Yes on Amendment 12 for control of local water

In 2018, 41,000 acres of Maui ag land were sold to Mahi Pono, a Hawaii corporation owned by a foreign entity, the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, a Canadian pension management company.

Mahi Pono is following in the footsteps of the plantation-minded companies that preceded them and that once controlled much of Hawaii’s land and water resources.

They are creating another plantation that will do little to address urgent food security issues.

Buzz words Mahi Pono uses like sustainability, diversified ag, water conservation, non-GMO, etc. are mostly marketing hype intended to placate politicians and concerned citizens.

PSP is mission driven to do good for the Canadian pensioners they have a fiduciary responsibility to serve. Not Hawaii residents. Is PSP’s upside in agriculture or real estate?

Is planting thousands of acres of citrus trees a good idea? More coffee? Does that address food security issues?

Are the red clouds of soil drifting toward South Maui and our coral reefs evidence of sustainable farming practices?

We need small dairies. We need entrepreneurial farmers who have the land, water and infrastructure to grow grains, beans, rice, soy, vegetables, kalo, coconut, ulu, etc.

We need to grow the feed that will support poultry and egg production.

We need a versatile food processing sector to freeze, dehydrate, retort, mill, fill, press, ferment, store, etc. Adding value to crops is essential.

Vote yes on Charter Amendment 12 to secure future control of our local water resources and support our local independent Maui farmers.

Arnie Koss Kula