Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 11, 1 November 2010 — Planting the Seed [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Planting the Seed

Kamehameha Schools Completes its Strategic Agricultural Plau

From Honoka'a grass-fed beef to Waipā poi, you will be seeing a lot more loeal produce thanks to an innovative agricultural plan created by the Kamehameha Schools Land Assets Division (LAD). The Strategic Agricultural Plan may increase the market share of locally grown produce by 20 percent, bringing Hawai'i a step closer to self-sufficiency. Potential benefits include a boost in the grass-fed beef industry, the resurrection of loeal dairies, an increase in renewable energy projects, and the creation of jobs in mral areas. The plan provides a framework, vision, and strategy for ophmal management of 88,000 acres of high-potential agricultural lands on the islands of Kaua'i , O'ahu, Moloka'i, Maui and Hawai'i. There are 10 maior goals in the plan,

covering a 20-30 year time frame, with updates scheduled every five years. "The Strategic Agricultural Plan is a business case for investment in Kamehameha Schools land and human resources, not just to improve finaneial retums, but to fundamentally revitalize agriculture in Hawai'i," said Neil Hannahs, director of LAD. The plan positions KS as an agricultural leader and represents an op-

portunity for LAD's migration from passive to active land management and stewardship. Hannahs admits that historically, Kamehameha has let the farmers do the work, leaving it up to them to grow their businesses. "We want to invest in our lands to make them productive for our mission, eliminating any nohon that the lands are a burden of ownership due to the cost of maintaining them," he said. In 2000, Bill Beach acquired 10 acres of land in Honokaia on the east side of the Hawai'i island through KS' agricultural leasehold program. Beach currently farms sweet potato and dry-land taro, supplying KTA stores and T. Kaneshiro Store.

Beach, who will soon add watermelon to his repertoire, said he is all for Kamehameha's new approach in supporting its farmers. "Ultimately, Kamehameha's plan is about connecting people to the land. I'm talking about a spiritual eonneelion. In a lot of ways, I think we've lost that. So the plan, I love it." Tom Menezes is a senior vice president and partner of Hawaiian Pineapple Company Co. LLC, whieh

leases 28 acres near Hilo. Their main crop is "Hawaiian Crown" pineapple whieh they sell along with apple banana to Foodland and Armstrong Produce. "Kamehameha's agricultural plan fits closely with our Hawaiian Crown plan," Menezes said. "We need to educate the younger generation and pass on our knowledge of agriculture and taking care of īhe 'āina while also providing jobs in Hawai'i." "From here, I want to expand and develop my markets. This is where I feel working with Kamehameha Schools would be good," he said. The hope is that the plan will be good for Menezes, good for Kamehameha Schools, and good for the entire State of HawaLi.

For more information on the Strategic Agricultural Plan, visit www.ksbe.edu/land.

[?]