Molokai Middle School
2175 LihiPali Ave.
Ho’olehua, HI 96729
April 8, 2021
Aloha,
My name is Anjolie Manaba from Kumu Kahoiwai Kawaa’s math class at Molokai Middle School.
I am testifying on BFED-1 in support of Maui Economic Development Boardʻs Economic Development Grant under the Maui County Office of Economic Development.
I had the opportunity to attend a virtual all girls conference about engineering that was hosted by the MEDB STEMWORKS program.
I am thankful for the opportunity to attend this conference because it opened my eyes to new job opportunities and possible career choices. Please continue to fund this program so I can continue to attend this program in high school.
I learned a lot from this program and had so much fun. Thank you for providing the materials so we were able to participate. I enjoyed making the robot and being able to hear about the inspiring life styles from the professionals.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter.
Please Support Budget Line for UH CTAHR Maui Cooperative Extension
Good Morning, my name is Cindy Reeves and I am the Maui County Administrator for UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension. I would like to thank you for your support in the past, and I am here today to request your continuing support of our current budget line item this year.
Just a few weeks ago I hand-delivered to each of you a copy of our most recent Final Report on the completed FY20 projects. We received (13) proposals for consideration but only had funding to support the (7) listed in this testimony; but none of these would have happened without the Maui County budget line.
FY 20 Projects just completed include:
• Commercialization of Peperomia mauiensis as a native indoor plant. Dr. Orville Baldos
• Creating a Learning Center for Livestock Producers and 4-H Youth in Maui County. Dr. Kyle Caires
• Agriculture Education as a Tool to Mitigate Chronic Disease Risk Factors in Moloka‘i’s Multigenerational Families. Heather Greenwood-Junkermeier
• Evaluation of Insecticides on Host Plants to Control Melon Fly on Cucurbits in Maui County. Dr. Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite
• Creating a Competitive Edge in Organic Papaya Production Through the Implementation of Best Management Practices on Molokai. Jennifer Hawkins
• Evaluating the Feasibility of Biodegradable Farm Inputs in Tropical Agriculture on Moloka‘i. Jennifer Hawkins
• Expansion of Agricultural Extension Programming for Lāna‘i Growers. Kylie Tavares
Unfortunately, this year COVID 19 has greatly impacted Maui’s families, businesses and our entire agricultural industry—from production to processing to distribution—and in many ways, we have become aware of our infrastructure weaknesses. What I really want you to know is that CTAHR is here to support Maui County agriculture, 4-H youth, families and communities.
We have an edible crops agents on Maui who has worked closely with commercial growers during this economic downturn to provide hands-on support and guidance to help them maintain their operations; and she also regularly gleans ‘ulu and bananas from our Kahului Research garden to donate to the local food bank. We have two edible crops agents on Moloka‘i who are working tirelessly to combat food insecurity, by opening our Demonstration Garden so participants could take home all their plants to grow vegetables in their own gardens. We also have a Farm to School Agent who works directly within, and in partnership with, Moloka‘i schools. Our livestock agent, Kyle Caires, is working to ensure training continues in our 4-H youth livestock program, while continuing to support our local livestock producers; and he is championing the evolution of our Haleakalā Research Station into a premier livestock education and outreach facility. Our ornamental and landscape agent is working closely with growers to support their needs as their market has plummeted; and thanks to support from the Maui County Farm Bureau, whose line item we also support, she has just distributed hundreds of newly propagated import replacement plants to local flower growers, and is planning a cutting distribution from our protea collection later this year. Lastly, our family and consumer science agents are maintaining our 4-H youth programs, supporting grandparents who care for their grandchildren, and conducting ongoing surveys to determine the needs of Maui County families and respond as needed during this crisis.
CTAHR is here for the Maui community, and we are here for all of you, as a resource to help you find answers to the questions you need in order to make decisions for the good of Maui County. Thank you again, for your support in the past, and I humbly request your ongoing support of our line item in this current budget cycle. Thank you!
