The fate of the most important pesticide bill ever proposed in Hawaii is now in the hands of a few influential Maui and Kauai Senators who could kill it in a backroom deal. Last year a similar bill died through legislative inaction, with Gary Hooser reporting that: “Multiple sources at the Capitol point the finger
The Dutch are among the greatest and wisest farmers on earth. For centuries, farmers of one of the planet’s most densely populated nations have led the world of agriculture by innovating techniques to increase yields. The National Geographic recently reported that the Netherlands is, “the globe’s number two exporter of food as measured by value,
In November, organic farmer Alika Atay, the grassroots leader of Hawaii’s ʻĀina Protector’s United effort was elected to the Maui County Council in a stunning upset (described in detail here). Atay was the lead plaintiff in the SHAKA Movement’s federal lawsuit over the invalidation of Maui’s successful GMO Moratorium initiative in 2014. This Maui Independent
Against the advice of the Environmental Protection Agency’s own scientists, President Trump’s newly appointed EPA chief, Scott Pruitt, has refused to ban the dangerous pesticide chlorpyrifos. “We are returning to using sound science in decision-making, rather than predetermined results,” said Pruitt. Monsanto reportedly sprays around 140 acres of land on Maui and Molokai with the
Some pessimists predict dark times ahead for Maui, a future of more hotels, pesticide-drenched agribusiness, urban sprawl, shopping malls, and the billowing dust of endless construction. But many Maui folks are standing up, like never before, for a brighter future through collective community action. We, working island residents sometimes forget to raise our heads from
Hopes ran high for a proposed bill that would have helped inform and empower Hawaii’s residents about the impact of toxic restricted-use pesticides. But House Bill 790 sank after pushback from the powerful biotech industry and resistance from the old guard. “The lawmakers who opposed this measure should be ashamed,” says Ashley Lukens, director of the Hawaii Center for
Now that President Donald Trump and his Goebbels-like propaganda boss Steve Bannon have taken control of Washington, it feels as though fascism is back in fashion. But so is activism. As a fertile springtime begins, we are watching an exciting new form of activism evolve that is inclusive, robust, and growing more muscular by the
The state is finally taking some first steps to address concerns about pesticide drift from large agri-chemical company operations in Hawaii. In a joint press statement, the Hawaii Departments of Health and Agriculture described several initiatives recommended by the state/county sponsored Joint Fact Finding Group Report. Plans include a $500,000 surface water quality study (by
Marketed as an island paradise, Maui is not the first place one would think of as ground zero in the battle for the future of agriculture. The golden beaches of Lahaina were recently ranked as the second most popular honeymoon destination in the world (after Las Vegas), and its surfing is legendary. The billions of
The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has invalidated county ordinances in Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii counties that sought to enforce public health protections (such as buffer zones, pesticide use disclosure and environmental impact studies). The court ruled that under Hawaii law, counties and municipalities do not have the authority to regulate GE
