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The Dean's Notes Archive
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October 14, 2002
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BIG ISLAND COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES REVISED RESOLUTION
On September 25, the Hawaii County Council approved a resolution with the following long title: "A resolution supporting the development of a regional review protocol prior to any release or planting of genetically modified (GM) coffee in the districts of North and South Kona in order to assure and protect the biotic integrity and market value of pure Kona coffee."

The resolution approved by the full council was a considerable revision of a resolution that had been killed by the council’s committee on human resources and human development at its September 10 meeting. Under the revised resolution (which does not have the weight of law), the county council supports the development of a review protocol before GM coffee is planted or released in the districts of North and South Kona. It further acknowledges "the success of genetically modified science specifically in the Hawaii papaya industry and is not opposed to the development and research of genetically modified coffee."

The resolution arose from concern by some coffee growers in the Kona area that their Kona coffee stock might be genetically altered by pollen drift if any genetically modified coffee were planted in the area, thereby, possibly, devaluing Kona coffee on the world market. I have met with the coffee growers and given them my assurance that CTAHR understands their concerns and will work closely with them to avoid harm to their crop.

The full text of the resolution follows:

Council of the County of Hawaii
Resolution

A Resolution Supporting the Development of a Regional Review Protocol prior to Any Release or Planting of Genetically Modified (GM) Coffee in the Districts of North and South Kona in Order to Assure and protect the Biotic Integrity and Market Value of Pure Kona Coffee

WHEREAS, coffee has been grown continuously in the districts of North and South Kona for over one hundred and seventy years and is acknowledged to be one of the highest quality coffees in the world and the Guatemalan cultivar, also referred to as Kona typica, is the predominant variety grown; and

WHEREAS, the close to two century-long heritage of Kona coffee has produced a unified community uniquely rich in history and culture unlike anywhere in the world; and

WHEREAS, Kona Coffee today provides an enormous economic contribution to the County of Hawaii and the State of Hawaii, generating approximate yields of 3 million pounds of green coffee annually with an estimated income at the farm gate in excess of fifteen million dollars, and a much higher value at the wholesale and retail levels, supplemented by an increasing amount of ag-tourism dollars earned daily from the Kona Coffee Festival, farm tours, and other expanding coffee belt activities, is produced on approximately 650 farms, employing 650 families and other farm workers; and

WHEREAS, three research institutes: the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center (HARC), and Integrated Coffee Technologies (ICT) are conducting research on Oahu to develop genetically modified (GM) coffee plants;

WHEREAS, the high farm gate value enjoyed by Kona coffee growers and the expanding niche market established by the Kona coffee industry merits thoughtful, respectful, and protective attention from responsible federal and state agencies, and private entrepreneurial interests involved in the development of biotechnology; and

WHEREAS, although coffee is primarily self pollinated, since it may be cross pollinated approximately 10% of the time, non-genetically modified coffee in neighboring orchards could become pollinated with genetically modified (GM) pollen; and

WHEREAS, organic coffee is an expanding high value crop within the Kona Coffee industry and organic coffee must contain no trace of GM interference and organic coffee farmers would not be able to prove non-contamination from GM plantings in the region except at high cost for special DNA tests; and

WHEREAS, the Specialty Coffee Association of America has stated that a genetically modified coffee is not consistent with their definition of quality; and

WHEREAS, with delayed acceptance or non-acceptance of genetically modified coffee and some other crops by Japan and European Union nations, as well as the fact that several states of the United States are currently reviewing legislation that would require genetically modified foods to be labeled, the price of genetically modified Kona coffee could be negatively impacted due to decreased demand; and

WHEREAS, before commercialization, genetically engineered plants/organisms must conform with standards set by state and federal marketing statutes including state seed certification laws, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and the Federal Plant Pest Act; and

WHEREAS, while it is recognized that the County of Hawaii has no regulatory authority nor county department with the scientific competence to regulate the release and development of GM crops, the Hawaii County Council may legitimately respond to the concerns of farmers and others with a stake in the future of Kona’s gourmet coffee industry, and may further express such concerns to those agencies and institutions responsible for the development, permitting, oversight and regulation of GM crops; and

