There is an old saying that I use to hear quite often growing up here on Kauai: “Cool head main thing .” Even though we lived relatively quiet lives in those days, we were no strangers to controversy. Those of
There is an old saying that I use to hear quite often growing up here on Kauai: “Cool head main thing .” Even though we lived relatively quiet lives in those days, we were no strangers to controversy. Those of us who have been around long enough remember the struggles of the labor movement and the prolonged labor strikes. Back in the days when everyone knew who Jack Hall and Harry Bridges were, things would heat up and sometimes tempers would flare but someone was always around to remind us that we lived on a small island and the only way to get things resolved was through cooperation.
Once again things are starting to heat up. I don’t think that there are many people on Kauai who are unaware of the debate going on regarding the future of agriculture on the Garden Island. Once again, the lines are being drawn, for and against, them and us, big versus small, local verses outsiders.
At the center of all of this stands the farmer, somewhat bewildered by all of the attention suddenly focused on the way we make our living. There’s an old saying in Africa “when the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” Some of us are beginning to feel a little trampled on.
But farmers are very resilient as well as being independent and resourceful and I can assure you that our voices will be heard. Farming is a tough business and tends to be cyclical in nature so farmers are always keenly aware of and constantly watching for developing cycles. The question many of them are asking is; are we entering a new cycle of increasing regulations that will impact us negatively?
The proposed County Council Bill 2497 regarding pesticides and genetically modified organisms is a case in point. While it appears to be targeting the large agricultural producers on Kauai, we realize that legally discriminating against a producer based on the size of an operation will most likely not hold up in court and will ultimately apply to farms of all sizes. For example, papaya production on Kauai is presently in a down cycle, but when it ramps up again, a conventional orchard 20 acres in size would have to comply with the rules in 2491, even though it’s a relatively small farm compared to the large producers.
On the other hand, we need to be sure that as farmers we are in full compliance with all state and federal regulations protecting those who work the land, the consumers and the general public. If the scientific consensus is that we need stronger regulations and better oversight then let’s make sure that those entities that are presently tasked with doing that do their job.
Dialogue is critical to this process as well as respect for the land and the people who work it. Kauai farmers bring diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs and practices to the table.
What we need to avoid is dividing our community so deeply we’ll be unable to resolve our differences without outside intervention. We’ve done it before and can do it again. As long as we have open dialogue there is hope. Cool head main thing. Kauai County Farm Bureau is comprised of over 300 farming families and friends of farmers. Our mission is to cultivate a thriving and prosperous agricultural sector, firmly rooted in the community, by working collaboratively to build long term support and providing a respected voice for Agriculture on Kauai. For more information, visit www.kauaicountyfarmbureau.org.
• Jerry Ornellas is the president of the Kauai County Farm Bureau.
