GMO taro, coffee banned
Council overrides mayor's veto by unanimous vote
by Jason Armstrong
Tribune-Herald Staff Writer

Published: Friday, November 14, 2008 9:38 AM HST
Genetically modified taro and coffee crops are now illegal on Hawaii Island, the County Council decided Thursday in voting 7-0 to override Mayor Harry Kim's veto of the ban.

Council members pushed through the law after listening to more than five hours of testimony from roughly 100 people gathered in Hilo, Waimea and Kailua-Kona.

The ban calls for a fine of up to $1,000 for the testing, introduction or growing of the specific genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

On Oct. 8, the council passed Bill 361 by a unanimous vote. Kim then vetoed the measure, setting up Thursday's special override meeting.

Kim, who did not attend, previously told the council that the ban would be hard to enforce, GMO research is needed and that Hawaii has an obligation to help feed the world through GMO testing.

But contrasting views were offered Thursday by many of the people who filled the council's chambers to testify on the issue.

"We aren't against science and research," Sharon Hettema said. "We are only against the risks that it will create on this island."

Possible contamination from open-field testing of GMO crops could "destroy" the island's organic farming industry, she said.

"The people of this island need this (ban)," Hettema added.

Others said Kona coffee's designation as a specialty crop would be lost if the coffee trees are altered by GMO varieties.

"The bill is reversible," said James Weatherford, who has 25 years experience in the agricultural field.

"Genetic contamination is not reversible," Weatherford said.

Native Hawaiians testified that taro is not seriously threatened by disease or pests. Also, some said they consider themselves to be descendants of taro, which is why they don't want the plant's genes altered.

But biology researchers, certain members of the farming community and business leaders countered that science is needed to save both crops from disease and pests. They said that GMO papaya revived an industry once decimated by the ring spot virus.

"All we're asking is we should not ban something because of fear," said Alan Takemoto, executive director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

His comments drew a swift response from North Kona Councilman Angel Pilago.

"I did not create this out of fear," said Pilago, the bill's author. "You are fearful of the past, fearful of the present and fearful of the future. You're here because you are afraid."

Takemoto said all he's asking is to base the GMO decision on facts and science.

"We are fearful that it is going to go beyond just coffee and taro," he added.

Pilago again responded.

"You, sir, need to be more sensitive when you come to my island and tell us what we should think, what we should do and how we should feel," Pilago told Takemoto, who flew in from Honolulu to attend the meeting.

Although the bill relates only to taro, also known as kalo, and coffee, papaya farmers who rely on GMO varieties said they are worried it will be expanded to them.

There's an "entire GMO movement" lobbying for the ban, said Loren Mochida, general manager for Tropical Hawaiian Products, which he said supports about 50 GMO papaya farmers.

Many people who attended the Hilo meeting had to wait in an adjacent hallway until their name was called to testify or for someone to leave the meeting room that was filled to capacity. It times, there were fewer empty seats in the audience than on the council dais, even though Hilo Councilman Stacy Higa did not attend.

Hilo Councilman Donald Ikeda was absent when the vote was taken, returning minutes later. Also, Hilo Councilman J Yoshimoto and Hamakua Councilman Dominic Yagong were each gone during various parts of the meeting.

The audience members who stayed for the mid-afternoon vote cheered loudly when the council overrode Kim's veto. Several hugged each other and shook hands in celebration of the GMO ban taking effect.

E-mail Jason Armstrong -at jarmstrong@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Thank goodness someone is showing some sense!

Interesting. I wonder if this will set a precedent for other municipalities.