...or 'Why does PLK Air Services Group LLC want to take over the Kona Coffee Industry using state funds?'
The Hawaii legislature passed bill HB1556 that allows PLK Air Services Group LLC to raise $25 million though bonds to create a processing center for Kona Coffee and macnuts on state land near the Kona airport.
Why was this bill passed unopposed?
Why was the Governor's veto screwed up (by accident or on purpose(?)) allowing the bill to pass.
'...This bill seems to allow PLK Air Services to completely take over a
huge part of the Kona coffee industry ... from people who are
already doing all of these jobs--processing, roasting, and packaging. Is
there any precedent for the government to allow such a thing in any other
industry? We've spoken to people in each of these areas, who were
completely surprised by this. How could a bill pass without testimony from
the people who would lose their jobs? However, the paragraph states,
somehow testimony was given that we are in dire need of this
processing/roasting/packaging/shipping facility.'
'...These (existing farms and processors) are all people who have poured their hearts, souls, and THEIR OWN money into growing their businesses. We need to let our State Legislature know that they voted to finance a private enterprise to take business from our neighbors, who not only are doing the job but who also helped build the coffee industry in our area. We believe that all of us in the Kona coffee community, and the Hawaii coffee community as a whole, need to to let Governor Lingle know that there is not a pressing need for such a facility in Kona...' Excerpt from a letter to the Kona Coffee Council.
Details
The Hawaii legislature passed bill HB1556 that allows PLK Air Services Group LLC to raise $25 million though bonds to create a processing center for Kona Coffee and macnuts on state land near the Kona airport.
Why was this bill passed unopposed?
Why was the Governor's veto screwed up (by accident or on purpose(?)) allowing the bill to pass.
'...This bill seems to allow PLK Air Services to completely take over a
huge part of the Kona coffee industry ... from people who are
already doing all of these jobs--processing, roasting, and packaging. Is
there any precedent for the government to allow such a thing in any other
industry? We've spoken to people in each of these areas, who were
completely surprised by this. How could a bill pass without testimony from
the people who would lose their jobs? However, the paragraph states,
somehow testimony was given that we are in dire need of this
processing/roasting/packaging/shipping facility.'
'...These (existing farms and processors) are all people who have poured their hearts, souls, and THEIR OWN money into growing their businesses. We need to let our State Legislature know that they voted to finance a private enterprise to take business from our neighbors, who not only are doing the job but who also helped build the coffee industry in our area. We believe that all of us in the Kona coffee community, and the Hawaii coffee community as a whole, need to to let Governor Lingle know that there is not a pressing need for such a facility in Kona...' Excerpt from a letter to the Kona Coffee Council.
Details
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