A lot of times, if you go to the ABC Store or other places, you'll find things that might say "Hawai'i" on them, but when you look at the label, you find that it's manufactured in the Philippines or Taiwan or China.
There is a state law that says in order to be legally labeled as being from Hawai'i,
This leaves a lot of room for creative "interpretation" of the law, according to the State Dept. of Agriculture, and creates unfair competition for businesses that do grow or manufacture products that are at least 51% Hawai'i-based.
No one has been able to put a dollar value on how much money isn't going into the hands of Hawai'i businesses, and the Dept. of Agriculture doesn't have the manpower available to inspect all products that have a "Hawai'i" label.
So if you want to support local business people, make sure you look for the Hawai'i "seal of quality" sticker on the package. And when you're sending gifts to friends and family outside the state, try to buy products with that seal to show your support for island businesses.
Miulang
There is a state law that says in order to be legally labeled as being from Hawai'i,
at least 51 percent of a product must have "wholesale value" added within the state of Hawaii, whether it be through manufacturing, assembly or packaging.
No one has been able to put a dollar value on how much money isn't going into the hands of Hawai'i businesses, and the Dept. of Agriculture doesn't have the manpower available to inspect all products that have a "Hawai'i" label.
A team of 12 inspectors works for the department, but besides examining food labels, they also inspect commercial devices, which range from gas pumps to taxi meters.
"We don't have the resources to send inspectors out every day to check every shelf in every store," said Pierpont.
Typically, instead of fining companies for violating state labeling laws, which can be up to $2,000 per day, the branch writes a letter to the company. Pierpont said companies are usually cooperative.
Loke said the state's best weapon right now is its "Seal of Quality" program, launched in May following a 2002 legislative mandate. The seal, offered to hundreds of genuine Hawaii-grown products, according to Loke, has strict criteria.
"At this point we're using the seal of quality to compete," said Loke. "The seal of quality is a genuine, grown-in- Hawaii, made-in-Hawaii, premium product. You see a seal of quality label on a product, you can rest assured it's a good product and that the state has reviewed and certified it to be a quality product."
"We don't have the resources to send inspectors out every day to check every shelf in every store," said Pierpont.
Typically, instead of fining companies for violating state labeling laws, which can be up to $2,000 per day, the branch writes a letter to the company. Pierpont said companies are usually cooperative.
Loke said the state's best weapon right now is its "Seal of Quality" program, launched in May following a 2002 legislative mandate. The seal, offered to hundreds of genuine Hawaii-grown products, according to Loke, has strict criteria.
"At this point we're using the seal of quality to compete," said Loke. "The seal of quality is a genuine, grown-in- Hawaii, made-in-Hawaii, premium product. You see a seal of quality label on a product, you can rest assured it's a good product and that the state has reviewed and certified it to be a quality product."
Miulang
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