GMO: the great land mob of Hawaii
by Jon Rappoport
December 4, 2014
Octopus. Land. Money. Control.
I’m going to describe a few tentacles. There are more. There are always more. But these are important.
Why am I bothering? Because you’ll get some idea of the forces arrayed against the people of Hawaii, who have passed measures to limit GMOs and pesticides on Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, only to see their votes nullified in two court judgments and temporarily blocked in the third case, Maui, pending a judge’s decision.
Okay. Let’s start with an outfit called Hawaii BioEnergy. It’s unclear what they actually do. They say they plan to supply enormous amounts of biomass-energy for electricity in the Islands.
Their members? Kamehameha Schools, Grove Farm, and Maui Land & Pineapple. Three heavy actors.
Read this stunning statement from Hawaii BioEnergy’s website (FAQ page):
“How much land does this consortium control? Kamehameha Schools owns 365,760 acres throughout the state, Grove Farm owns approximately 38,000 acres on the island of Kauai and Maui Land & Pineapple owns approximately 22,000 acres on the island of Maui. Together the three entities own over ten percent of the land in Hawai‘i (and a much larger percentage of arable land) with significant holdings on the islands of Maui, Kaua‘i, Oahu, and Hawai‘i.”
It’s rare you see such a bald statement of power out in the open.
What about Grove Farm on Kauai? The company is owned by Steve Case, the founder of AOL. Grove Farm leases land to Syngenta, Dow, and Pioneer, who develop GMO corn seeds there and spray all sorts of “restricted use” (toxic) pesticides, which drift across the Island.
To get a sense of Steve Case’s position on this, here is his statement as reported by the NY Times (10/7/13, “Unease in Hawaii’s Cornfields”): “Our [farming] tenants comply with all local laws and will comply with any new ordinances that pass.”
In other words: “who cares?”
The CEO of Grove Farm is Warren Haruki. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the First Hawaiian Bank. On its website, the Bank publishes this glowing statement about Monsanto and the other biotech giants operating in Hawaii:
“Kauai is an ideal research laboratory for the seed corn industry…there are currently five parent seed corn operations on the island: [biotech GM giants] Pioneer Hi-Bred…Syngenta, Dow Monsanto, and BASF. Dow Agrosciences recently leased 3,400 acres of former sugar land…”
That’s not all. Warren Haruki is also the chairman and CEO of the Maui Land and Pineapple Company, mentioned above as one of the three components of land-giant Hawaii BioEnergy.
Haruki is, in fact, on the board of Hawaii BioEnergy.
He’s the past chairman of the University of Hawaii Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the University, which has received generous grants from Monsanto and Dow.
Haruki’s connections to the biotech-friendly First Hawaiian Bank and the University of Hawaii Foundation are mirrored by Faye Kurren, who is the wife of Federal Magistrate Barry Kurren. As I’ve detailed in previous articles, Barry Kurren overrode the anti-GMO/pesticide vote of the people in both the Kauai and Maui cases, and is in charge of the pending Maui case.
In October of this year, Haruki, as the head of Maui Land and Pineapple Co., carried out a sale of 244 acres of land on Maui to the State of Hawaii. To obtain the money, the Hawaii State Legislature had to pass a bill explicitly authorizing the expenditure. Those who believe the State of Hawaii will come to the rescue of anti-Monsanto voters on Maui should take notice: Haruki and Hawaii are business partners.
Finally, for now, think about this. Hawaii BioEnergy controls over 10% of the land of Hawaii, and a much greater percentage of arable land. According to the NY Times (10/7/13, “Unease in Hawaii’s Cornfields”), “Monsanto, Pioneer, Syngenta, Dow and BASF [all GMO/pesticide giants] occupy a combined 25,000 [nearly 10%] out of the state’s total of 280,000 acres of agricultural land, with operations on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Molokai.”
Since Hawaii BioEnergy is a good friend and partner to these biotech giants, we are talking about a land-controlling octopus.
This is an element of the force arrayed against the people of Hawaii who want life and health and voted for it.
Taking a look at the funding sources behind the successful Maui vote to block GMOs and pesticides (before Monsanto sued to nullify the vote), I notice that, among all the celebrities who have homes on Maui, the total of their contributions to the cause was:
Not a dime, not a nickel, not a penny.
Nothing.
Are they ignorant of what’s going on in their back yard? Or are they afraid that supporting efforts to ban GMOs and dangerous pesticides could spell career-damage?
Jon Rappoport
The author of three explosive collections, THE MATRIX REVEALED, EXIT FROM THE MATRIX, and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX, Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29th District of California. He maintains a consulting practice for private clients, the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics, health, logic, and creative power to audiences around the world. You can sign up for his free emails at www.nomorefakenews.com
Thanks for the write up, Jon. You may also want to take note of Pierre Omidyar and his meddling here on Kauai. He just got his mega dairy approved on the south side in Koloaa/Poipu. The landowner is Grove Farm, owner Steve Case of AOL fame. Nobody understands why Omidyar would pursue such a business in a sensitive, tourist area near the ocean. The Hyatt is suing.
Then there’s Omidyar’s purchase of land to build a rich enclave overlooking Hanalei (on the north shore), next to the Princeville Hotel aka The Regency.