I support Maui Food Hub. I shop at Safeway but try to get produce grown here on Maui and not shipped across the ocean. Since the early days of the pandemic Maui Food Hub has been my safest link to fresh local produce. I also have a small lychee farm and was able to sell my lychee during the pandemic with limited contact, I avoided selling to larger markets and directly to consumers as we live with at risk family members. Going forward, having Maui Food Hub expand to be able to distribute high quality local produce to a larger portion of our community will promote healthier eating and support a more diverse economy.
I support the Maui Food Hub. They help support small business. They also have really fresh organic vegetables and fruit -nutrition this island deserves. Their farm to table set up just makes sense - what a blessing to have this in our community
Maui Hub is essential to the local farmers and consumers of Maui. I am a caregiver to my husband and would gratefully appreciate delivery of local foods directly to my home. Additional funding would help meet that need. Please vote yes for all of us on Maui.
Aloha! I support the Maui food Hub! Please include funding in the budget for this very important service/ organization. Maui (and all of Hawaii) should have an aggressive agenda to grow/raise food meant for consumption by residents/visitors to Hawaii. Exports will come later. This is a win/win when we support local farms. Let's work towards a sustainable future. Mahalo for listening!
Aloha - I fully support funding for Maui Hub and hope you do too! It's a great resource to connect local farmers with people who enjoy fresh, local produce! Mahalo :)
I support funding for the Maui HUB in it's entirety. The ability to access many local farmers' products through a well run website and delivery access program is invaluable. Instead of driving around trying to find products grown locally, I can eat a wider range of fresh foods every week. This program is changing the way we eat tremendously. Every interaction I have had with the Maui HUB has been professional and service oriented. Please support diversified agriculture by supporting this project.
Maui Food Hub is one of the few silver linings resulting from the pandemic. We need to connect farmers with consumers to build food security and healthy citizens in Maui Nei. Mahalo.
I support funding for the Maui Food Hub to provide increased access to customers for small local farmers. We raise laying chickens and fruit ourselves and lack the resources to sell commercially but we instead donate to the Maui Food Bank. We would like to see more support for small farm activity to increase Maui's food self sufficiency. Evan Cox, Lahaina.
Aloha,
I am writing in support of Maui Food Hub funding for expansion and support for the upcoming budget.
As Maui works towards food sovereignty and the future of generative agriculture and future farmers, the food hub is
a successful endeavor, particularly in the multiple distribution sites across the island. Living on the Lahaina side, I am able to drive 5 miles intead of expending gas, time and energy driving to the other side or upcountry to acquire Maui Bees Honey or Pono Pies, fresh sprouts, coffee or oven fresh trout.
The execution and expansion has improved over the months with feedback actively solicited and implimented by the Hub.
I encourage you as holders of the pursestrings to fund infrastructure and equipment necessary for the next growth phase of
this valuable, healthy and sustaining project, an outgrowth of HFFU.
Mahalo. S.M. Lawson, Mahinahina
I support funding for Maui Hubs. Maui Hubs has connected local foods with local people over the past year when farmers and citizens alike most needed it. Not only do they allow EBT customers the chance to buy fresh, local foods, but they truly embody the goal of food sustainability on Maui.
I am in total support of funding Maui Hub. They have gone above and beyond in providing an easy and SAFE way to obtain needed fruits, vegetables and an awesome variety of other goods. All while supporting LOCAL farmers and vendors. The competition they (and others) face from the corporate giants - Costco, Walmart, Safeway etc - of our community is daunting. Yet, they continue. I would hope the council is willing to use my - and my ʻohanaʻs -tax dollars in support of Maui Hub. I canʻt say enough about them as an entity; thus i implore you to PLEASE help the local guys! Mahalo - Mary Drayer - 557 Imi Dr, Wailuku, Hi 96793
Please help fund Maui hub! Our family just heard about this and want to use Maui hub in the future as we are a struggling family of 6 and one kupuna. We need Maui hub
I support providing funding for Maui Hub. It has changed the way I shop and I am proud to be able to shop local and support my neighbors. Services and support for this endeavor sets Maui apart from any other locale- grow our own foods to sustain our way of life is important to me and the community.
Molokai Middle School
2175 LihiPali Ave.
Ho’olehua, HI 96729
April 8, 2021
Aloha,
My name is Anjolie Manaba from Kumu Kahoiwai Kawaa’s math class at Molokai Middle School.
