Expanding Hawaii’s ag – Thank you!
The Hawaii Avocado Association thanks West Hawaii Today for its April 9 article “Hawaii avocados hit the mainland.”
As indicated in the article, for the first time in 25 years Hawaii Sharwil avocados were shipped last month from Kona to the US mainland. The initial shipments to St. Paul, Minnesota, and New York City were authorized by a new protocol developed by the US Department of Agriculture. The Hawaii Avocado Association believes that this year’s deliveries are the first step toward a robust and expanding market for Hawaii Sharwils that will bring significant benefits to avocado farmers and to the state’s economy.
We would also like to thank all those who over the years have worked for re-opening the Mainland market. Among those the Hawaii Avocado Association would like to recognize are:
* The office of the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and Senator’s agricultural advisor Chauncey Ching for tireless work in encouraging the USDA to develop the protocol that has re-opened the mainland market;
* Port Director Mike Scharf and his USDA/APHIS staff in Kona who provided guidance in satisfying the USDA’s requirements for certification of Sharwil orchards and the packing facility;
* Glenn Sako of the Hawaii County Research and Development Office who provided critical encouragement and assistance, particularly in the building of the certified packing facility in Honalo;
* En Young, Director of the Hawaii Food Basket, and his staff who helped to secure space for the packing facility and provided operational assistance;
* Alfred Kuehlewind and the staff of Commodity Forwarders Inc. who assisted with the coordination of the air shipments;
* All of the volunteers that constructed the Certified Produce Facility.
With the opening of the market this year, we look forward to seeing Sharwil avocados taking a place among Hawaii’s signature agricultural products.
Brooks Wakefield, Secretary
Hawaii Avocado Association
Kailua-Kona
Work is better than handout
I read your article about the possibility for a work for a day program for the homeless. What a great idea as it offers these people a way to earn some money and know that they are not just receiving a handout.
Now those sitting on the curb with signs have no excuse for not having change. It’s time they all realize very little in life is free. Someone somewhere has to make an effort first and then the reward will come. Enabling never did anyone any good and it just nurtures the live-off-the-other-people mentality. Now they can do for themselves.
I hope this program becomes a reality.
Colleen Miyose-Wallis
Kailua-Kona
Who really deserves ethics complaint?
The ethics complaint against Councilman Kanuha is deeply troubling not because of anything that he did, but rather the complainant. A tobacco shop owner who makes a living when young people get hooked on the addictive products he sells. Products known to cause cancer.
Dru has done nothing as an elected official other than to provide leadership in addressing this health menace through thoughtful legislation. We should all be proud of him rather than letting him be besmirched by a tobacco pusher.
The complainant is the one who is ethically challenged. He is a bully who didn’t get his way and now seeks to use the process for retribution.
Steve Holmes
Kailua-Kona