He’s also behind Civil Beat, an internet news source based in Honolulu. They’re pro GMO, but position themselves as progressives. I’m sure Omidyar has his hand in other pies here in Hawaii.
Thought you and others may want to know.
Omidyar also completely financed The #2 Ag question on this years ballot that removed the provision of large land owners having to dedicate their lands to ag for a time to qualify for bond funding, to the tune of half a million. Voters thought they were supporting small farmers by voting yes.
Ebay has also refused to quit ALEC.
P.S. Jon, read “Land & Power in Hawai`i.” ( although it could use an update for the present day)
Good lord! The citizens of Hawaii are fighting big bad giants, they will need all the help they can get.
As for the celebrities: “Are they ignorant of what’s going on in their back yard? Or are they afraid that supporting efforts to ban GMOs and dangerous pesticides could spell career-damage? ”
I don’t know most of these celebrities, but for Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, they are at the end of their careers, so I don’t think they would be afraid to get involved.
Of course, for people like Oprah and Michelle Obama, they are part of the Elites, so forget about them.
But you know what? Most people are very condescending towards celebrities, they think they don’t care or are stupid trendies, so maybe they didn’t bother informing them or to ask for their help.
That would be a huge mistake, because usually, these people have more power than they think… they can reach to so many people.
Willy helped.
I’m glad to hear this and I am not surprised. Kris kristofferson lives 2 hours away from Willie at the other side of the Island (Hana). I’m sure he would also help if asked.
These two people have good hearts and are not afraid of the authorities… they were called “The Outlaws” or the “Renegades”…lol
Jon…All Aloha’s to you !…We are Loving what you are digging into here on Maui
, being right on with the information and Investigative Journalism ! Please keep going…:) Mahalo Nui Loa Julie
It’s refreshing to see real journalism. Thanks Jon.
Hawaii has the 3 biggest polluters on Earth living within the Islands–Mount Kilauea, Monsanto and Dow. Glad to see you tackling two of them. When the latter two have died, can you please shut down Kilauea and put out all the cane fires. Maui is getting quadruple teamed by the cane burning, the pesticides, the GMO’s and the vog from the volcano…I don’t know which of the 4 is worse to be honest…so all things considered I packed up and moved to Marin County a few years ago. No pesticides, GMOs, vog, or cane fires here. I still have a second home on the north shore of Oahu, and I love the islands dearly, so thanks for getting the word out.
Huge Win: Monsanto Stock Downgraded After Worst Growth in 7 Years
http://www.infowars.com/huge-win-monsanto-stock-downgraded-after-worst-growth-in-7-years/
Why is Monsanto so vehement about it stakes…its experiments in Hawai’i, Maui, Kauai? Could it be it’s relationship with George Soros, one of Monsanto largest stockholders?…and Soros interests in Cannabis?
Could it be patents held by Monsanto on genetically modified cannabis? The ramifications for new pharmaceuticals alone boggle an inquiring mind, a curious mind…lol.
Could the government’s obstinency to reschedule cannabis…a harmless little plant…be… they are waiting for Monsanto to catch up. Giving them time to R&D new seeds in four perfect growing seasons?
This would bring increased powers to the Feds war on consciousness…sorry…drugs.
And open up to Monsanto, monopoly of new emerging markets for cannabis pharmaceuticals, foods, oils, paper, cloth…and the list goes on.
Monsanto stock has been dropping, after a seven year run of great fortune.
Light at end of the tunnel I see…
From the dark and deep side of the Universe, Michael
Very intriguing. Thanks Michael.
“Owning the amazingly powerful Hemp plant (and GMOing the original out of existence).” One example of owning life. Wow. that would be an amazing grab for Monsatan.
And really who would contest such a take over…when most believe after such a prolonged period of propaganda that one would become addicted, or psychotic from using this wonderful herb. One only needs to research and study the endocannabinoid system within the human body to find its superior benefits versus synthetic pharmaceutical.
The cannabinoid receptors within the human body is amazing…from the neurogenesis properties of the human brain, to the suppression of stresses on the auto – immune system…well, I could go on for days.
If one needs to find out how much money I am talking about here…check out Colorado in its first year of being cannabis legal.
Now think of whole plant economics.
With depleting wood forests…making plywood from hemp stalk…vitally in destructable plywood…maybe that’s a problem in this consumerist paradigm.
A lot might laugh at what I propose….but…check this out, because Monsanto has…
http://themindunleashed.org/2014/12/dad-gives-sick-son-marijuana-extract-results-mind-blowing.html
[…] GMO: the great land mob of Hawaii. […]
Unfortunately even without GMO we all used Roundup herbicides.
another important fact to pay attention to is that if you ban pesticides then you are not acting against any company but a generalization of the use of restricted poisons and fertilizers. The defense for the seed companies has been that it is singling them out. A broader approach would be more effective as an across the board solution.
Monsanto has deep roots in the world war 2 chemical company arena which should also be considered by any judge as well as a factor in the informing of the people
Consider also Hawaiians test positive for Uranium pollution from military bases that tested the Davy Crockett and other tactical nuclear weapons, as well as Fukushima radiation with a half-life of 4.47 B years. No wonder locals who feel their paradise was stolen and trashed, beat up and killed tourists, hushed up by media:
https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiRadiation