Dear Friends,

I appreciate your interest in our democratic system of government and welcome your input.

It is a great honor to represent upcountry Maui at the Hawaii State House of Representatives. I will make every effort to be attentive to your concerns and to inform you of important news from the Legislature.

My office is just a call, letter, or e-mail away. I look forward to hearing from you. Maui no ka oi!

Sincerely,
Kyle T. Yamashita
State Representative
12th District

TOPICS OF INTEREST

• Agricultural Tourism
  To diversify our agricultural product offerings, Representative Yamashita has introduced House Bill No. 2145, C.D. 1, which allows agricultural tourism conducted on an existing working farm or an existing farming operation, provided that the agricultural tourism does not interfere with surrounding farm operations. This measure also requires counties to regulate agricultural tourism by ordinance.
  
  
• Drought Mitigating Water Storage Facility Tax Credit
  Representative Yamashita recognizes the importance of preparing for disasters, such as drought, which wreak havoc on farmers dependent on a stable supply of water. To continue the incentives for constructing drought mitigating water storage facilities, he has introduced House Bill No. 955, H.D. 1, which would have raised the amount of the Drought Mitigating Water Storage Facility Tax Credit. However, this measure failed to gain legislative approval.
  
  
• Agricultural Subdivisions
  Maui depends on its agricultural development and its ability to expand and take advantage of new ideas, especially in the area of diversified agriculture. Representative Yamashita is aware that many of these new agricultural pursuits are limited in size and start-up funding. He has therefore introduced House Bill No. 2146, C.D. 1, that will support and encourage diversified agriculture by exempting owners of larger agricultural parcels from county subdivision ordinances if they subdivide these parcels into one or more smaller units to be used for agricultural purposes, subject to certain restrictions.
  
  
• Tax Credit - Irrigation
  A farmer's reliance on water is paramount for a successful business. Many farms do not have access to reasonably priced water from an irrigation system. In an effort to make water access more equitable for all farmers, Representative Yamashita has introduced House Bill No. 1033, H.D. 1, which would have provided a tax credit equal to the difference between the amount paid for county water and the amount that would have been paid if there had been access to an irrigation system. However, this measure failed to gain legislative approval.

NEWS AND EVENTS

• June 2, 2006. Representative Yamashita talks about the exciting future of the King Kekaulike Arts Center. (Article)
  
  
• Jan. 15, 2006. Representative Yamashita in the news. (Article)
  
  
• April 17, 2005. Representative Yamashita in the news. (Article)