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M<V os <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII ~ • STATE OF HAWAII <br /> '~'e:'w~ <br /> BILL NO. 148 <br /> Draft 2 <br /> ORDINANCE NO. <br /> AN ORDINANCE AMENDINU CHAP"I'ER 25 ('CONING CODI?) OF "I'HE HAWAII <br /> COUNTY CODF. RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL, TOUKISM. <br /> BF, [T ORDAINED BY THh: COUNCIL OF "fHE COUNTY OE IIAWAI`I: <br /> SEC'I~ION I. Purpose and Findings. The Council finds that the zoning code does not <br /> specifically address the permissibility of agricultural tourism or its impacts in the various zoning <br /> districts. Following the demise of the sugar plantations and mills a more diversified agricultural <br /> base consisting of smaller agribusiness and family operated farms, ranches, and agricultural <br /> products processing facilities is evolving in the County of }lawai'i. These operations are <br /> offering a wide variety of specialized products, produce and exotic flowers via local vending <br /> opportunities as well as through regional, national, and international wholesale distributors and <br /> the Internet. <br /> The visitor industry, or tourism. continues to grow as a major element in the economy of <br /> Hawaii County. With this growth in the visitor industry comes an increased market for tours <br /> showcasing the uniqueness of farming, ranching and agricultural products processing in Hawaii. <br /> A viable inventory of agricultural tourism operations in the County of Hawaii broadens the <br /> range of interests within the County attracting additional and returning visitors. <br /> A wide scale of agricultural tourism activities already exists on the island of I~lawai'i, <br /> <br /> sometimes resulting in au adverse impact on surrounding propcriies and resources- '(~he failure <br /> to define and regulate agricultw~al tourism in Hawaii County has already resulted in complaints <br /> <br />