NAWILIWILI — Bona fide farmers can now offer their workers decent living conditions in exchange for labor. The County Council approved Wednesday night a bill that allows farmers to build small dwellings for their workers. “I think this is a
NAWILIWILI — Bona fide farmers can now offer their workers decent living conditions in exchange for labor. The County Council approved Wednesday night a bill that allows farmers to build small dwellings for their workers.
“I think this is a very huge step, finally, in the right direction for real farmers doing real agriculture with real farm workers,” Kalaheo resident Ann Punohu said.
It took Bill 2318 three years to move through long meetings, go back and forth between the council Planning Committee and full council, and survive countless deferrals.
Now, if and as soon as Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. signs the bill into law, farmers who generate an annual gross income of over $35,000 and have an agriculture dedication under the county Finance Department Real Property Tax Division will be able to apply for permits to build up to three farm-worker dwellings of no more than 1,800 feet of combined area.
“We have people sleeping on the ground in unsanitary conditions. This is extremely important to get these people in decent, sanitary housing,” Punohu said. “Here’s an opportunity to support real farmers.”
“Now I can smile,” said Roy Oyama, president of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau.
“We’re happy with what has happened so far,” Oyama said. “It is a big night.”
Oyama participated actively during the whole process in which the bill was crafted and, finally, approved. He thanked the council, and said the bureau is looking forward to working with them on future bills to help Kaua‘i toward food-sustainability.
The farm-worker house bill passed 5-1. Chair Kaipo Asing, citing fear of abuse, voted against it. Councilman Daryl Kaneshiro recused himself from voting, alleging conflict of interest because he is a farmer.
Carvalho has 10 business days to sign or veto the bill after receiving it from the county clerk. Carvalho has yet to veto a bill. Non action would turn the bill automatically into law after those 10 business days.
Go to www.kauai.gov for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