WHEREAS, the Kona coffee industry and the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources have expressed an intention to work together on an ongoing basis to continually reevaluate the potential consequences to the release of GM coffee stock.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the Council, in response to concerns expressed by the Kona Coffee Council, the Kona Farmers Alliance, the Kona County Farm Bureau, the Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative, the Hawaii Coffee Association, the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, as well as individual Kona coffee farmers, supports the development of a regional review protocol prior to any release or planting of genetically modified coffee in the Districts of North and South Kona.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii County Council recognizes the success of genetically modified science specifically in the Hawaii papaya industry and is not opposed to the development and research of genetically modified coffee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution shall be forwarded by the County Clerk to the Honorable Benjamin J. Cayetano, Governor, State of Hawaii; [the resolution proceeds to name 15 more individuals and the entities they represent].


GMO PUBLIC EDUCATION FORUM DELAYED UNTIL FEBRUARY
The various meetings held on the Big Island on the topic of genetically modified foods reinforced my belief that it is essential to educate the public about the benefits and risks of genetic engineering.

Ania Wieczorek is organizing a public forum for the Kona area on the subject of genetic modification. It will be similar to the forum held here in Manoa in early August. Originally planned for late November, the forum has been postponed until February to accommodate coffee growers’ harvesting schedules.


IMPORTANT DEADLINES (AS IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW!)
You probably don’t need to be reminded that two major deadlines loom. Today is the deadline for submitting T-STAR grant proposals. Tomorrow, October 15, is the deadline for posting your annual narrative on the CTAHR web site. Good luck on meeting both.


REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR AG CONFERENCE
If you have not already done so, you still have to time to register for Agricultural Conference 2002 to be held all day October 24 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. The registration deadline has been extended to October 17. The conference is a joint venture of CTAHR, the Agricultural Leadership Foundation, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation. Senator Daniel Inouye is slated to be the keynote speaker at the luncheon. Another highlight will be honoring Big Island rancher Monty Richards, a member of CTAHR’s advisory board, for his many years of service to Hawaii county, to the state, and to agriculture.

Ag Conference 2002 immediately precedes the HFBF annual conference, which will also be held in the Sheraton Waikiki on October 25-26. You can find detailed information about Ag Conference 2002, including a registration form, on the CTAHR web site at http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/AgConference/index.asp.


PRIORITY STAFFING THIRD ROUND CALL
The third round of the priority staffing plan is upon us. October 21 is the deadline to receive prioritized requests from CTAHR units. The requested positions will be discussed at the October 22 leadership committee meeting, and preliminary decisions will be discussed at the November 26 leadership meeting. Final decisions will be announced in early December.

If you have any questions on the process, contact Ruddy Wong (ruddy@hawaii.edu, 956-8228).


UPDATING CTAHR DIRECTORY
You are reminded to check your listing on the CTAHR online directory (www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/directory/) and notify your department or county secretary if your listing needs any correction. (Please *do not* notify the Publications and Information Office.) The secretary will post the correction. PIO will use the corrected list to generate this year’s CTAHR telephone directory. Corrections must be posted by October 29 to appear in the new directory.


OPEN HOUSE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SET FOR OCTOBER 25
The October 25 CTAHR open house for high school students is shaping up to be quite an event. So far, 425 students from nine public and private schools are expected, and Allene Chun is still accepting groups. Twenty-two demonstration stations (and we are actually expecting more), representing work done in all CTAHR departments, will be set up throughout the college. For example, students will have a termite lab tour, see the basics of fashion sketching, see and catch a coqui frog, and learn about bioremediation. Between 9:00 and 11:30, students will visit the demonstrations in groups of 20 lead by student tour guides. From 11:30 to noon, students will gather in Sherman Courtyard to be entertained at a concert featuring a new recording artist, AZIEL. Refreshments generously provided by the CTAHR Alumni Association will be available.

The day promises to be a busy one. Thanks to all who are working so hard to put our best foot forward and convince these young people that CTAHR is the place to be.


MEET ADVISORS AND ALUMNI AT A TAILGATE PARTY!
Check your closet for your black and green clothes and set aside Saturday, November 23. That’s the day CTAHR will host a tailgate party preceding the UH Warrior football game against the University of Cincinnati. CTAHR faculty and staff are invited, as well as CTAHR alumni.

