[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6499046,"mediaKeyId","5550046-96e751bd95505773f11b61e42620f2e3","parentId",5550046,"title","State resolution prompts Maui County briefing on biosecurity; panel urges county plans and clearer state‑county coordination","audioSeconds",5406,"startMs",5799000,"endMs",11205000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550046-96e751bd95505773f11b61e42620f2e3&start=5799&end=11205","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550046-96e751bd95505773f11b61e42620f2e3/thumbnail_5799000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6499046/Maui-County/Hawaii/State-resolution-prompts-Maui-County-briefing-on-biosecurity-panel-urges-county-plans-and-clearer-statecounty-coordination","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499046-7a354366538a426ef1c32d39b02f40ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216590&Signature=NoYSJNj9aYcByPoaGgBJrUyeMhNH4CaZI7TnadVgUAjEUGMjH0oTxi8nYUjw2f6pNJHEfGefLSSJ7AU3H6OsP5d0kEcPLlPiTVP7oYfyXZwhEPY6Hr58H-Tm8IWFyGk8GCZoimb~pnv5vhDtpG9sgnMwM1TPqhQm2KWYrrOmmU20DHJcaEbEc60I3y3GNFHAPH5cSILAvtDsJv9QP4-fL~0LrriAXsPg6LtCrrW4pxVAWp7ugdcrbmD35fpgCgyIn6sISwdoHlTZ8bfJy5Y9lodM4JX51~YSZmYw8xrQJLsTdQn5vZVSxnU3vZlrloWyPY1httqVs48UjSX6Jyfz2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maui County","date","2025-08-07T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Kirsten Kahaloa and a panel of state, county and island experts briefed the committee Aug. 7 on House Concurrent Resolution 42 (HD1), which encourages each county to establish a biosecurity plan tailored to local priorities.

Why it matters: Panelists said biosecurity — preventing new invasive species and responding quickly when incursions occur — is increasingly urgent for public health, agriculture, water supply and native ecosystems. Several speakers urged county plans so state resources can better align with island priorities.

Representative Kirsten Kahaloa (HD‑6), the resolution’s introducer, told the committee the state is expanding biosecurity work and seeks county priorities to coordinate and target support. She said standing up statewide capacity remains a work in progress and that county input would help the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity align resources with local needs.

State and island presenters described concrete on‑the‑ground measures. Pulama Lanai described an active quarantine/inspection facility for plant shipments, sentinel traps for coconut rhinoceros beetle and surveillance for coqui frogs; staff described recent interceptions and destructive disposition of contaminated shipments. Laurie Buchanan, MoMISC coordinator from Molokai, emphasized the need to protect cultural practices and requested that counties be empowered to adopt targeted restrictions or interim rules to prevent new pest introductions.

Panelists noted legal limits on county authority. Laurie Buchanan and others noted that current state law gives the Hawaii Department of Agriculture primary authority over movement of plants and animals; counties have limited ability to regulate movement of pests or infested material absent state delegation. Presenters urged a legislative path that would delegate or clarify county authority so local leaders could adopt rapid, enforceable measures tailored to island risks.

State Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity representatives said a county‑level plan would help the department direct grant funding and interagency assistance to the most urgent county priorities. Panelists highlighted practical county actions such as advance planning for green‑waste handling in case of new pests (to avoid spreading infestation via mulch), investing in on‑island quarantine capacity, pre‑positioning treatment equipment and convening local task forces for rapid response.

Representative Kahaloa noted that some actions can be implemented locally and urged counties to identify priority needs (for example, protecting critical trees from beetle damage, or supporting landscape professionals with training and trap supplies). Panelists also suggested community outreach to build awareness and voluntary compliance, and proposed that the state consider funding to reimburse or subsidize inspections and other frontline biosecurity operations.

