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Despite, the overwhelming public support that helped the Hawaii County Council unanimously pass a ban on GMO-taro & -coffee through three readings, Mayor Harry Kim single-handedly vetoed the bill before it became law.  But today, we have a chance to override the Mayor's veto. 

You can help!  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to send your letter of support for the GMO-ban today.  It only takes a few moments to demonstrate your support for protecting Hawaii's local agriculture, people, and culture from genetic modification.  Urge the County Councilmembers to once-again stand with the people, override the Mayor's veto!!

Overwhelming Public Support to Protect Kalo and Kona Coffee
On October 8, 2008, citing the overwhelming support from farmers, consumers, scientists, and concerned citizens, the Hawaii County Council passed a bill to ban GMO-taro & coffee on Hawaii Island, UNANIMOUSLY, 9-to-none! This is a historic and visionary step in the effort to protect Hawaii's locally-owned agriculture.  Mahalo nui loa to more than 1,200 letters of support, and in-person testimony from hundreds of

Then, in the face of this overwhelming public support, the Mayor of Hawaii Island, Harry Kim, vetoed the bill on October 30, 2008.

It now falls back to the County Council to raise the political support for a new vote on Bill 361. A marjority veto in favor of the ban would override the Mayor's veto.

Your email to the county councilmembers today will give them the political support and courage they need to overcome the Mayor's veto.  Take action now! Use the form below to personalize your message and send it directly to all nine council members. It only takes a second and could set a legacy of protection for generations to come.

Kalo and Kona Coffee are perfect as they are!
If allowed, GMO taro could threaten taro’s important status as the world’s only hypoallergenic carbohydrate source! Taro farming in Hawaii is an unique local tradition. There are now innovative and successful agricultural efforts underway to improve the local taro industry and perpetuate valuable Hawaiian taro varieties.

Long-term studies have shown that the best way to comprehensively protect taro from disease blights is to grow many different varieties, improve soil quality and provide adequate water. There is no need or demand for GMO interference and industry control of local taro farming.

Genetic modification of this indigenous plant is also extremely disrespectful to the sacred genealogy of taro to Hawaiians, who view taro as an ancestral family member, Haloa.

If allowed, GMO coffee would erode the demand, drop prices, and destroy the local economy for pure Kona coffee. It would also make organic coffee growing virtually impossible.

We look forward to all local farmers and consumers coming together to strengthen a sustainable local economy, without being controlled or coerced by the false promises of biotech experiments. We must learn from the economic & environmental destruction already caused by GMOs in farming communities in the Philippines, Mexico, India, South America and all across America- and make sure it doesn't happen to Hawaii!

Lessons learned: The local papaya industry was economically devastated by the introduction of GMO-papaya. Rejection of Hawaiian grown GMO-papaya by Japan dropped the value of the local papaya industry by over 50%. Sadly, about 40% of papaya farmers were forced out of business. Meanwhile, the value of the organic and conventional (non-GMO) papaya industry has increased.

READ THE BILL #361! 
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/DocView.aspx?id=50710
 
Health Risks from GMOs 
http://www.seedsofdeception.com/GMFree/AboutGMFoods/HealthRisksBrochure/index.cfm

A History of Hewa

http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=monsanto

Mahalo nui loa for your continued support!