Department of Agriculture

AGRICULTURAL PARK LEASES AVAILABLE ON OAHU, KAUAI AND BIG ISLAND

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is accepting applications for leases on a total of 14 lots ranging in size from 10 to 15 acres in the state’s agricultural park system.  One agricultural lot is available in Waianae, Oahu; one lot in Kekaha, Kauai; and 12 lots in Pahoa, Island of Hawaii.  HDOA’s Agricultural Resource Management Division (ARM), which manages the ag park system, will accept applications until 3:00 p.m. on December 22, 2005.  Qualified applicants will have the opportunity to secure a 45-year lease.

“Agricultural parks provide affordable, long-term leases specifically to encourage the continuation and initiation of diversified agriculture and aquaculture,” said Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture.  “Many farmers find it difficult to obtain long-term leases on agricultural land the current availability of ag park lots is a good opportunity for those looking to build or expand small farming enterprises.”

The Waianae and Kekaha lots are about 10 gross acres and the Pahoa lots range between five and 25 acres.  All lease terms are for 45 years.  Upset minimum annual rental amounts have been set for the individual lots.  For example, a lot in the Pahoa Ag Park consisting of five useable acres has an upset minimum annual rent set at $1,100 per year (payable semi-annually in advance) or one-and-a-half percent of the gross proceeds of the farm, which ever is greater.

HDOA-ARM will review the applications and qualified applicants will be notified to submit a proposal, including a bid for the lease, within 30 days after receipt of the notification.  The Hawaii Board of Agriculture will then review all proposals and will accept the proposals with the highest bid.

All lots have access to paved roads, irrigation water and/or potable water, telephone and electricity service.  All lots are leased in “as is” condition and it is the responsibility of the applicant to inspect and develop the lot in accordance with applicable county and state regulations.

To qualify for ag park leases, applicants must:

• be a U.S. citizen, who has lived in Hawaii for at least three years or has been a permanent status alien who has resided in Hawaii for at least five years; and
• be a bona fide farmer who has owned and/or operated a farm for a substantial period of time or worked full time for at least two years as a farmer or four years as a part-time farmer and has knowledge and training to successfully operate a farm; or
• be a new farmer who will farm full time and who has graduated from a college or community college in agriculture or aquaculture and has demonstrated knowledge and training to successfully operate a farm; and
• not have defaulted on a previous sale, lease, license, permit or easement covering public lands in the past five years; and
• not be in arrears in the payment of taxes or other obligations to the State of Hawaii or to any County in the state.

Applicants may view draft lease documents describing the terms and conditions, ag park maps, lot descriptions at HDOA District Offices located at:

            1428 S. King Street, Honolulu                 Phone:  973-9476

            16 E. Lanikaula , Hilo                               Phone:  974-4140

            4398A Pua Loke Street, Lihue                Phone:  274-3069

HDOA-ARM operates 10 agricultural parks:

Big Island

Pahoa Ag Park – 600 acres subdivided into 60 lots

Panaewa Ag Park – 460 acres subdivided into 28 lots

Keahole Ag Park – 179 acres subdivided into 34 lots

Hamakua Ag Park – 509 acres subdivided into 11 lots

Oahu

Waimanalo Ag Park – 126 acres subdivided into 14 lots

Waianae Ag Park – 150 acres subdivided into 17 lots

Kahuku Ag Park – 686 acres subdivided into 25 lots

Kalaeloa Ag Park – 10 acres subdivided into two lots

Molokai

Molokai Ag Park – 753 acres subdivided into 22 lots

Kauai

Kekaha Ag Park – 158 acres subdivided into 19 lots

* the ag park in Kula, Maui is not under HDOA jurisdiction.

 For more information on the agricultural park system and rules that govern the ag parks, go to the department’s website at:  /hdoa/arm/arm_agparks/arm_agparks

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For more information, contact:

Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Phone: (808) 973-9560
E-mail: [email protected]