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Taro farming. File photo<\/p>\n\nTaro farming. File photo<\/p>\n
Local farmers told Maui County Council members Thursday that the government is falling short of providing island agriculture the help needed to sustain operations. Representatives of the Maui Humane Society also warned that the island\u2019s only open-admission shelter is facing a \u201cperfect storm\u201d of rising costs and record demand.<\/p>\n
Farmers seek funding changes<\/p>\n
During public testimony before the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee, local farmers called on the County Council to overhaul agricultural funding and infrastructure, reporting that a lack of slaughterhouse capacity and upfront capital forces producers to downsize operations, jeopardizing island food security.<\/p>\n
Bobby Pahia, owner of Hawai\u02bbi Taro Farm, and hog farmer Hanalei Colleado urged county officials to shift from reimbursement-based to direct-funding grants.<\/p>\n
Colleado, who operates on leased land through the Kaialahui Foundation, told council members he was forced to downsize his operation from 1,000 hogs to under 100 animals because of a \u201cbottleneck\u201d in local slaughter facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe slaughterhouse cannot \u2014 they don\u2019t have the capacity to move my product into the local market because it has to be USDA certified,\u201d Colleado said. He said he could no longer afford to feed animals he could not process for sale.<\/p>\n
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Pahia, an adviser to the Kaialahui Foundation, applauded the county for its investment in the Department of Agriculture but said current grant structures are failing farmers in the field. He advocated for micro-grant programs similar to those run by Maui Economic Opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgriculture is tough. Margins of profits are slim. The cost of production is high,\u201d Pahia said. \u201cOur farmers, they don\u2019t have the kind of money for the investments they need to pick up equipment, and they don\u2019t have the kind of money upfront in a reimbursement program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Council Member Gabe Johnson asked Colleado if a mobile or modular slaughterhouse would resolve the issue. Colleado confirmed that the Kaialahui Foundation has researched modular units costing approximately $6 million, but said they lack the infrastructure and funding to move forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need advocacy, and that\u2019s where we need guys like the Department of Agriculture to go to bat for guys like us,\u201d Colleado said.<\/p>\n
Pahia emphasized the urgency of increasing local production, noting that Hawai\u02bbi currently imports more than 90% of its food.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAll it takes is a terrorist activity, dock strike, a pandemic, and we\u2019ll all be in a situation where we have, they say, two weeks\u2019 food supply,\u201d Pahia said.<\/p>\n
Humane Society faces rising demand amid housing crisis<\/p>\n
The Budget Committee also heard from the Maui Humane Society, which is requesting budget increases to manage an influx of animals at its Pu\u02bbun\u0113n\u0113 animal shelter.<\/p>\n
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Pet fosters needed. The Maui Humane Society reported an influx of animals at its Pu\u02bbun\u0113n\u0113 shelter. (December 2023) PC: Maui Humane Society<\/p>\n
Interim Chief Executive Officer Nikki Russell said the loss of services from local partners has shifted the burden of displaced dogs and Moloka\u02bbi puppies almost entirely onto the society\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n
Russell told council members the housing crisis and economic shifts are tearing pets away from families. Last year, more than 400 families surrendered animals because they could not find pet-friendly housing. Declining visitor spending has left other residents unable to afford basic care, forcing animals to stay in the shelter longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a safety net that never closes,\u201d she said. \u201cLast year alone, we took in over 5,000 animals. Beyond our walls, our humane enforcement officers serve as the frontline of public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Enforcement officers responded to more than 4,100 calls, investigated 500 cases of cruelty, and drove more than 108,000 miles islandwide to protect both people and pets, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe landscape of Maui has changed and our budget must evolve with it,\u201d Russell said.<\/p>\n
The agency is seeking an additional $332,000 for animal sheltering and $100,000 more for humane enforcement to reflect current operational costs. Russell also requested $250,000 for the \u201cForever Pets\u201d program, which was not included in Mayor Richard Bissen\u2019s proposed $1.61 billion budget.<\/p>\n
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Without adequate funding for mandated services, Russell said the society must use private donations to bridge the gap. This shift pulls money away from proactive community efforts, such as low-cost spay and neuter services.<\/p>\n
Dr. Paige Okamoto requested $255,000 for the program, which has been proposed as funding in the administration\u2019s budget. She said that would pay for 2,500 spay and neuter surgeries at about $102 per surgery.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpay and neuter is the most physically responsible move this Council can make,\u201d she said. \u201cPreventative care is significantly cheaper than the alternative. . . . We have the surgical supplies, we have the facility, and we have the skilled talent. What we need is a budgetary partnership to match the scale of the need. . . . An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Department of Agriculture budget overview<\/p>\n
Department of Agriculture Director Rogerene \u201cKali\u201d Arce presented a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget outlining a significant expansion aimed at bolstering the island\u2019s food security.<\/p>\n
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Department of Agriculture Rogerene \u201cKali\u201d Arce answers questions Thursday during a Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee meeting. PC: YouTube<\/p>\n
