Advocates renew push for legalizing raw milk in Hawaii

Hawaii locavores are pushing for more options, including the sale of raw milk.  Currently, raw milk is legal in 42 states in some form or another.  Hawaii law prohibits the sale of it, but advocates like Monique Vanderstroom, owner of Naked Cow Dairy Farm in Waianae, say it's long over due. "There's enough people here that want it," she said. "Anytime we can produce our own food here, I think it adds to the sustainability of the islands  as a whole." Vanderstroom said when she first opened her farm in 2008, she wanted to sell milk. But with all the rules and permitting required to bottle milk, the small farmer couldn't compete with mainland production, so her inventory only consists of cheese and butter. "We can't really afford the costs of the regulations right now," Vanderstroom said. Naked Cow is one of three dairy farms in Hawaii and the only one on Oahu. It's operation is small - with only 14 cows - but Vanderstroom wants to expand the business by adding to her herd and starting the sale of raw milk.