Friday, April 13, 2018
Waiakea
enjoys hit
parade
SPORTS, B1
Bill would relocate farmers market until issues resolved
By JOHN BURNETT
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
A controversial bill that would provide
funding to a company to build a revolutionary
satellite launch facility somewhere
in the state is nearing
passage despite vocal misgivings
from Ka‘u residents.
House Bill 2559 passed a third
reading in the state Senate earlier
this week, one of the last steps in
the process of a bill becoming a
law. The bill would issue bonds to
California spaceflight development
company SpinLaunch Inc. to build a facility.
An amendment to the bill removed language
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Index
Big Isle History B5
Classified B6
Comics A8
Commentary A4
Ag theft bill
hit by ‘gut
and replace’
Agriculture initiatives, potential
ADC audit intertwine in measure
By MAX DIBLE
West Hawaii Today
KAILUA-KONA — What does the extension
of an agricultural theft pilot program on
the Big Island have in common with moves
to facilitate an expanded market for Hawaiigrown
papaya in China?
The answer is almost nothing,
except that a late-stage amendment
from the Senate Ways and Means
Committee to a piece of House legislation
has made House Bill 1883
a vehicle for both initiatives. The
measure passed its final reading
in the Senate on Tuesday and will
head next to conference committee
where its fate will be decided.
Rep. Richard Creagan,
D-Hawaii Island, primary introducer
of HB 1883, said the mashing
of papayas into his legislation is an
example of the “gut and replace”
tactics happening with greater
frequency this year in the Senate.
CREAGAN
DELA CRUZ
“They just take one bill and turn it
into another,” Creagan said. “When you
have a title like this one, “Relating to
Agriculture,” you can put anything in there.
It had nothing to do with ag theft.”
The ag theft program is a joint venture
between the state Department of Agriculture
and the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office
that created a position to police secondary and
tertiary markets for stolen agricultural goods.
County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said the
program has proven effective in its first year.
Creagan’s legislation extends the program two
years and adds a second position on Hawaii
Island. Depending on success, the program
may expand statewide down the line.
The papaya initiative appropriates funds
to study why and where in the growing and
transport process the fruit breaks down so as
to make it more viable for export, thereby
strengthening Hawaii’s agricultural economy,
particularly on the Big Island where the
vast majority of the state’s papaya is grown.
By KEN THOMAS and KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press
Issue No. 103
22 Pages in
2 Sections
Today’s
weather
Page A11
Community A9
Crossword B5
Cryptoquote B5
Dear Abby B5
Horoscope B5
Letters A4
Nation A10
Obituaries A2
Religion A7
Sports B1
Surf report A11
World A11
Internet
Visit us on the Web at:
www.hawaiitribune-herald.com
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald
Customers weave through the aisles of the Hilo Farmers Market on Wednesday in downtown Hilo. Searching
for a solution
County Councilman Aaron
Chung has drafted a bill that
would allow a farmers market to
be set up temporarily at Mooheau
Park in downtown Hilo across
from Hilo Farmers Market.
Chung, who represents the
downtown Hilo district, told the
Tribune-Herald on Wednesday
he hopes to fast-track the measure
through the council.
Keith De La Cruz, owner-manager
of the popular open-air
market, is being fined
$4,000 a day by the
Department of Public
Works Building
Division for alleged
noncompliance with
county building, zoning
and fire codes.
“I want to make it clear, we’re
not looking to replace the farmers
market,” Chung said. “The
county shouldn’t be in the business
of running a farmers market
and we’re not trying to get into
the farmers market business.
We just want Mr. De La Cruz to
hurry up and comply with the
code. We just want to provide
a vital feature to our downtown
Hilo community while he’s
doing what he needs to do.”
Barett Otani, Public Works
spokesman, said the county started
assessing the fines March 19
upon the return receipt of certified
mail notification to De La Cruz
— $1,000 per day of continued
noncompliance for each of four
tax-map-key land parcels the market
occupies. As of Thursday, fine
SpinLaunch
funding bill
moves forward
Associated Press
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with
governors and lawmakers on Thursday in the Cabinet Room of
the White House in Washington. Sitting beside Trump are Sen.
John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
President
flips on
trade pact
WASHINGTON — In a striking
reversal, President Donald Trump
has asked trade officials to explore
the possibility of the United States
rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership
agreement, a free trade deal he pulled
out of during his first days in office as
part of his “America first” agenda.
Trump’s request comes as he faces
pressure from farm-state Republicans
anxious that his protectionist trade policies
could spiral into a trade war with
See TRADE Page A6
By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
DAVID
See SPINLAUNCH Page A5
CHUNG
See MARKET Page A6 See AG THEFT Page A5
/www.hawaiitribune-herald.com