Sugar, Hawaii’s agricultural mainstay for more than 100 years, came to a halt on Hawaii Island in 1996. The final harvest marked not only the end of the plantation era, but the burgeoning transition to vibrant and diversified agriculture industries. HIEDB has played a large part in the transformation of plantation to diversified agriculture on Hawaii Island.
Compared to 102,000 acres designated as Urban District lands; 1.9 million acres are designated as Agriculture District lands in the State of Hawaii with the vast majority located on Hawaii Island.
According to the 2012 County Food Self Sufficiency Baseline Study, the island’s agricultural land use is comprised of 638,456 acres in pasture, 42,744 acres in crops and 20,716 acres in commercial forestry.
Hawaii Island produces about 60% of the cattle in the state.
Major crops are cultivated on ag lands across the island:
• Macadamia Nut 21,111 acres
• Coffee 6,128 acres
• Truck Crops 3,607 acres
• Dairy 3,362 acres
• Tropical Fruits 3,168 acres
• Papaya 2,734 acres
• Flowers & Foliage 1,700 acres
Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture puts forward that beyond providing food and jobs, agriculture also plays a major role in preserving Hawaii’s green space.
Landowners who are members of HIEDB with lands available for agricultural expansion:
- Kamehameha Schools
- Lili`uokalani Trust
