Laserfiche WebLink
PROPOSED HAMAKUAM. HILO AG COOP 15-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN <br /> AND CROP ANALYSIS <br /> PROJECT LOCATION <br /> This project development plan is for the 9,726 acres of Hawaii County and State (DLNR) lands <br /> along the Hamakua Coast, above and below Highway 19 of the Big Island, from Ninole to Kukui- <br /> haele (see attached map and TMK's.) Of the 9,726 acres around 5,303 belong to DLNR and about <br /> 4,423 to Hawaii County. In the attached map the State lands are colored in pink while those of <br /> the County are in yellow. The farm development is for 15 years, or Year i-15. <br /> PLANNED OPERATIONS <br /> It is the position of the Hamakua/N. Hilo Agricultural Cooperative, Inc. (H/NHAC), henceforth <br /> referred to_as the Coop, that the county and state lands currently being considered for Eucalyp- <br /> tus monocropping forestry for pulp and lumber could be more efficiently utilized If leased to <br /> the Coop and its Iocai membership for diversified agriculture.There are presently 206 mem- <br /> bers of the Coop and this is projected to increase if greater availability of Hamakua lands for <br /> diversified agriculture truly becomes a reality. Of the 10,000+ acres approximately 2,000 <br /> will be used for macadamia nut and coffee intercrop; 2,000 for diversified crops such as <br /> papaya, taro, ginger, vegetables, medicinal plants, nursery/floriculture and tropical fruits <br /> (e.g. lychee, rambutan, durian, jackfrult, mango, langsat, santol, chlku, star apple, <br /> mangosleen, etc.) at varying elevations suited for these crops; 5,400 for ranching; and 600 for <br /> hardwoods. At the outset almost all of the 10,000+ acres will be utilized for pasture with <br /> gradual transition to agrotorestry and diversified ag. The 600 acres of hardwood forestry will <br /> be a pilot project that will include species evaluation (mahogany, koa, narra, kamagong, pheas- <br /> antwood, teak, loon, Queensland maple, monkey pod tree, etc.). The Coop is assured by its <br /> rancher-members that they can readily utilize the 10,000+ acres during the initial stages of <br /> fife project development. <br /> VERTICALLY INTEGRATED AGRICULTURE <br /> It is a universally accepted business principle that value added products maximize profits from <br /> any agricultural enterprise. For this reason, the Coop is mandated by its By-laws to provide <br /> processing and marketing mechanisms for canned vegetables, meat jerky, macnut and coffee <br /> pro-ducts, fruit preserves, lumber, furniture and woodcraft. To achieve this goal the Coop <br /> intends <br /> to obtain grants from any available source as well as state and federal loans. <br /> The Coop has initially set aside 14 acres for processing facilities and products display/outlet on <br /> mile 4 along the Honokaa-Waipio Valley Highway. More acreage will be set aside later for this <br /> purpose as the need arises. This site is also ideal for eco-tourism since (1) it has a 180- <br /> degree view of he Pacific Ocean and (2) tourists traverse daily the highway from Honokaa to <br /> <br /> Waipio Valley. At this site tinished products will be displayed for visitor viewing and for sale. <br /> t <br /> Attachment #3 <br /> <br />