and the science and technology of agriculture is effective when combined with scare tactics.  It’s despicable but effective as we have seen and they are coming to a neighborhood or giving you a call soon.  Will you fall for their schtick of “protecting the keiki and kupuna” or will you see through the charade?  



A prime example of non-farmers giving directives to farmers.