The CTAHR board of advisors will hold a fall meeting at UGC that morning. The tailgate party will begin when the meeting ends, at about 2:30 p.m. You (and your "significant others") are all invited to join us for the party and then go to the football game afterward. After the party, chartered buses will take everyone who is interested to the game. The buses will return you to UGC when the game is over. (If you’ve braved parking at Aloha Stadium, you know this is a good deal!) There will be no cost for the party; cost for the bus and game will be $20 ($10 bus and $10 game ticket) per person.

This will be a great chance to meet alumni and the members of the board of advisors in a relaxed setting. I hope many of you will join us. It should be a lot of fun!

Invitations to the tailgate party and the game will be sent to all of you shortly. If you have any questions in the meantime, contact Kelvin Shoji, CTAHR development officer, at shoji@hawaii.edu.

P.S. At the time of this writing, the Cincinnati Bearcats have a 2-4 record, with four games to play before they play Hawaii. Tulane beat them Saturday.


LEAN CONCEPTS WORKSHOP CAN TAKE A FEW MORE
Today is the final deadline to register for the Lean Concepts Workshop, set for October 23 and organized by Innovative Solutions (formerly Hawaii Manufacturing Extension Program). The organizers are hoping to attract at least few more registrants. This is a good opportunity to learn the concepts that guide Innovative Solutions in their assessment of small businesses. These concepts have been successfully put into practice by businesses across Hawaii and the United States.

Register with Bill Wiedmann, 808-383-0194, wiedmann@hawaii.edu. For more inforation, contact Cathy Cavaletto, 808-956-7909, or Kathy McKenzie, 808-754-0239.


CTAHR CALENDAR
Please remember to send your calendar items to Dean's Notes.

*October 14-November 10: Take Charge of Your Money, a telecourse, Mondays, 8:00-9:00 p.m., rebroadcast Sundays 6;00-7:00 a.m. (Oahu, Oceanic 55, Craig 21; Kauai, Hoike Channel 10; Hilo and Kona, Na Leo Channel 54); Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00 p.m. (Maui, MCCTV-54); online registration http://ctahr.hawaii.edu/tcyour$ (contact: Pamela Kutara, kutara@hawaii.edu, 956-7212)

*October 15: Island Fresh Taste of Elegance (competition for pork entrees), donation of $10 to Chefs de Cuisine Culinary Arts Scholarship, 6:30 p.m., Waikiki Beach Marriott, Kona Moku Ballroom (contact: Halina Zaleski, halina@hawaii.edu, 956-7594)

*October 15-17: Hawaii Turfgrass Association and Hawaii Association of Nurserymen Annual Conference and Tradeshow, Pacific Beach Hotel, Honolulu (contact: Madeleine Shaw, 808-955-3504)

*October 16: Seminar and field day on chemical weed control for native plant seed production conducted by Joe DeFrank, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Plant Materials Center, Molokai (contact: Joe DeFrank, defrenk@hawaii.edu, 808-956-3894)

*October 21: Brown Bags to Excellence: Learning Styles: Variety IS the Spice of Teaching, Marlene Hapai, CTAHR, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Gilmore Hall 212 (contact: Marlene Hapai, hapai@hawaii.edu, 956-6977)

*October 23: Lean Concepts Workshop, presented by Innovative Solutions, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Stan Sheriff Arena, Room 105, register with Bill Wiedmann, 808-383-0194, wiedmann@hawaii.edu (contact: Cathy Cavaletto, 808-956-7909; Kathy McKenzie, 808-754-0239)

*October 23: SARE workshop, Direct Marketing of Agricultural Products, 10:00 a.m., Sheraton Waikiki Hotel (workshop in conjunction with Agriculture Conference 2002 (contact: Dick Bowen, bowen@hawaii.edu, 956-8419

*October 24: Agricultural Conference 2002, Changing Times: Creating Opportunities in Agriculture; co-sponsored by Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, CTAHR; 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Sheraton Waikiki Hotel (contact: Agricultural Leadership Foundation, 808-732-2294, fax 808-732-2794; Alan Tin, tin@verizon.net).

