HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	181
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TO DESIGNATE KUNIA, LEILEHUA PLATEAU, AND POAMOHO AS THE CENTRAL OAHU AGRICULTURAL CORRIDOR AND TO ESTABLISH A LIST PRIORITIZING POTENTIAL AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE MOST VALUE TO THE STATE.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the farmlands of Kunia and Wahiawa were once major areas of pineapple production in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, since the downsizing of Hawaii's pineapple industry, both the State and private landowners have diversified farming on former pineapple plantation lands; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii imports nearly eight-five percent of the food it consumes, and a natural disaster or global event has the potential to significantly disrupt Hawaii's food supply; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State has set a goal to double local food production by 2030; and

 

     WHEREAS, significantly increasing diversified farming in Hawaii will require new infrastructure, including roads and water systems integrated to match the needs of farmers; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State and counties should consider agriculture in long-term state and county planning; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Agribusiness Development Corporation, is urged to designate Kunia, Leilehua Plateau, and Poamoho as the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Agribusiness Development Corporation, is urged to establish a list prioritizing potential agricultural infrastructure improvement projects that would provide the most value to the State when considering:

 

     (1)  The estimated increase in agricultural production if the recommended infrastructure improvement project were to be implemented;

 

     (2)  The estimated cost of the recommended infrastructure improvement project;

 

     (3)  County plans;

 

     (4)  County zoning and land use;

 

     (5)  State land use; and

 

     (6)  Any other factors the Department of Agriculture finds relevant; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to submit a report containing its list and related findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, if any, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Executive Director of the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Report Title: 

Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Infrastructure Improvement; Report