Oppose HB2035- Protect Hawai‘i’s public lands!

OPPOSE HB2035 to transfer nearly one hundred thousand acres of public lands from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture. The bill has a hearing on Wednesday, June 24th at 12:30 PM.

The 93 thousand acres of public lands that would be transferred under this bill are crucial watershed lands that have been used on a temporary basis for cattle grazing. If transferred to the Department of Agriculture, these public lands would be open to ranching activities including unrestricted grazing and clear cutting of forests, not to mention public access to these lands for hiking, hunting, and cultural traditions would be jeopardized. It is appropriate for the agency responsible for managing the state’s watersheds for healthy forests, robust drinking water supplies, and native species habitat should be responsible for managing these high-value lands. The Department of Land and Natural Resources is that agency, not the Department of Agriculture.

Under the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ management, ranchers already only pay a few dollars per acre, year after year, to use thousands of public lands for their commercial benefit. Under the Department of Agriculture, the ranching industry could pay even less for our public trust resources and could exempt development on these lands from state and county environmental and development laws.

It is likely that ranchers pushing this bill will argue that this bill will promote the local production of beef to meet our islands’ "meat security" needs, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  However, the vast majority of cattle - 80% - raised in Hawai‘i is actually exported to the mainland. There is nothing in this bill that would ensure that beef raised on public land will be sold on the local market.  Exporting cattle does not help meet our local food security needs, and the damage to watersheds and reefs by livestock grazing and agricultural development projects on 100,000-plus acres of public lands removed from DLNR oversight will only jeopardize our islands’ self-sufficiency.

HB2035 has a hearing in the Senate Agriculture and Environment and Senate Water and Land Committees on Wednesday, June 24th. Submit testimony in opposition via the Capitol website HERE or email WTLTestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov and AENTestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

Sample testimony:

Aloha Chair Kahele, Chair Gabbard, and members of the WTL and AEN Committees,

I would like to express my strong opposition to HB2035, the "pasture" lands transfer bill. By transferring nearly 100,000 acres of public lands from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture, the ranching industry could clear cut watershed forests and native species habitat, pay even less for our public trust resources, and even exempt development on these lands from state and county environmental and development laws. ⁠Such a controversial measure should NOT be passed in light of the limited opportunity for public participation and dialogue over its final amended form.

Thank you,
(your name)