Overall, the department is proposing a 12.1% increase to nearly $18.5 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The proposal includes a 38.3% increase in salaries and wages to $1.38 million for 18.5 positions\u2014driven largely by collective bargaining and salary commission approvals\u2014and a 10.4% rise in operations to $17 million, including additional grant funding.<\/p>\n
Capital improvement projects for the department include a booster pump replacement at the Kula Agricultural Park, expected to break ground before the end of this fiscal year. Additionally, a contract for a 2.4 million-gallon reservoir and 12-inch mainline was recently awarded to Goodfellow Brothers Inc.<\/p>\n
Arce requested three new full-time positions: a grants management program specialist, an accountant and a research statistician. The department is also seeking funding for office rental space to accommodate its growing staff.<\/p>\n
The department is proposing two dozen grants totaling $15.6 million, an 8.8% increase over the current fiscal year\u2019s total of $14.35 million. The largest single grant is $3.1 million for the department\u2019s Agricultural Micro Grants Program, with proposed grant funding unchanged from the present fiscal year.<\/p>\n
The Maui Humane Society\u2019s Animal Sheltering Program would increase 13.9% to $2,715,000. The Maui Humane Society Molokai\u2019s budget would grow 55% to $372,000.<\/p>\n
The Animal Enforcement Program would go up 13.8% to $1,321,000.<\/p>\n
The Agriculture Operations\/Infrastructure\/Education Program would remain status quo at $1,917,000. Also unchanged would be the Agriculture Recovery Program and Local Food Purchasing Incentive: Family to Family Grant, both at $1 million.<\/p>\n
The department also is proposing to keep its Mitigation of Axis Deer and other Feral Animals Program level at $1.5 million.<\/p>\n
Other grants proposed for expansion include:<\/p>\n
Food is Medicine: A new initiative promoting wellness through sustainable, whole-food consumption. (New grant of $300,000)<\/p>\n
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens: Expansion of educational efforts and seed banking for rare and cultural heritage plants (Up 33% to $200,000)<\/p>\n
Sustainable Moloka\u02bbi: Support for the keiki meal box program through their food hub. (New grant of $175,000)<\/p>\n
Maui Economic Development Board STEM Works: Funding for the only program in the county connecting high school students with agribusiness and technology internships. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. (New grant of $100,000)<\/p>\n
Kula Ag Park board membership questioned<\/p>\n
During questioning from council members, Arce was asked about being an appointed, voting member of the Kula Ag Park Board.<\/p>\n
Council Member Kauanoe Batangan said he was \u201ckind of surprised\u201d that Arce was on the board as a voting member.<\/p>\n
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Maui County Council Member Kauanoe Batangan questioned Agriculture Department Director Rogerene \u201cKali\u201d Arce\u2019s voting membership on the Kula Ag Board as a conflict of interest. Arce said the Department of the Corporation Counsel is working of a Maui County Code change that would remove her as a voting member. PC: YouTube<\/p>\n
\u201cI have an issue with that,\u201d he said, \u201cone, because of the workload issue that you mentioned, but, two, your department oversees this park and the committee is responsible for advising, and, at times, reviewing actions of the department. I think there\u2019s a conflict there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arce agreed. \u201cYes, you\u2019re correct,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re in the process of doing language changes with Corp Counsel on that particular section of the Code.\u201d<\/p>\n
She indicated that, with the Code change, she\u2019d become a non-voting member of the panel.<\/p>\n
Upcoming community meetings<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the schedule for future community budget meetings, all of which begin at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
April 13, Mitchell Pau\u02bbole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai.<\/p>\n
April 14, K\u012bhei Community Center, Main Hall, 303 E. L\u012bpoa St.<\/p>\n
April 15, L\u0101na\u02bbi High & Elementary School Cafeteria, 555 Fraser Ave., L\u0101na\u02bbi City.<\/p>\n
April 16, April 16, Kalana o Maui, Council Chamber, 8th Floor, 200 S. High St., Wailuku.<\/p>\n
April 17, Lahaina Civic Center, Social Hall, 1840 Honoapi\u02bbilani Hwy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Taro farming. File photo Local farmers told Maui County Council members Thursday that the government is falling short…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":580541,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[254543,254544,140123,192,254545,38147,254546,254547,254548,254549,254550,254551,254552,254553,254554,64360,254555,254556,254557,254558,254559,254560,254561,254562,79,254563,254564,254565,254566],"class_list":{"0":"post-580540","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-bobby-pahia","9":"tag-budget-finance-and-economic-development-committee","10":"tag-department-of-agriculture","11":"tag-environment","12":"tag-fiscal-2027-budget","13":"tag-food-is-medicine","14":"tag-gabe-johnson","15":"tag-goodfellow-brothers-inc","16":"tag-hanalei-colleado","17":"tag-hawaii-taro-farm","18":"tag-hog-farming","19":"tag-kaialahui-foundation","20":"tag-kauanoe-batagan","21":"tag-kula-ag-park","22":"tag-kula-agricultural-park","23":"tag-maui-county-council","24":"tag-maui-economic-development-board","25":"tag-maui-humane-society","26":"tag-maui-ieconomic-opportunity","27":"tag-maui-nui-botanical-garden","28":"tag-nikki-russell","29":"tag-paige-okamoto","30":"tag-puunene-animal-shelter","31":"tag-rogerene-kali-arce","32":"tag-science","33":"tag-slaughter-facilities","34":"tag-spay-and-neuter","35":"tag-stem-works","36":"tag-sustainable-molokai"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/580540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=580540"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/580540\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/580541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=580540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=580540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=580540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}