I am testifying on BFED-1 in support of Maui Economic Development Boardʻs Economic Development Grant under the Maui County Office of Economic Development.
I had the opportunity to attend a virtual all girls conference about engineering that was hosted by the MEDB STEMWORKS program.
I am thankful for the opportunity to attend this conference because it opened my eyes to new job opportunities and possible career choices. Please continue to fund this program so I can continue to attend this program in high school.
I learned a lot from this program and had so much fun. Thank you for providing the materials so we were able to participate. I enjoyed making the robot and being able to hear about the inspiring life styles from the professionals.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter.
Sincerely,
-Anjolie Manaba
Please Support Budget Line for UH CTAHR Maui Cooperative Extension
Good Morning, my name is Cindy Reeves and I am the Maui County Administrator for UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension. I would like to thank you for your support in the past, and I am here today to request your continuing support of our current budget line item this year.
Just a few weeks ago I hand-delivered to each of you a copy of our most recent Final Report on the completed FY20 projects. We received (13) proposals for consideration but only had funding to support the (7) listed in this testimony; but none of these would have happened without the Maui County budget line.
FY 20 Projects just completed include:
• Commercialization of Peperomia mauiensis as a native indoor plant. Dr. Orville Baldos
• Creating a Learning Center for Livestock Producers and 4-H Youth in Maui County. Dr. Kyle Caires
• Agriculture Education as a Tool to Mitigate Chronic Disease Risk Factors in Moloka‘i’s Multigenerational Families. Heather Greenwood-Junkermeier
• Evaluation of Insecticides on Host Plants to Control Melon Fly on Cucurbits in Maui County. Dr. Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite
• Creating a Competitive Edge in Organic Papaya Production Through the Implementation of Best Management Practices on Molokai. Jennifer Hawkins
• Evaluating the Feasibility of Biodegradable Farm Inputs in Tropical Agriculture on Moloka‘i. Jennifer Hawkins
• Expansion of Agricultural Extension Programming for Lāna‘i Growers. Kylie Tavares
Unfortunately, this year COVID 19 has greatly impacted Maui’s families, businesses and our entire agricultural industry—from production to processing to distribution—and in many ways, we have become aware of our infrastructure weaknesses. What I really want you to know is that CTAHR is here to support Maui County agriculture, 4-H youth, families and communities.
We have an edible crops agents on Maui who has worked closely with commercial growers during this economic downturn to provide hands-on support and guidance to help them maintain their operations; and she also regularly gleans ‘ulu and bananas from our Kahului Research garden to donate to the local food bank. We have two edible crops agents on Moloka‘i who are working tirelessly to combat food insecurity, by opening our Demonstration Garden so participants could take home all their plants to grow vegetables in their own gardens. We also have a Farm to School Agent who works directly within, and in partnership with, Moloka‘i schools. Our livestock agent, Kyle Caires, is working to ensure training continues in our 4-H youth livestock program, while continuing to support our local livestock producers; and he is championing the evolution of our Haleakalā Research Station into a premier livestock education and outreach facility. Our ornamental and landscape agent is working closely with growers to support their needs as their market has plummeted; and thanks to support from the Maui County Farm Bureau, whose line item we also support, she has just distributed hundreds of newly propagated import replacement plants to local flower growers, and is planning a cutting distribution from our protea collection later this year. Lastly, our family and consumer science agents are maintaining our 4-H youth programs, supporting grandparents who care for their grandchildren, and conducting ongoing surveys to determine the needs of Maui County families and respond as needed during this crisis.
CTAHR is here for the Maui community, and we are here for all of you, as a resource to help you find answers to the questions you need in order to make decisions for the good of Maui County. Thank you again, for your support in the past, and I humbly request your ongoing support of our line item in this current budget cycle. Thank you!
I support funding for Maui Hub! Support and fund local! Thank you
I support Maui Food Hub. I shop at Safeway but try to get produce grown here on Maui and not shipped across the ocean. Since the early days of the pandemic Maui Food Hub has been my safest link to fresh local produce. I also have a small lychee farm and was able to sell my lychee during the pandemic with limited contact, I avoided selling to larger markets and directly to consumers as we live with at risk family members. Going forward, having Maui Food Hub expand to be able to distribute high quality local produce to a larger portion of our community will promote healthier eating and support a more diverse economy.
