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APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine, Department of Agriculture
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm 8-152, P.O. Box 50002, Honolulu, HI 96850
Agricultural Pest Facility, Hawaii, APHIS Hawaii; $2,600,000.
This project would design a multi-species sterile fruit fly production facility to provide emergency preparedness for sterile insect technique (SIT) programs, which has become the fruit fly eradication tool of choice worldwide, largely in response to public opposition to chemical control. The rearing of sterile Mediterranean and other fruit fly species are critical to the management of fruit fly pests in warm weather states. Because the four pestiferous fruit fly species are established in Hawaii, this state offers the only practical venue for rearing sterile fruit flies.
APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine, Department of Agriculture
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm 8-152, P.O. Box 50002, Honolulu, HI 96850
Hawaii Interline Activities; $3,000,000.
This initiative provides for preclearance passenger baggage inspection for those interisland passengers departing Lihue, Kauai; Kahului, Maui; Kapalua-West Maui; Lanai City, Lanai; Hilo, Hawaii; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; and, Molokai with subsequent connections to the U.S. Mainland. Unless pre-departure inspection funds are restored to at least the authorized level of funding, $3,000,000, there will be major disruptions or lapses in the inspection of passengers and cargo destined for the U.S. mainland. Inspections are conducted to prevent the spread of agricultural pests and diseases from infesting the agriculture in the continental United States and, as such, is an important federal responsibility.
APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine, Department of Agriculture
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm 8-152, P.O. Box 50002, Honolulu, HI 96850
Varroa Mite Suppresion; $1,800,000.
This would fund comprehensive activities to suppress and limit the varroa mite population on Oahu Island and eradicate populations on the Big Island. The varroa mite severely weakens bees, is widespread in mainland USA, and may be an important contributing factor to (Colony Collapse Disorder) CCD. In recent years, even more catastrophic damage had been averted because Hawaii Island (Big Island) is free of varroa mite and is a major supplier of queen bees to mainland bee keepers. The largest supplier of queen bees in the U.S. is located in Kona on the Big Island. In August 2008, the varroa mite was detected in Hilo, dramatically changing the situation and heightening the imperative to suppress the varroa mite. The infestation of varroa mites in hives of bee keepers in Kona would have serious economic consequences to the multi-billion dollar agriculture industry on the U.S. mainland. Without healthy bees, pollination of crops nationally and globally would be seriously compromised.
APHIS Wildlife Services Office, Department of Agriculture
3375 Koapaka Street, Suite H420, Honolulu, HI 96819
Hawaii Wildlife Services Activities; $2,000,000.
This request is for the Wildlife Services Office in Hawaii, which will be used to prevent the spread of the brown tree snake from Guam into the State of Hawaii. With no other snakes and no predators for snakes, the Brown Tree Snake, if introduced in Hawaii, would proliferate extremely quickly and decimate our ecosystem beyond repair. Once introduced in Guam, the Brown Tree Snake caused several bird species to go extinct and continually causes power outages when it climbs power lines. Preventing its introduction into Hawaii is much more cost-effective than dealing with the effects of its introduction.
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
University of Hawaii
3050 Maile Way, Gilmore Hall 202, Honolulu, HI 96822
Hawaii Floriculture Development; $400,000.
This program would continue research for the floriculture industry to help it remain competitive with foreign imports. The goals of this project are to develop and commercialize high yielding disease/insect resistant floral cultivars for Hawaii; address quarantine issues that limit export; develop methodologies to eliminate quarantine pests (invasive species) and maintain high post-harvest quality. Over 900 farms across the state produce flowers and nursery products and will benefit from this research, particularly orchid, anthurium, and protea growers.
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
University of Hawaii
3050 Maile Way, Gilmore Hall 202, Honolulu, HI 96822
Tropical and Subtropical Research/T-Star; $9,000,000.
This request funds research into the tropical and subtropical regions of the U.S. which have unique agricultural challenges and opportunities. Collaborative regional agricultural research is critical to meeting the increasing challenges and opportunities in tropical island environments. This project provides research that maintains and enhances production of tropical and subtropical agricultural products, while encouraging agricultural practices that are environmentally acceptable. A significant segment of this program is the control of invasive alien pests and weeds since these organisms challenge the preservation and sustainability of Pacific Island agroecosystems and related natural ecosystems.
Hawaii Agriculture Research Center
1385 Maunawili Road, Honolulu, HI 96801
Bio-Fuels Initiatives; $6,000,000.
