WHO: Senator Mike Gabbard
WHAT: State Senate Floor Presentation for Dr. Harry Ako, Principal Investigator of the Industrial Hemp Research Project
Joint Informational Briefing on the state Industrial Hemp Pilot Program
WHEN: Wednesday, March 29, 2017
11:30 a.m. (Floor Presentation)
1:15 p.m. (Informational Briefing)
WHERE: State Senate Chambers and Conference Room 224
Hawai‘i State Capitol
State Senator Mike Gabbard (Dist. 20 - Kapolei, Makakilo, and portions of ‘Ewa, Kalaeloa, and Waipahu), Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, will lead a day focused on the production and uses of industrial hemp at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 29th.
"Hemp is an incredible crop that has big potential in our islands", said Senator Gabbard. "This is an opportunity to bring some attention to what kind of exciting opportunities are just around the corner as our state Industrial Hemp Pilot Program is rolled out. I'm confident hemp will be a niche crop for our farmers that will make good use of the Hawai‘i brand."
The day begins with a floor presentation in the State Senate Chambers at 11:30 a.m. as Senator Gabbard honors Dr. Harry Ako, Principal Investigator of the Industrial Hemp Research Project, and his team for their efforts in proving industrial hemp can grow well in Hawai‘i. In December 2015, the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources released a report on a successful, two-year industrial hemp remediation and biofuel crop research project that was conducted in Waimanalo in compliance with Act 56 (2014): https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eaur/govrel/reports/2016/act56-slh2014_2016_industrial-hemp_report.pdf
The Senate floor presentation will be followed by a joint Informational Briefing at 1:15 p.m. in Conference Room 224 to provide an update about industrial hemp research, the current status of the state Industrial Hemp Pilot Program, and the future of hemp development in Hawai‘i.
The informational briefing will include presentations by the following:
· Dr. Harry Ako, Principal Investigator of Industrial Hemp Research Project
· Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture
· Maui Hemp Institute for Research & Innovation
The hearing notice can be accessed at this link: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2017/hearingnotices/HEARING_AEN-AGR_03-29-17_INFO_.HTM
For questions about the informational briefing, contact the office of Senator Mike Gabbard at 586-6830.
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