The committee took the briefing and asked for follow‑up; members and presenters emphasized the need for state‑county coordination, funding to implement practical quarantine and inspection capacity, and clarity about legal authorities and enforcement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Maui County - Agriculture, Diversification, Environment, & Public Transportation Committee on 2025-08-07 9:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Kirsten Kahaloa and a multi‑agency panel briefed the committee on Aug. 7 about HCR 42 (HD1), urging county biosecurity plans tailored to island needs and stronger state‑county coordination to detect, prevent and respond to invasive species threats.","taxTitle","Maui County, Hawaii","taxId",12846,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6499055,"Maui County unveils 2025–2030 food and nutrition security plan, urges local action to expand access and production",3815,579000,4394000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550046-96e751bd95505773f11b61e42620f2e3&start=579&end=4394","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550046-96e751bd95505773f11b61e42620f2e3/thumbnail_579000.jpg","/articles/6499055/Maui-County/Hawaii/Maui-County-unveils-20252030-food-and-nutrition-security-plan-urges-local-action-to-expand-access-and-production","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499055-37153448f86b1eae97f65a7689caf013/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216590&Signature=ONsS38emirJiKErJN7sqnxp1Oh7zweuADJW~p8vxqAi7bfW9V~bJcyrBPkHyuHZpvKhe8ei-dB7KIWU~TxFtAIKL3XY3QMnVNPVwcouyE-UHLtCbQJVs0CfKaosUNjrGXxwIQHYG3zgbJvmB~HJ88ehTJolJfPwFoiJnCMWDrmaPnEfVcDGWoHc7eDR88YafG0DAHEHUIqk2zqfINJFB0ANnFiej4-m4fAiI9k-Sq1nLaA04fUS~Qz4fgw7hhjkrx0jp7oJ5px0lM3ojhbChJ90dx~oRon3BAOYYgikMAGzrQ4ITFrMEgLBTOMbb74oVWHOYT-5cAaBM5ztc0-VpMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Department of Agriculture presented the 2025–2030 Maui County Food and Nutrition Security Plan at the committee’s Aug. 7 informational meeting, outlining goals and actions aimed at ensuring all residents can access affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food.

The plan, presenters said, focuses on increasing local production, improving food access and markets, strengthening producer viability and protecting ecosystems. Lauren Nelson, Maui County food access coordinator, said the plan reflects “a community‑based food systems approach” informed by multiyear outreach that included farmers, fishers, educators and public‑health professionals.

Why it matters: Department officials and community partners told the committee the plan links immediate needs — including sharp increases in food‑bank demand since the August 2023 fires — with longer‑term priorities such as land access, water infrastructure and market channels that keep local food in the islands.

The plan’s goals are to: ensure all residents have access to nourishing, culturally relevant foods; grow local production and support producers; build local food economies and career pathways; and promote healthy, resilient ecosystems and resource stewardship. Nani Conklin, lead technical author and food and agriculture policy consultant with New Ventures Advisors, described objectives and specific actions tied to community priorities such as home food production, food recovery, farmers markets, farm‑to‑school and infrastructure for aggregation and processing.

Presenters highlighted community data and recent food‑bank statistics. Lauren Nelson said Maui Food Bank service increased from about 15,000 people per month in July 2023 to roughly 41,000 per month now; fresh‑produce distribution grew from about 78,000 to 220,000 pounds per month. The food bank, she said, now spends about $635,000 per month to purchase and distribute food, up from roughly $250,000 per month pre‑Aug. 23.

The department will oversee plan implementation in partnership with local nonprofits and businesses designated as “action leads.” Each action will have an identified lead, indicators for tracking progress and an annual report to be published for five years and presented at the Maui Nui Food Summit. Presenters also said the plan is designed to help communities access outside grant funding by showing how proposed projects align with state, federal and international priorities.

Implementation priorities cited at the meeting included pilot produce‑prescription programs, a local food access program for kupuna (elders), grants to expand land used for canoe crops, expanded cold storage and aggregation sites, and ongoing efforts to increase local procurement by school food services. Committee members pressed for more detail on school‑procurement compliance and on water and cold‑storage investments; presenters said work is underway and invited one‑on‑one follow‑ups.

Department leaders and council members discussed proposals to fold the plan into broader county policy or adopt a council resolution to increase its “teeth.” The department asked council members to identify actions they would champion in their districts and said it will begin producing the annual public progress reports and a project‑level grants rollout (farm‑to‑families funding webinar scheduled August 20). The department also invited council members to meet with staff to identify district priorities.

