Agriculture

Hawai`i produces only 15 percent of its own food. That’s not acceptable and shouldn’t be for the State.  We need to take action now to increase food self-sufficiency for Hawai`i and preserve and strengthen the agriculture industry for future generations.

We must increase our efforts to protect the best agricultural lands from development and preserve them for agriculture into the future and we must strengthen our commitment to providing infrastructure and water for agriculture.  Increasing our food self-sufficiency will contribute to our own communities rather than sending our dollars out of the State for imported food. 

Agriculture keeps our State open and green, recharges our aquifers and promotes a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition for families.  It diversifies our economy and supports small business and rural communities.

Farmers are struggling to meet the rising costs of production including that of energy, feed, transportation and the threat of invasive species.  We must work to address these issues as well as raise the awareness of what is grown here and support our farmers by purchasing locally grown food.

Increasing our food self-sufficiency will contribute to our economic recovery. 

Increasing our food self-sufficiency will contribute to our own communities rather than sending our dollars out of the State for imported food.

Agriculture keeps our State open and green, recharges our aquifers and promotes a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition for families.  It diversifies our economy and supports small business and rural communities.

Key Legislation»

• HB1008, SB826: Restricts the subdivision or issuance of a permit to construct a home on agriculturally designated land without proof of a detailed plan.
• HB1009, SB827: Authorizes the State to identify and set aside potential important agricultural lands from existing public lands.
• SB1011, SB829: Provides a 15 percent price preference for locally grown fruits, vegetables, poultry, eggs, and meat that are purchased by public organizations such as schools, prisons, and hospitals.
• HB1047, SB865: Makes changes to the agricultural lands designation
  and reclassification process.
• HB1048, SB866: Amends current law to give the counties greater authority to define and regulate land use to encourage more land to be classified as rural.

Important Facts »

• Create $313 million within Hawai`i’s economy;
• Generate $6 million in tax revenue; and
• Create 2,300 jobs.

Related Information »

• Watch Sandra Lee Kunimoto, director of the Department of Agriculture, discuss the State's work to increase food self-sufficiency.
• Hawai`i Department of Agriculture
• Visit a local farmers' market
• Five-point economic action plan