Council approves festival funding and ceremony support for newly acquired Honolulu Landing

Hawaii County Council approved two small appropriations intended to support community events tied to conservation and food security. Resolution 607 (amended) transfers $5,000 to Malama O Puna to support the Smoke It Up festival, an event advocated as a way to address feral pig overpopulation and local food security by educating the public and raising funds for a USDA-certified processing facility. The council amended the resolution to update the event exhibit and move the date to November 14, and then approved the amended resolution.

Council also approved Resolution 608, a $2,500 grant to support a Ki Pai Pai (blessing) ceremony for the county’s recent 364-acre Honolulu Landing acquisition. Testifiers from Malama O Puna stressed the festival’s role in food-security education and local economic development. "This festival raises awareness about all the great work that's happening by Malama O Puna and community partners," a sponsor said. Both resolutions passed by voice vote.