HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
187 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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REQUESTING AN AGRIBUSINESS INCUBATOR IN WAIALUA.
WHEREAS the State's responsibility to conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency, and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands is mandated by Article XI, section 3, of the State Constitution; and
WHEREAS, approximately 20,000 acres of valuable Hawaii farmland lie fallow in the Waialua district after the closing of Waialua Sugar Company; and
WHEREAS, Kamehameha Schools and Dole Food, Inc., are owners of agricultural lands in the Waialua district; and
WHEREAS, these major landowners have leased portions of their land to farmers, and there is an abundance of agricultural lands from which agriculturally-based businesses can be created; and
WHEREAS, agriculturally-based businesses can develop further and new methods can be found to enhance the manufacture of new agricultural products if entrepreneurs are given the support to farm these lands; and
WHEREAS, business incubators provide space, technology, technical expertise, business expertise, and financial incentives to help entrepreneurs; and
WHEREAS, entrepreneurs would be encouraged to build agricultural businesses if an agribusiness incubator is placed near the farms to provide the needed assistance and identify, test, and develop new agribusiness products; and
WHEREAS, the development of new agricultural businesses, supporting infrastructure, and resulting agricultural food products would create employment for residents within and outside of the Waialua district; and
WHEREAS, Waialua Community Kitchen, a business incubator for food preparers, already exists on Dole's former Waialua Sugar Company industrial grounds and is serving the community well; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii is requested to develop and manage an agribusiness incubator in the Waialua District to further the development of agribusiness in Hawaii; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to Hawaii's Congressional delegation, Director of Agriculture, Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii, President of Dole Food, Inc., and the Board of Trustees of Kamehameha Schools.
OFFERED BY: |
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Report Title:
REQUESTING AN AGRIBUSINESS INCUBATOR IN WAIALUA