Bio Pesticide Mosquitoes to be Released in East Maui

Happy Aloha Friday! The following email is a bit late to be shared as the testimony deadline has passed as of this morning. I apologize for not getting this out to the body sooner. Please take the time to read the linked articles and watch the videos to learn more about what is happening regarding this serious issue. 


 

View this email in your browser TRO and Preliminary Injunction Hearing 7/21: Stop the Release of Lab-Infected Mosquitoes on Maui First Circuit Court in Honolulu   A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday July 21st at 9:00am at the First Circuit Court on Oahu for Hawaii Unites’ Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction against the State of Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) and Department of Land and Natural Resources. We’re seeking a ruling to stop the release of lab-infected mosquitoes on East Maui. Managing agencies began releasing mosquitoes in mid-May despite our active case in environmental court, which is also moving forward.   The courtroom is open to the public. If you’re on Oahu, please join us at the courthouse early in support of our case:   Friday 7/21 9:00am   First Circuit Court Ka‘ahumanu Hale 777 Punchbowl Street Fourth Floor, Room 17 Honolulu, HI   Despite compelling written and verbal testimony overwhelmingly in opposition to approval of the Management Plan for Kīpahulu State Forest Reserve at the BLNR meeting on 7/14, the board voted the plan through. Our objection was to specific language in the plan referencing mosquito control. Mapped locations on the agenda included Kīpahulu tax map keys in the lab-infected mosquito release project area. We’ll continue monitoring these agendas and alerting the public to opportunities for our voices to be heard. The land in East Maui has a complicated history in connection with agencies involved in this mosquito plan.   Releases on Kaua‘i are being planned now, and we have just four more days to speak out against these mosquitoes expanding to the next island. Please remember to send in your comments in opposition. The Kaua‘i project area would be the second largest Wolbachia mosquito release of any kind globally to date (Maui would be the largest ever)! Let’s stand up together as a united community and protect the ‘āina on Kaua‘i. The deadline to comment for Kaua‘i is Monday, July 24th. A sample comment is available at HawaiiUnites.org.   Hawaii Unites is challenging this mosquito release experiment in court. We need your help to present a strong case. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our legal fund:   GiveSendGo "Hawaii Unites to Challenge Maui Mosquito Release"   You can choose to show your name as a contributor or remain anonymous. Help us raise awareness, and share this donation link with your contacts.   East Maui is continuing to host weekly outreach meetings in Hāna to educate the community about these mosquito releases and to speak out about their concerns. Join in person or by Zoom every Wednesday from 5pm-6pm.   Mahalo to everyone who attended the Children’s Health Defense (CHD) “An Evening of Healing” events on Maui, Kaua‘i, Oahu, and the Big Island. We were so impressed with the organizing of these important gatherings and with the energy of the crowds that came out to learn more about living our healthiest lives. It was great to meet some new connections and give an update on the biopesticide mosquito release plan targeting all of the islands.   I’m looking forward to updating everyone on our court hearing. Please send good energy our way. Aloha, Tina Lia Founder & President Hawaii Unites Our Change.org petition now has over 6,100 signatures! Help us get to 7,500 to raise public awareness and make our voices heard: Demand an Environmental Impact Statement for the Experimental Mosquito Release on Maui   Recent Media:   Redtime Stories with Tamara McKay: 7/13/23 GMO Mosquitos in Hawaii? Hear from Hawaiiunites.org, Tina Lia   Hawaii News Now 7/12/23: Pushback Against Plan to Save Native Birds   Hawaii Unites Founder Tina Lia Speaks at Iao Theater on Maui 7/11/23 Hawaii Unites is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of our environment and natural resources. Your tax-deductible donations help us to fulfill our mission of honoring and protecting our sacred connection to the natural world. Donate   Copyright © 2023 Hawaii Unites, All rights reserved. Honoring and protecting our sacred connection to the natural world Our mailing address is: Hawaii Unites PO Box 1773 Kihei, HI 96753 Add us to your address book