Requesting The University Of Hawaii At Manoa College Of Tropical Agriculture And Human Resources To Convene A Working Group To Evaluate Updating Its Extension Sites.
The resolution underscores the necessity for strategic investments to modernize CTAHR's aging infrastructure. It stresses that without such investments, the effectiveness of CTAHR in addressing agricultural research and education needs will deteriorate, which may adversely affect the agricultural sector in Hawaii. By convening a working group, HCR142 aims to foster collaboration among stakeholders and promote the advancement of agricultural research facilities through legislative and potential federal support.
House Concurrent Resolution 142 (HCR142) requests the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to convene a working group aimed at evaluating and updating its agricultural extension sites. The resolution highlights the critical role of CTAHR, which manages eighteen agricultural research stations throughout Hawaii, in fulfilling the diverse educational and research needs of local communities and growers. These facilities have been underfunded and face significant maintenance challenges, hindering their operational effectiveness.
While HCR142 reflects a collective acknowledgment of the urgency needed to address CTAHR’s infrastructure challenges, it also points to broader discussions regarding resource allocation for educational institutions. There may be varying opinions on how best to prioritize such funding within the state's budget, especially as the resolution implicitly calls for further legislative actions based on the working group's findings. Notably, if adequate investments are not made, there is a risk that Hawaii's agricultural research capabilities will continue to fall behind, impacting local food security and sustainability.