Press release from Rep. K. Mark Takai:
ROADSIDE RALLY AGAINST PUPPY MILLS
Protections Needed for Puppies as well as PeopleAiea, Hawaii – Community residents, Poi Dogs & Popoki, Hawaii Military Pets and other animal welfare advocates will hold a peaceful roadside rally at the Pearl Kai Shopping Center in Aieaon Saturday, January 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of a pet shop allegedly selling animals from puppy mills.
The rally is being coordinated by Alicia Maluafiti from Poi Dogs & Popoki, Theresa Donnelly from Hawaii Military Pets, and Hawaii State Representative K. Mark Takai (D-Aiea/Pearl City).
The Aloha Pet Shop in the Pearl Kai Shopping Center in Aiea was recently opened by Sheryl Luke-Kalani, one of the property owners of the infamous Waimanalo puppy mill, owned by Bradley International. Luke-Kalani’s other shop, Pet Spot, in the Pearl Highlands area, closed shop possibly because of community outrage at the horrendous conditions in which their animals were kept. The pet store is where they sold their “puppy mill” puppies. The Aloha Pet Shop is located at 98-199 Kamehameha Highway.
Last February, the Hawaiian Humane Society removed 153 dogs living on property owned by Luke-Kalani. According to a December KITV news report, Luke-Kalani is the daughter of Vernon Luke, vice president and treasurer of Bradley International. Bradley International has pleaded no-contest to 153 counts of animal cruelty and is scheduled for sentencing in Kaneohe Feb. 15.
“Community residents and animal welfare advocates have come together to show Luke-Kalani and the Aloha Pet Shop that it is not ok with animal lovers on Oahu that she is opening another pet shop and selling more puppies,” said Rep. K. Mark Takai, one of the organizers of the rally. “As one of the representative of this community, we need to protect not only the animals but the people that purchase them.”
“Instead, we hope more people will adopt shelter animals, or at the very least personally inspect the breeding home. A pet store is no place to obtain a forever animal,” said Theresa Donnelly, owner of Hawaii Military Pets.
To better protect pets and consumers, organizers believe Hawaii should follow Wisconsin by passing mandated licensing and registration for dog breeders and sellers such as pet stores. Lawmakers have introduced a number of legislative solutions to address “puppy mills,” but Alicia Maluafiti, President of Poi Dogs & Popoki, doesn’t believe targeting just large scale breeders goes far enough.
“The Wisconsin law covers more than “puppy mills” because breeders come in all sizes,” Maluafiti said. “The suggestion that only very large breeders need regulation misses an important point: There are very good large breeders, and there are very bad small breeders. Neither is inherently good or bad,” she added.
“We simply want reputable breeders that are committed to unannounced inspections, upholding standards of care, and putting the health of the mommy and the puppies before making a quick buck,” Maluafiti added.
“Hawaii is no place for raising animals in substandard conditions. We are coming together to show our solidarity in ending Hawaii’s unethical breeding practices,” Takai added.
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I think the prominent role of a politician in this is a mistake and undermines its ability to attract support from people who may care about the issue, but may be indifferent to Mark Takai’s re-election prospects.
Kolea, that’s because you think like a normal person. But K. Mark is minted from the same publicity seeking cloth as John Mizuno, so this is what you get: “Me first. Forget whether there is any immediate or lasting impact as long as my name gets associated with it.”
Alicia Maluafiti rings a bell.
Is this the person ( with Dean Okimoto & Monsanto reps) who testified against the labeling of GMO products at the City Council?
It’s ironic that the well being of human beings is not as important as animals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI3vjWWk3WY
http://www.civilbeat.com/posts/2011/09/16/12857-ongoing-deception-by-rail-proponents/
. . . Alicia Maluafiti, former leader of Go Rail Go, identified herself as “president of Loihi Communications,”
Is this the same Alicia Maluafiti?
Kolea and Ohia. Sorry to disappoint the both of you, but I was asked to step up and coordinate this rally. Actually, I would have preferred to be in a supporting role in this rally. Anyway, hope you can join us tomorrow.
Mark,
I didn’t disparage your motives. I pointed to the reality that the involvement of a politician often undercuts efforts to broaden support for what probably should be a non-partisan (or “cross-partisan”) effort.
In my view, whoever asked you to help coordinate the rally made a mistake, despite your considerable personal charm and charisma.
Hawaii News Now: “About 30 people, accompanied by many four-legged friends, lined Kamehameha Highway near the Aloha Pet Stop in the Pearl Kai Shopping Center, holding signs promoting pet adoption. A similar protest last Saturday drew about a dozen people.”
The rally also drew large amounts of news coverage yesterday.
Mark, the comments against your participation yesterday are simply wrong. (But the commentators may hate admitting that.)
🙂
And what legislative resources did you use to coordinate/support it, if any, i.e., legislative, time, equipment, or staff? How does that square with the State Ethics Law? Even assuming the connection between the pet store owner and the defunct Bradley International gives rise to legitimate concern, should those legislative resources be used to target a private, tax paying, job creating enterprise?
I’m shocked — Shocked! — to find that a Politician is seeking publicity here.
…
Kolea, so politicians should never coordinate rallies?
How about participating in rallies/demonstrations/mass actions?
I mean, doesn’t just the mere presence of politicians taint the non-partisanship nature of these events? (That said, I suspect actions like Occupy Wall Street are not seen as non-partisan events.)
I am with Charles on this one. The politician’s presence in a rally like this absolutely helps spread the word and attracts more supporters. And the indifference that many normal people have toward the state representative’s motives views is actually a good thing! I’m confused about how this is such a problem.
Wow. Can’t a politician have a heart too? or must caring about something always be associated with getting reelected? Some of you are so cynical it’s comical.
Of course; it’s just that certain ones appear so often on TV, in the newspaper, etc. that it’s clear publicity is the first goal, no matter how laudable the event is otherwise. Mizuno and Takai are two of the biggest offenders.
I was part of the protest the week before -Jan 21st . We had a good turn out. I think almost 3 times more people than what the news reported. I love how we were also called ” angry animal rights advocates ” or something along those lines by Pamela Young. If were were any more peaceful we would have fallen asleep. We had a very calm and friendly group. Our goal was simply to educate the public and ask that they not support the new Aloha Pet Shop. Alicia is founder of Poi Dogs and Popoki’s. A non profit who does what – I have never figured out. Seriously, I have no idea what they do. But the protest against the puppy mill store is a legit one. Puppy mills only breed misery and it works to target the store because that is where the ” product ” is sold. I wish we had more politicians stand up for things they believe in. Right or wrong, good or bad. Stand up and be counted. If they can go sign wave for themselves then they should certainly be able to sign wave against the cruelty that is a puppy mill.