After a day of close to perfect weather on Oahu’s North Shore for the conclusion of the Billabong Pipeline Masters, world-renowned surfers joined anti-GMO activists Sunday for a rainy march down Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa. Their aim was to call attention to Hawaii’s agricultural experimentation and genetic engineering seed production industries.
"If you look at what we’ve been through before with Kauai and sleeping in the rain and thunderstorms … and marching in Poipu in the rain, where it never rains in Poipu, and then marching in Diamond Head in the rain for Aina Fest — it’s like, you know, people won’t be deterred from that because of the weather," Babes Against Biotech President Nomi Carmona said after the march.
Carmona, one of many event coordinators, said a clicker counter showed that more than 800 people marched in "The Aloha Aina March: Collaboration for a Better Tomorrow," and more than 1,000 people gathered at Haleiwa Beach Park later for speeches, musical performances and a non-GMO potluck.
Advocates from various community organizations focused on environmental awareness, agriculture, local farming, sustainability, local economy, tourism, government accountability and human rights joined with some of the biggest names in surfing for the march. Kelly Slater, Dustin Barca, Shane Dorian, John John Florence, Mark Healey, Sebastian Zietz and Makua Rothman attended.
Carmona said Dustin Barca, a professional surfer, MMA fighter and recipient of Surfer Magazine’s 2013 Surfer Poll Agent of Change Award for his work with Ohana o Kauai and Hawaii SEED to raise GMO awareness, called for the march.
Police helped facilitate the march by closing off part of the highway, but Carmona said the city’s Department of Transportation Services almost pulled a permit because of the weather. Environmental activist Walter Ritte and Barca would not have it, though, she said.
"It just was one of those things where the people were just like, ‘No, we want to march; we want to march in the rain; we don’t care.’ … And, you know, sometimes you’ve just got to listen to the kupuna and listen to the uncles," Carmona said. "It just kind of goes to show, like, the people who care about these issues are going to come out no matter what. It’s that important."
Almost a month ago the Kauai County Council overrode Mayor Bernard Carvalho’s veto of a controversial bill aimed at requiring large farms to disclose pesticide use and growth of genetically modified crops.
Biotech companies are expected to file lawsuits to challenge the measure.
Earlier this month Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi signed a bill designed to limit planting of genetically modified crops to enclosed structures like greenhouses.
In 2008 Hawaii County adopted a bill that banned genetically modified coffee and taro.
An effort in the state Legislature to pass a measure requiring GMO labeling failed earlier this year, but anti-GMO advocates and labeling proponents have promised to return in full force for the 2014 session.
