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A tale of two cities?  One protected, one destroyed. Comments were due today on a proposal to protect 1,500 arces of a rare leeward koa forest on Maui. The Nakula NAR is a small, but important subset of the huge Kahikinui Forest Reserve.  It is home to rare native plants and trees… what is more important is — if protected — this area will become home to many, many more species unique to Hawaii.  A restored, thriving community. See our comments on the Nakula NAR.

At the same time on the same island in the ahupua’a right next door, developers propose to build 1,400 homes, a golf course, and a shopping mall over a rare dryland forest.  The Wailea 670 project would threaten 20 native species  and desecrate multiple inter-connected sites of cultural signficance.  Public comments are now being taken on the Environmental Impact Statement for the Wailea 670 project in South Maui.  To learn more and submit comments, visit www.savemakena.org/wailea.

Video and article on the Hawai’i Undersea Military Munitions Assessment–the search to find legacy dumped munitions around Hawai’i, in the UH Malamalama: “…the first study of possible chemical weapons sites in Hawaiʻi and the most comprehensive study ever taken in U.S. waters…”

http://www.hawaii.edu/malamalama/2010/04/underwater-ordnance/

From Marti:

Study in Sweden found that new antifouling chemical medetomidine (used to prevent the buildup of barnacles, seaweed/marine organisms on the cages/nets of open water fish farms) causes paler fish, affecting the skin cells that contain dark pigment.  It also appears to affect a detoxifying enzyme in the fish’s livers, which could result in lessened ability to filter environmental toxins (like PCBs or mercury!)

Looks like, in the race to replace TBT to keep fish farm nets and boat bottoms critter-free, it’s back to the drawing board.

See full article at:  http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/12238/antifouling-causes-paler-fish

Close to 5,000 people gathered this past weekend, the culmination of a 500 km march, led by biologist Alexandra Morton, to protest open ocean fish farms and the impacts they are having on wild fish in British Columbia. As we open our doors to open ocean farms for ahi in Hawai’i, do we have something to learn from their experience in B.C.?

See video: http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/index.html?releasePID=tVSow1MygokzZOHDBa99s317z8BmiyTn

From Dr. Neil Frazer, a UH Professor (SOEST) born and raised in British Columbia:

In BC, native peoples (called “First Nations”) are very angry with farms. Near farms they have lost their subsistence fishing, their salmon and clams.

Many BC tourism companies are very unhappy because sportfish and wildlife have greatly declined near farms. Farmers have shot many marine mammals.

Salmon farming in BC is controlled by two large Norwegian companies: Marine Harvest and Cermaq.

First Nations from BC have gone to Norway twice to plead with the Norwegians to move their farms. Imagine native Hawaiians having to fly to Norway some day to plead for removal of farms.

Many lawsuits against sea-cage farmers are now in the BC courts. Solid citizens are marching down the highways in protest. It’s a mess.

Problems with sea-cage farms are not confined to BC. Many people in other countries are very unhappy with sea-cage fish farms.

Hawaii should look into it. Why import the mistakes of other countries?

From our friends at the Hawai’i Farmer’s Union:

All FARMERS and FRIENDS of farmers are invited to the next meeting of the Kauai Chapter of HFU, on Monday, May 24, 2010, from 7-9 pm, at the Lihue Neighborhood Center, on Eono Street. We will have a featured speaker on the water issues on Kauai, plus additional topics to be presented:

• A brief history of NFU/HFU
• What HFU can do for you
• What you can do for HFU=Join! Farmers & Friends are welcome!
• An invitation for agricultural leaders to join the core group of the Kauai Chapter
• An invitation for one of our farmers to fill the vacant seat on the Board of Directors

For more info call Patti Valentine at 652-0433, or email us: HFUKauai@gmail.com. Additional meetings are planned around the island this summer and winter.

Our mission: Hawaii Farmers Union advances the rights of farmers to create vibrant and prosperous agricultural communities for the benefit of all through cooperation, legislation, and education.

NOAA is extending the deadline for public comment on its draft aquaculture policy by two weeks to May 28, 2010. You can submit comments online at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/policy1.

We learn in kindergarten not to waste water. Maybe now, HC&S will finally get the same message for water on Maui. It’s the water issue making international headlines this week. Learn more and take action on this issue >

From last Friday’s (4/30/10) Maui News:

HC&S wasting water that could be given to growers

I don’t know how a problem so basic has gotten so convoluted and misguided. The solution to the East Maui contested water case with the taro farmers is simple with a win-win solution. All Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar has to do is to give the taro growers the water it wastes every day due to overwatering. This wouldn’t affect its yields or its bottom line and the environment would also be happier as a result.

If I were Alexander & Baldwin, I would never have let this case go to the water commission. Only by negotiating with the taro farmers, who have first rights to this water according to state law, will the real solution surface. Otherwise the next generation will continue to fight this same battle.

Might is not right and the ones benefiting are some of the attorneys. I hope the water commission can come to its senses and realize this.

To A&B: If you cannot run a pono company, you shouldn’t be in business. You have turned this fight into a farmer versus farmer battle when the farmers need to focus all their energy and resources on growing food.

Glenn Ioane Teves
Hoolehua, Molokai