More farmers markets could be established across Hawaii Island.
A new Hawaii County bill introduced at Tuesday’s meeting of the County Council’s Policy Committee on Health, Safety and Well-Being would allow seven additional farmers markets to be set up in county parks and facilities islandwide.
Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Messina told the committee Tuesday the bill will help realize his vision of having at least one farmers market at county facilities in each district on the island.
Currently, the County Code only allows markets at five county facilities: the Hakalau Veterans Park, Mo‘oheau Park, Kamehameha Park in Kohala, Volcano Park and the William “Billy” Kenoi District Park in Pahoa.
Bill 175 would expand the permissible areas to include the Honoka‘a Sports Complex, the Ho‘olulu Complex in Hilo, the Pepe‘ekeo Community Center, the Pahala Community Center, Waimea Park, Honaunau Rodeo Arena and Kailua Park.
The bill also updates the code to properly identify the William “Billy” Kenoi District Park. The code currently refers to it by its previous name, the Pahoa District Park.
Messina said the sites were selected based on whether they had adequate access to vital utilities and their potential impact to nearby retail businesses.
Regardless of whether the bill is passed, Messina said the new markets won’t be established right away, if at all. Rather, nonprofit groups can work with Parks and Rec to create the markets.
Once the county and nonprofit sign a memorandum of understanding, Messina said any vendor can pay a nominal daily fee — $5 per person per day, according to the County Code — to sell products at a specified market. He added that those permit fees should go back to maintaining the specific market for which they were issued.
“Let’s say sometimes I have too many vegetables,” Messina said. “As long as I pay the fee, I can go to a market and sell my surplus.”
The committee voted unanimously to forward the bill to the full council with a favorable recommendation.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
