HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2008-43 Draft 1COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTY OF KAUAI r Draf 008-43,RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO PROTECT KAUAI FROM ANY POTENTIAL INFESTATION OF THE VARROA MITE WHEREAS, the varroa mite is a tiny external parasite that feeds off the blood of adult honey bees, larvae, and pupae and is one of the most destructive pests of honey bees; and WHEREAS, infestation of the varroa mite has led to a decline of bee colonies worldwide causing a reduction in pollination necessary for the production of tropical fruits and vegetables, including coffee, macadamia nuts, citrus, avocado, mangos and guava; and WHEREAS, Hawaii was one of the last places on Earth without the varroa mite until 2007; and WHEREAS, Micheal Kliks, owner of Manoa Honey Co. and president. of the Hawaii Beekeepers Association, discovered the first known infestation of the varroa mite in Hawaii at an abandoned bee colony in Makiki Valley on Oahu in April 2007; and WHEREAS, Klik's discovery prompted the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture to survey wild and managed beehives in all of Hawaii and found that the Neighbor Islands remained mite free, while Oahu has been infested islandwide;and WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture developed a draft plan in 2007 to contain the varroa mite on Oahu by preventing its spread to the neighbor islands and the State Legislature appropriated $650,000 to support this plan; and WHEREAS, in August 2008, the varroa mite was again discovered in three incidents in Hilo on the island of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, infestation of the varroa mite would have a devastating effect on Kaua`i's honey industry, which comprises eight (8) percent of the State's total honey production; and
WHEREAS, commercial beekeeping in Hawaii, which includes queen bee and honey production, has been estimated at over $4 million; and WHEREAS, preliminary estimates by the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture foresee the varroa mite costing the agriculture industry an estimated 42 million to $62 million a year if it wipes out the State's bee population; now,therefore,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI,STATE OF HAWAII, that the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture is urged to pursue all available resources and technology to prevent and protect Kauai from varroa mite infestation.BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka, U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie, U.S. Representative Mazie K. Hirono, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, Speaker of the House Calvin. K.Y. Say, Mayor Bill "Kaipo" Asing,Governor Linda Lingle, Senator Gary Hooser, Representative Hermina M. Morita,Representative Roland D. Sagum, III, Representative James Kunane Tokioka,Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Chairperson, State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture,Laura H. Thielen, Chairperson, Department of .Land and Natural Resources, U.S~Department of Agriculture, and Brennon Morioka, Acting Director, State of Hawaii Department of Transportation.INTRODUCED BY:s/MEL RAPOZO D:RESOLUTION:2008-43D 1/YS:lki d a,~.-C~.oa.E~Q JE cy J~.auchi.ry J~.p t+.Pci,rn.uut y e~o.Ca,e Z 0 vzxti~i.caxe ~~ l~c~a~.x+.a~n.Ule R.~,~~. ,~,pp tP,~ J~:~.~pp~, ~L.~.. 200C~8~--43, ~c~ 1,~aJ,ao, a~,~.~ra . ~ 4.fi,e, l..w+.ru>i.C a~ 4.f~.e ~,,u,,r,.p~. a~ .J~.au.a,`i., C~7~a.~e cN,Jl,an9,ai.~i, ~L~u~.~e, J~,au,a.~i, Jl,cuJ,ai~i, om. ~c~a~ ~~, ~~~8.a.Ced.• (~cCa~es ,Z2,Z2, 2008 """"'""' "~