The committee accepted the briefing and will monitor implementation; no legislative action was taken at the informational hearing. The department posted the plan on its website and plans outreach through an October 10 Maui Nui Food Summit to engage partners and volunteers.","The Maui County Department of Agriculture presented the 2025–2030 Maui County Food and Nutrition Security Plan at the committee’s Aug. 7 informational meeting, outlining goals and actions aimed at ensuring all residents can access affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6499051,"Panel reviews access‑deer population control, processing and regulatory barriers in Maui County",1586,4411000,5997000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550046-96e751bd95505773f11b61e42620f2e3&start=4411&end=5997","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550046-96e751bd95505773f11b61e42620f2e3/thumbnail_4411000.jpg","/articles/6499051/Maui-County/Hawaii/Panel-reviews-accessdeer-population-control-processing-and-regulatory-barriers-in-Maui-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499051-b3dd337e582fce1448e234b1dd45385f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216590&Signature=GoIj-yQJOH~~KElGowNrEZParIes~Gj0Im-LrQ6Xu7DLEF0CwSkRau5o9r39J2Sz8-tyxZeaRmxIqGo8BMYXJgYZcGE1NHH9f~zd2z7cHylb~U4a705iy7y4NNNG7StBJLV4ImjFSXshhSm-t1bkADGDRuVCONNaq0PY0SjSTGbMBlOh2RLrjRLcjkPdHNMqe2U4JHQALZY4RcSXuI8dsggG6qBy29syJccUZwj20QFzogVuLVjvBlzEZPXq85ulig0S1pTOUc-~4tJmf0w5xcCgjJvWm1N0NXSwmwWkBq4XSv3nFjD7ShCeCpkYmaW5SnV1jLLKhlm4UxK0x0Su~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A large panel of state, county and community experts outlined the scale and complexity of Maui County’s axis‑deer challenge at an Aug. 7 committee briefing, emphasizing that population pressures damage native ecosystems, increase erosion and contribute to mud‑flood risk while also presenting potential local‑food and value‑added opportunities.

Why it matters: Panelists stressed that effective long‑term management requires removing a large annual share of the herd. Speakers described a combination of tactics — fencing, targeted removals, expanded harvest and processing capacity, and community‑based programs — as the only realistic route to reduce numbers and protect watersheds and agriculture.

Arizona State University researcher Carly Wyman summarized regulatory barriers to commercial venison. At the federal level, the Federal Meat Inspection Act defines “amenable” species and treats game such as deer as non‑amenable, meaning processors must pay for voluntary FSIS (USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service) inspections when products enter interstate commerce. Wyman and others said voluntary inspections are costly and USDA inspector availability is limited; she estimated mobile processing trailers cost roughly $250,000 to equip (higher with chill/waste systems) while retrofitting fixed facilities could run into the millions.

Wyman also summarized the Federal Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (current good manufacturing practices), and cited state rules and a dormant Hawaii meat inspection program that would, if re‑funded, allow state‑level inspection for intrastate sales. She noted that Hawaii revised state law in 2023 to allow donation of game meat under defined, food‑safety conditions (HB 1382) but that implementation questions remain.

Local case studies: Pulama L?nai’s conservation and harvesting program was presented as an example of an integrated approach. Jonathan Sprague and Keiki Pua Danzel described L?nai’s fencing, monitoring and hunting programs, combined with on‑island processing and community distribution. Pulama said it typically harvests hundreds of deer per year for local use and donation, maintains fences to protect cultural and marine resources, operates a mobile processing unit and performs helicopter and camera surveys for population monitoring.

Private industry example: Jake Muse, CEO of Maui Nui Venison, described a scaling, island‑based venison business that processes harvested deer into consumer and community products on Maui. Muse said his firm currently operates multiple mobile processing units that move among sites and that the company has reinvested revenues into expanding processing capacity; he reported several thousand deer processed there in recent years and said direct‑to‑community channels reduce the need for interstate inspection.

Policy and program ideas discussed: Panelists and council members discussed options including reinstating a state meat‑inspection program, state or county subsidies for voluntary FSIS inspection, mobile slaughter units, “Hunters for the Hungry” donation programs (in operation in many states), targeted incentives for landowners to allow harvest on private property, and investments in cold‑storage and aggregation centers. Presenters emphasized that reducing population growth requires sustained annual removal rates (models cited show 30% annual removal needed to reduce population under common reproductive assumptions).

Community and cultural context: Moloka‘i community advocate Laurie Buchanan urged recognition of cultural practices and local subsistence uses while calling for a transparent, locally led plan. Pulama Lanai and DLNR representatives stressed partnership with community hunters, state agencies and federal programs to scale harvest and protect resources.

Next steps: Panelists generally urged pragmatic steps to expand processing and donation capacity, improve funding for inspection and mobile units and coordinate interagency responses. The committee heard the briefing and deferred further formal action; members asked staff to collect details on available funding programs, processing capacity and potential pilot projects.","A multi‑agency panel briefed the committee on options to manage Maui County’s excessive axis (fallow) deer population, highlighting ecological damage, public safety and potential food‑industry opportunities but also regulatory and infrastructure bottlenecks for commercial processing and donation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State resolution prompts Maui County briefing on biosecurity; panel urges county plans and clearer state‑county coordination

Maui County unveils 2025–2030 food and nutrition security plan, urges local action to expand access and production

Panel reviews access‑deer population control, processing and regulatory barriers in Maui County