“Eating local” is a popular concept across Hawai‘i… as it is in a growing number of communities. But farming in Hawai‘i can be a tough business—and one of the biggest challenges is access to land. Now in upcountry Maui, farmers may be getting a little help with that. Eileen Chao has more from the Maui News.
Maui County is considering spending $6 million to buy enough land to double the size of the Kula Agricultural Park. As is, the park spans 346 acres on the leeward slopes of Haleakala. The county leases that land, at a discounted rate, to about two dozen farmers. They’re mostly local producers with relatively small operations.
But the waitlist for a lot in the county park continues to grow, and county officials say adding more space would help the community. The Maui County Council is considering a proposal to buy another 373 acres in Kula from landowner Haleakala Ranch.
They’ve already secured $5 million in funding from the state. The council would need to approve a matching $1 million to close the deal.
Maui farmers say they need the space. Upcountry Maui was once the center of vegetable production in the state. Over the years, much of the land has transitioned to high-priced dwellings. One of those is a 60-acre private estate in Kula, owned by Oprah Winfrey.