This is a partnership between Mele Associates and Hawai’i Agriculture Research Center (HARC). MELE Associates, Inc. is a Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB). The MELE Energy Group (MEG) is a division of MELE Associates that provides engineering for alternative energy solutions through the strategic use of biomass. MELE plans to build a four dry ton per–day biorefinery pilot plant at a Hawai’i Agriculture Research Center (HARC) facility. HARC has been active in agricultural research and developing for more than 100 years and brings extensive expertise that will be valuable for feedstock development and commercialization programs. This partnership will significantly advance the necessary agricultural work that is needed to advance biofeedstocks and energy independence in Hawaii.
Hawaii Agriculture Research Center
99-193 Aiea Heights Drive, Aiea, HI 96701
Hawaii Agriculture Research Center; $100,000.
This project would enhance the competitiveness of sugarcane growers in the United States and support the diversification of Hawaii’s agriculture. This project will continue to develop genomic data for tropical crops. The most recent focus has been on papaya.
Hawaii Farm Bureau Foundation
2343 Rose Street, Honolulu, HI 96819
Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers; $15,000,000.
This project would secure a level playing field for farmers and ranchers in Hawaii and Alaska. For many years, and especially since the era of rising fuel costs, farmers and ranchers outside of the 48 contiguous states have operated a competitive disadvantage. The high cost of transporting inputs for production purposes and transporting products to markets in the mainland U.S. and other countries have resulted in production and freight charges that preclude many geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers from being competitive. This initiative addresses these inequities by distributing funds to allow these farmers and ranchers to be more competitive with their counterparts in the continental U.S. and in foreign countries.
Hoolehua Plant Materials Center
4101 Maunaloa Highway, Hoolehua, HI 96729
Hawaii Plant Materials Center, Hawaii; $1,400,000.
This program would stimulate agricultural development in Hawaii by providing assistance to effectively utilize the resources released by the closure of sugarcane and plantation agriculture. Consistent with these activities is a related project on developing native plant nurseries. To encourage development of such enterprises, the Hawaii Plant Material Center has developed propagation and establishment methods of native plant species to control erosion and reintroduce such species to critical coastal marine habitat especially on the island of Kahoolawe. This activity is essential for enhancing and sustaining native ecosystems.
NRCS Pacific Island Area, Department of Agriculture
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 4-118, Honolulu, HI 96850
Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project, Hawaii; $1,500,000.
This NRCS Pacific Island Area project is for the Natural Resources Conservation Service to complete a project for the Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed. The goal of the Lower Hamakua Ditch project is to alleviate the shortage of agricultural water along the Hamakua Coast, by providing a stable, adequate, and affordable supply through the Lower Hamakua Ditch. This will entail the repair of the ditch system, which includes 9 miles of tunnel and 14 miles of open ditch.
NRCS Pacific Island Area, Department of Agriculture
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 4-118, Honolulu, HI 96850
Wailuku-Alenaio Watershed; $250,000.
This NRCS Pacific Island Area project is for the Natural Resources Conservation Service to complete a project for the Wailuku-Alenaio Watershed. This Wailuku-Alenaio project will reduce the risk of damages due to flooding in the city of Hilo.
Oceanic Institute
41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, HI 96795
Tropical Aquaculture Feeds (Oceanic Institute), Hilo, HI; $1,600,000.
This project would continue research to define nutritional requirements and optimize feed to develop cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally sound aquaculture technologies for tropical marine shrimp and finfish. This project supports two emerging industries in Hawaii, reducing the state’s and the region’s dependence on seafood imports while promoting environmental sustainability. Offshore aquaculture will need to reduce feed costs to remain competitive and manage better organic pollution from its operations. This project will help make those advances.
Oceanic Institute
41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, HI 96795
U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program; $4,200,000.
This request is for the subcommittee to support the U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Consortium, an integrated, multi-state research project that develops and transfers technologies, products, and services necessary for the domestic shrimp farming industry to become competitive in the world marketplace. It provides U.S. producers with direct access to reliable captive supplies of high health and genetically improved shrimp stocks, advanced disease diagnostic and treatment methods, and new production technologies.
Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences
3050 Maile Way, Room 310, Honolulu, HI 96822
Termite Species in Hawaii, Gainesville, FL; $200,000.
This program plays a key role in evaluating new termite control products and determining whether or not they are effective against termites. Termite damage in Hawaii is estimated to be in excess of $150 million annually on state, federal, and private property. This is the only research program dedicated to controlling this destructive pest in the State of Hawaii. Control methods are often transferred to other part of the United States having termite issues.
University of Hawaii at Hilo
200 W. Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720
Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; $3,200,000.
This request would provide grants to eligible institutions and consortia of eligible institutions in Alaska and Hawaii. Emphasis is focused on building capacity and ownership among Hawaii’s rural agriculture communities, including a large number of Native Hawaiian and other traditionally underserved minority populations.
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