HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1589
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII
H.B. NO. 1589 H.D.1
A BILL FOR AN ACT
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that cacao of the theobroma cacao tree, the dried and fermented seed from which chocolate is made, is native to the central and western Amazon region and is widely distributed throughout the humid tropical regions with commercial production concentrated in Brazil, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
The legislature finds that the cacao industry in Hawaii is in its infancy stage with fewer than thirty growers and a total acreage of approximately fifty acres, but holds the promise of helping diversified agriculture markets. The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources has conducted a series of meetings, including the one-day workshop entitled “Future of Cacao in Hawaii’ held October 23, 2008, involving key stakeholders in the local cacao industry and representatives statewide to strategize on methods for positioning Hawaii in the growing cacao market.
The legislature also finds that cacao was first introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in 1850 and that Hawaii’s environment and climate position it as the only state in the United States that can commercially grow cacao. Additionally, because Hawaii is in close proximity to both Asia and the mainland United States, it is ideally located to capture and prosper from the opportunities of a growing cacao market which currently generates $75,000,000,000 worldwide annually and contains commodities such as cacao butter, medicinal products, cosmetic products, and stimulants similar to coffee.
The legislature further finds that the cacao industry will provide the State’s economy with a broad range of job opportunities and increased revenue from diversified agriculture, production, and processing, in addition to research and development with the potential to attract federal funds. Further, cacao possesses a propitious opportunity to develop a new industry in the growing, cultivating, processing, and shipping of Hawaii-grown comodities to the mainland United States and the rest of the world.
SECTION 2. Chapter 8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
Hawaiian Grown Cacao month. The month of February shall be known and designated “Hawaiian Grown Cacao month”. This month is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday.
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on January 20, 2020.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
HB1589 HD1 HMS 2012—2323
