The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the House Committees on Agriculture and Food Systems, and Tourism, on Feb. 5, 2025.
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Feb. 5, 2025, 8:45 a.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 225 and Videoconference
To: House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems
Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa, Chair
Rep. Matthias Kusch, Vice Chair
House Committee on Tourism
Rep. Adrian Tam, Chair
Rep. Shirley Ann Templo, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: HB966 — RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM
Aloha Chairs, Vice-Chairs and other members of the committees,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii offers comments on HB966, which would create uniform standards for agricultural tourism operations throughout the state.
In general, Grassroot supports the intent of this measure, which is to give farmers and ranchers more freedom to diversify their income sources. Offering agricultural tourism activities could educate visitors about sustainable practices and land stewardship, in addition to creating employment opportunities and excise tax revenues.
But we are concerned about the language in Section 2(c) of the bill that says: “ Revenue from all agricultural tourism activities on a farming operation shall not exceed revenue from the agricultural activity conducted on the farming operation.”
This definition fails to take into account the diversity of agricultural operations that exist throughout the state.
Farmers and ranchers who grow food primarily for personal consumption might not realize any income, but they are actively tending the land. Any food donated to local food banks would likewise be excluded by this wording.
Furthermore, this language does not consider the effect of a drought or a loss of crops to pests or theft, which could cause farm income to drop.
This situation would also be punishing to farmers who might be even more reliant on tourism activities during a bad growing season.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
