HI HCR308

Establishes a Hawaii Cacao Economic Opportunity Task Force under the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to develop a plan for a cacao processing plant.

Task force plan must address three key areas: planning for a processing plant, selecting a location for the facility, and financing the plant.

Task force comprises nine members including directors from DBEDT, Agriculture, and Land and Natural Resources departments, plus representatives from cacao industry, chocolate industry, chocolate entrepreneurs, UH-CTAHR, finance industry, and marketing industry.

Task force must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the start of the 2012 Regular Session.

Resolution notes Hawaii is the only U.S. state capable of cultivating cacao commercially, with the largest farm being Dole Food Company's 20-acre operation in Waialua, Oahu, which won a 2010 Gold medal for its chocolate.