I support the Maui Food Hub. They help support small business. They also have really fresh organic vegetables and fruit -nutrition this island deserves. Their farm to table set up just makes sense - what a blessing to have this in our community
Maui Hub is essential to the local farmers and consumers of Maui. I am a caregiver to my husband and would gratefully appreciate delivery of local foods directly to my home. Additional funding would help meet that need. Please vote yes for all of us on Maui.
Aloha! I support the Maui food Hub! Please include funding in the budget for this very important service/ organization. Maui (and all of Hawaii) should have an aggressive agenda to grow/raise food meant for consumption by residents/visitors to Hawaii. Exports will come later. This is a win/win when we support local farms. Let's work towards a sustainable future. Mahalo for listening!
Aloha - I fully support funding for Maui Hub and hope you do too! It's a great resource to connect local farmers with people who enjoy fresh, local produce! Mahalo :)
I support funding for the Maui HUB in it's entirety. The ability to access many local farmers' products through a well run website and delivery access program is invaluable. Instead of driving around trying to find products grown locally, I can eat a wider range of fresh foods every week. This program is changing the way we eat tremendously. Every interaction I have had with the Maui HUB has been professional and service oriented. Please support diversified agriculture by supporting this project.
Maui Food Hub is one of the few silver linings resulting from the pandemic. We need to connect farmers with consumers to build food security and healthy citizens in Maui Nei. Mahalo.
Maui food hub is one the best things in my opinion that this hole pandemic has created.
Let us keep up the feeding and supporting of our ohana.
Mahalo
I support funding for the Maui Food Hub to provide increased access to customers for small local farmers. We raise laying chickens and fruit ourselves and lack the resources to sell commercially but we instead donate to the Maui Food Bank. We would like to see more support for small farm activity to increase Maui's food self sufficiency. Evan Cox, Lahaina.
Aloha,
I am writing in support of Maui Food Hub funding for expansion and support for the upcoming budget.
As Maui works towards food sovereignty and the future of generative agriculture and future farmers, the food hub is
a successful endeavor, particularly in the multiple distribution sites across the island. Living on the Lahaina side, I am able to drive 5 miles intead of expending gas, time and energy driving to the other side or upcountry to acquire Maui Bees Honey or Pono Pies, fresh sprouts, coffee or oven fresh trout.
The execution and expansion has improved over the months with feedback actively solicited and implimented by the Hub.
I encourage you as holders of the pursestrings to fund infrastructure and equipment necessary for the next growth phase of
this valuable, healthy and sustaining project, an outgrowth of HFFU.
Mahalo. S.M. Lawson, Mahinahina
I support funding for Maui Hubs. Maui Hubs has connected local foods with local people over the past year when farmers and citizens alike most needed it. Not only do they allow EBT customers the chance to buy fresh, local foods, but they truly embody the goal of food sustainability on Maui.
I am in total support of funding Maui Hub. They have gone above and beyond in providing an easy and SAFE way to obtain needed fruits, vegetables and an awesome variety of other goods. All while supporting LOCAL farmers and vendors. The competition they (and others) face from the corporate giants - Costco, Walmart, Safeway etc - of our community is daunting. Yet, they continue. I would hope the council is willing to use my - and my ʻohanaʻs -tax dollars in support of Maui Hub. I canʻt say enough about them as an entity; thus i implore you to PLEASE help the local guys! Mahalo - Mary Drayer - 557 Imi Dr, Wailuku, Hi 96793
Please support the Maui Food Hub to create food security on Maui. Mahalo.
-Emma White
Kahului
Please help fund Maui hub! Our family just heard about this and want to use Maui hub in the future as we are a struggling family of 6 and one kupuna. We need Maui hub
I support providing funding for Maui Hub. It has changed the way I shop and I am proud to be able to shop local and support my neighbors. Services and support for this endeavor sets Maui apart from any other locale- grow our own foods to sustain our way of life is important to me and the community.