HAPA: Ongoing reporting of pesticide use data is the culmination of over a decade of community organizing

Hawai’i Alliance for Progressive Action

The ability to deliver on longstanding community demands for transparency in pesticide use in Hawaii is a major milestone for the Hawai’i Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) and our community partners. Our meeting in Whitmore Village and the ongoing reporting of pesticide use data is the culmination of over a decade of community organizing. While the data reporting still needs to be improved to provide more geographic specificity, this milestone finally allows communities to have access to what pesticide use occurs adjacent to their homes, schools, waterways and other sensitive areas. One major finding was the finding that Central Oahu may be home to the heaviest pounds per acre fumigant use in the US. Our hope is that the data will empower future community organizing and engagement for greater public health and environmental protections. Additionally we learned that 97% of all RUP use in Hawaii is by 5 users. Only 2-3 of these users are growing food for local consumption. This finding undermines long standing industry spin that RUP’s are needed for our local food production in Hawaii, or to meet the state goals for 30% local food production/consumption by 2030.