2024-03-11 Minutes APPROVED - Laserfiche WebLink

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With this proposal,there's possibilities for public-private partnerships to support folks that continue to grow food and build soil and care for land in a way that's regenerative. As we all know, there's a lot of people, a lot of generations that feel hopeless about agriculture, whether they're from farming families or not, but who want to continue Hawaii's agricultural tradition, but it's difficult for them to continue to watch those parcels that have perhaps been generationally sold off to the highest bidder. If were able to show that there's some hope that the County is wanting to participate in preserving land, not only for open space, but also for agriculture. In terms of my relationship with Gail and Clarence, I have a lot of respect for them as farmers and producers, but also having worked in the nonprofit space with Gail for years, and her work of working with many different projects in terms of conservation, I have just a lot of respect and belief in their work that include the interest of the community as a whole. This Nani Kai Hoku project has my heartfelt support. DEBBIE HECHT spoke in support of Sugg. 24-06. She represents MOKU and their mission is to protect the natural heritage of Hawai'i island and this project supports the health of our people. They produce 13 certified organic products, which are distributed through a local farmer's market in the North Kohala stores. Clarence has been working in agriculture for 40-plus years and has worked to provide organic food for our island families by establishing the first CSA on the island in 1990, pioneering regenerative methods to increase soil health and maximize food production. He co-founded the Hawaii Culinary Herb Association, Hawai'i Hemp Council, Hawai'i Organic Farmers Association, and the Kohala Farmers Union. They mentored young people on their previous Kona farm through the Kamehameha Hale o Ho'oponopono Program for at risk youth. This property will remain in active food production and, again, regenerative uses will continue.The agricultural easement will protect endangered species, continue to create and protect pollinator habitat and will prohibit the use of concentrated animal feed operations to maintain the ecosystem and habitat for wildlife. We need to keep farmers farming. And this farm could be a model agricultural farm, showcasing improving the soil health to maximize the yields from this farm. MEGAN LAMSON spoke in support of Sugg. 24-06. She is a marine biologist and owns a very small family farm and have been helping in the last few years with organic farm certification efforts. She noted that four of five board members for MOKU are here today. In addition to the application that was submitted earlier, 10 days ago MOKU presented this application to the Legacy Land Commission, and it scored very high and will provide 30%of the easement funding for this parcel. Preliminary approval from the USDA for 50%of this funding was received, so we have secured 85%of the funds needed for the Nani Kai Hoku agricultural easement. However, PONC funds are absolutely needed and critical to ensure that this prime agricultural land, these 20 acres, are protected in perpetuity. And a regenerative farm that's producing 13 organic crops and protecting essential wildlife habitat and corridors and that remains in a very experienced local farmer's hands, and now into the future is high priority. At the Legacy Land Commission meeting, there were farmers and individuals in the agricultural community from all over Hawai'i: Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Hawai'i Island that all gave emotional heartfelt testimony in support of the deep commitment that they've seen from the landowners, Gail and Clarence Baber,that they have to agriculture,40-plus years. Minutes of March 11, 2024 Page 8