Demand the State of Hawai`i act now to protect the people!

Hawai‘i Governor David Ige

The world’s largest chemical corporations are using the Hawaiian Islands for open air testing of pesticides tied to experimental genetically engineered seeds.

In the last three years, thousands of Hawai`i residents marched, testified, and went door-to-door to pass laws in the counties of Kaua`i, Maui and Hawai`i to protect our communities from harmful pesticides.  And we won, despite millions of dollars of industry opposition.

But the chemical companies sued our counties to block enforcement, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that only the State of Hawai`i, and not the counties, has the power and responsibility to protect Hawaii's people and environment from pesticides.

The message from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is clear: The power and responsibility to protect Hawaii's people and environment from pesticides is in Governor Ige's hands.

Back in May 2016, a report funded by the State called for the following actions to protect the health of Hawaii’s people and land:  

  • Create and enforce statewide pesticide Buffer Zones
  • Statewide mandatory and thorough disclosure of pesticide use (both restricted use and general use)
  • Collect more accurate health data that helps scientists identify links between pesticides and health impacts on children, babies and families
  • Air, soil and water testing

The State has ignored its own advisors.  The report was written by a panel of experts after a year-long "Joint Fact-Finding" process and yet it has ignored their recommendations.

We must demand immediate action from the Governor to implement basic protections recommended by the State's own State-funded report.

Governor Ige could enact every single one of the recommendations, while not affecting jobs. Moreover, the state legislature has already appropriated $500,000 to implement the recommendations of the JFFG report.

Sign the petition today to demand the State step up and meet its responsibility to the people of Hawai`i now!


To: Hawai‘i Governor David Ige
From: [Your Name]

Honorable Governor David Ige,

We, the undersigned, ask that you take immediate action to protect the people and environment of Hawai`i from the known and unknown harms of the pesticide use associated with large-scale Hawai`i field trials of genetically engineered seeds by six of the world's largest chemical companies.

Thousands of residents across Hawai`i have marched, testified, and organized in their communities in support of basic protections such as buffer zones and disclosure (the right to know what is being sprayed near our homes, hospitals, and schools).

Your own State-funded "Joint Fact-Finding Group" report, after a year-long process involving a panel of doctors, scientists and other experts (including chemical company representatives) publicly recommended such basic protections as:

- Create and enforce statewide pesticide Buffer Zones
- Require statewide disclosure of pesticide use (both restricted use and general use)
- Collect more accurate health data that helps scientists identify links between pesticides and health impacts on children, babies and families
- Air, soil and water testing

The State legislature has appropriated $500,000 to enact the recommendations of the JFFG.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has made it clear that the power and responsibility is on the State of Hawai`i to regulate pesticides and protect the people of Hawai`i. Therefore, we ask that you immediately enact the recommendations of the JFFG report, including:

1. A statewide pesticide buffer zone policy in line with the recommendations of health professionals such as the American Academy of Pediatrics;
2. Mandatory and thorough statewide disclosure of pesticide use (both restricted use and general use) by the largest users of restricted use pesticides;
3. Collection of health data that helps scientists identify links between pesticides and health impacts on children, babies and families; and
4. Implement the specific recommendations regarding air, soil and water testing.