*October 25: CTAHR open house for high school students, 9:00 a.m.-noon, various locations on CTAHR’s Manoa campus (contact: Allene Chun, chuna@ctahr.hawaii.edu, 956-6733)

*October 25-26: Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation annual convention and farm tour, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel(contact: HFBF, hfbf@hfbf.org, 808-848-2074)

*October 25-27: Fifth Hawaii Orchid Growers’ Association Conference, Nani Mau Gardens, Hilo (contact: Kelvin Sewake, ksewake@hawaii.edu, 808-959-9155; Mindi Clark, 808-966-6842)

*October 26: Island Flavors, locally produced meats and vegetables prepared by Kapiolani Community College students and island chefs, all you can eat, 6:00-8:00 p.m., KCC cafeteria, attendance limited to 300 (contact: Glen Shinsato, 237-4044)

*October 26-27: Hawaii Noni Conference, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Hilo, Hawaii (contact: S. C. Nelson, noni@hawaii.edu, 808-959-9155; details, registration form
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/commodities/noni/2002conference.asp)

*October 27: 4-H Clover Bud Fun Day (children 5-8), 2:00-4:00 p.m., Komohana Ag Complex, Hilo (contact: Debbie Ward, dward@hawaii.edu, 808-959-9155)

*October 31: Evaluation, Nutrition, and Physical Activity (a Food Stamp nutrition education project conference), 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Hale Ikena, Fort Shafter, Honolulu, registration $40 until September 30, $50 thereafter, registration form at web site http://www.hawaii.edu/foodskills/foodstampconf.htm (contact: Pamela Kutara, 956-7212, kutara@hawaii.edu)

*November 2: Long-Term Care Insurance and Its Alternatives, noncredit course, Outreach College, taught by Ron Wall, $20 fee, 9:00-11:30 a.m., Sakamaki Hall C101 (contact: Paulette Feeney, 956-2037)

*November 4: Brown Bags to Excellence: Design Is Everything—Using Technology in Teaching, Priscilla Millen, Leeward Community College, Ag Sciences III computer lab, 2nd floor, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (contact: Marlene Hapai, hapai@hawaii.edu, 956-6977)

*November 8: Native Plants in Public Places: Hawaii’s Unique Biological Heritage, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Komohana Ag Complex, Hilo (contact: Jay Deputy, deputy@hawaii.edu, 808-956-2150; Debbie Ward, dward@hawaii.edu, 808-959-9155; see web site at www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/)

*November 17: 4-H Presentation Day, East Hawaii 4-H Federation Meeting, 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Komohana Ag Complex, Hilo (contact: Debbie Ward, dward@hawaii.edu, 808-959-9155)

*November 18: Brown Bags to Excellence: Intro to Web-Based Teaching Techniques—Using WebCT, Priscilla Millen, Leeward College, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Ag Sciences III computer lab, 2nd floor (contact: Marlene Hapai, hapai@hawaii.edu, 956-6977)

*November 18: 4-H leader training, 7:00 p.m., Komohana Ag Complex (contact: Debbie Ward, dward@hawaii.edu, 808-959-9155)

*December 2: Brown Bags to Excellence: Design a Teaching Web-Based Module, Priscilla Millen, Leeward Community College, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Ag Sciences III computer lab, 2nd floor (contact: Marlene Hapai, hapai@hawaii.edu, 956-6977)

*December 7: Financial Security in Later Life, noncredit course, Outreach College, taught by Ron Wall, $20 fee, 9:00-11:30 a.m., Sakamaki Hall C101 (contact: Paulette Feeney, 956-2037)

*December 13: CTAHR faculty senate meeting, 12:30 p.m., St. John 11 (contact: Halina Zaleski, halina@hawaii.edu, 956-7594)

*January 4-6, 2003: Invasive Species: A Comparison of Hawaii and California, presented by California-Pacific Section of the Society for Range Management, King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, Kailua-Kona (contact: Bill Frost, 530-621-5509)

*January 13-17, 2003: National Council of Farmer Cooperatives convention, Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort (January 15 opening reception open to all, 6:00-7:30 p.m.) (contact: Wayne Nishijima, waynen@hawaii.edu, 808-959-9155)


The next issue of Dean's Notes will appear October 25, 2002.

I hope you have a good week.

Aloha,
Andy Hashimoto
deansnotes@ctahr.hawaii.edu
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Last updated on 12/10/02