House Committee on Hawaiian Affairs to hear taro security bill

Honolulu. The House Hawaiian Affairs Committee will be hearing a bill on taro security Wednesday, February 18 at 9:10 a.m. in State Capitol Room 329.

The purpose of House Bill 1663 is to further protect:

(1) The cultural integrity of kalo as part of the heritage of the Hawaiian people and the State;

(2) The genetic biodiversity and integrity of all traditional taro varieties in the state as part of the sacred trust between the State and the indigenous peoples of the Pacific; and

(3) Hawai‘i taro farmers’ raw taro, poi, lu’au, and value-added markets,by establishing a ban on developing, testing, propagating, releasing, importing, planting, and growing of genetically modified taro in the State of Hawai‘i.

HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS HEARING
When: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 9:10 a.m.
Where: State Capitol Conference Room 329

HB1663
RELATING TO TARO SECURITY.
Prohibits the development, testing, propagation, release, importation, planting or growing of genetically modified taro in the State of Hawai‘i.

The Hawaiian Affairs Committee consists of Rep. Mele Carroll (Chair), Rep. Maile Shimabukuro (Vice Chair), Rep. Della Au Bellati, Rep. Joe Bertram III, Rep. Tom Brower, Rep. John Mizuno, Rep. Scott Nishimoto, Rep. Ryan Yamane, and Rep. Gene Ward.