KEALAKEHE, Hawaii – Councilmember Aaron Chung questioned the county’s strict requirements on Wednesday as he looked over the proposed qualifications for a director of a potential new Hawaii County Department of Agriculture. The County Council was considering a bill to create the new department during the Agriculture, Water and Sustainability Committee Meeting in Kona.

According to the proposal, the director would need a “minimum of three years of experience in the fields of both conventional and organic agriculture, a degree in agriculture, and a minimum of three years in an administrative capacity.”

Chung asked the introducer of the bill, Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille, if she would be qualified to serve as director under such stipulations. Chung also lamented the qualifications for other administration directors, some of which have been challenged in court.