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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0604.034 1996-1998 Finance Committee Hawaii County Council August 28, 1998 Re: Supporting Leasing County Lands for Diversified Ag, Eco-Tourism and Pastoral Uses by Negotiation Dear Council Members: I have given you a short summary of 12 different diversified projects that are along the Hamakua Coast. Jessica Owens and myself spent a few hours and days last spring interviewing and meeting all these people. It was very rewarding. I am not going to read about each farm but I hope you will do so, and find some enjoyment and experience among these stories. I believe in the ability of the farming and ranching communities on the Big Island. I can show you that these are growing, with many examples of thriving businesses. Land monopoly and monocrop plantation economy and life style does not encourage independent and self sustainable communities. The County Administration was going to lease these lands to Oji Paper The County Council in 1997 was seeking applicants to lease these Paauilo mauka lands, why the reluctance to lease these lands now? Isn't one of the main objectives of the County Council is to provide for adequate business opportunity? To collect the most reasonable revenue from the county's assets? To help create an educated, prosperous and happy citizenry? Helping to create a land monopoly in Hamakua does not serve the people of this island. Monocrop eucalyptus does not help create diversified land use, nor does it give stable or quality employment. If the Council is so concerned about collecting revenue from the County's assets why are we giving a big property tax break to Hamakua Timber over the past 2 years to the tune of over 730 thousand dollars? Is County Administration going to continue this subsidy for this year too? Especially when we can't even repair and improve the County Parks that we do have. Gomm. No. _,ILSGL•~Z7..e Ffle No. "PL G R.ef. To: PrQSeored•• $EP 0 ! 1998 page 2. Shackelford Testimony It would be a shame to trade this good, arable land in Hamakua for value to value small acreage through out the county, especially since the County can not afford to put into action the improvements that the Mayor's resolution implies. This is very misleading to the people in other districts.. I support Councilman Yagong's Resolution because I feel it is fair, well thought out, and fully able to be accomplished. Good government is by and for the people. And please allow me to say that, there is no longer a plantation mentality on the Big Island. The people, whom you serve, know what is good for them. We are asking for an opportunity to create our own kuleanas, our own sustainability that will truly benefit this island. Sure it will be hard, and sure a few will fall down, but then when does a human ever begin to walk perfectly? Good government does protect the people from monopolies -good government does put the people's eggs into many diverse baskets so as to weather dips and peaks, seeking and creating the most beneficial direction for all. Please pass Councilman Yagong's Resolution "to keep the County lands in the public's hands" here in Hamakua.. Thank you, Linda L. Shackelford PO Box 278 Paauilo, HI 96776 ~;;iii y ~~~~o w ~„y r;~,W HONDA'S FARM 'i° Nadao Honda .3n 3 sly,. Paauilo, HI 4.5 acres Ag Coop lease land Elev: 200' 9 acres (FS) Elev:1700' Crops: Mac nuts on the FS, on the Ag Coop land Nadao had started in 1997 with dracaena and pineapple. He did not find good results so he has cleared again and is starting over with avocado, mango, citrus, with coffee inbetween. He is using green manure to build up the soil organically. Nadao was a mechanic for Hamakua Sugar. He has been farming all his life. He states, "that's its hard to farm with a leaky sys- tem to irrigate with -the Hamakua Ditch -the infrastructre (aside from the main pipe) needs to be replaced. If the State would maintain the ditch and provide a metering system for the water, the farmers would become more responsible with the usage & maintinence. This would create more water and less waste." Nadao belongs to both the Ag Coop and the Farmer's Bureau. He feels that the state and county governments are a little unfair in their expectations of what it takes to farm. " If the people want to farm then that's a good opportunity for this land and for them. We should help with expertise as much as possible to get people started. Not increase the lease rates so high that no one can afford to farm this land. Actually we are helping to add more value to this land by farming it." ¢ w .-ra.. ~ ~~k GUERPO'S FARM Dante Guerpo Paauilo, HI 9 acres Ag Coop lease land , : v N i.' Elev: 100' Crop: Papaya i ~ .r,~ . ~ ~ `G~, t Dante started his farm 1997, he hired ~ ~ ° ~ ~M'' ' contractors to mow and rip the soil. He worked for Hamakua Sugar for 25 years. He used no grants and has no employment. I-Ie is a member of the Ag Coop and the Farmer's Bureau. He was very distrubed to hear that the Ag Coop leases might be raised to $125. an acre. He helps his neighbor farmers with their cultivation. DARRELL & MARY JANE'S FARM v Darrell & Mary Jane Camacho 8 acres of Ag Coop lease land ~ 10 acres of Bishop Estate lease land Paauilo, HI Elev: 100'- 200' Crops: 3 types of taro, coffee, and green feed 10 acres of Bishop lease in pasture with cattle. Darrell is a member of the Ag Coop and a former Hamakua Sugar employee. His wife Mary Jane loves to help and finds the farm very therapeutic. She says their life is enriched with the opportunity to farm on the Ag Coop leases. Darrell states that the Hamakua Ditch, " is very important for all farmers and ranchers. We would be lost without it!" He t'eels that the Ag Coop is doing a good job and that there are still many farmers asking for land. ~ ~ VALLENTE'S FARM Marcelino Vallente 5 acres of Ag Coop lease land Paauilo, HI 42 acres (FS) Kapulena, HI Elev: in Paauilo l00'- 200' Crops: 42 acres of mac nuts, 5 acres of papaya, banana, chili pepper, dracaena, and mac nut planted between the papayas. Marcelino, a former Hama(:ua Sugar employee for 16 years., belongs to the Ag Coop and the Farmer's Bureau. He says, "that it is very, very important for me that the Hamakua ditch is going. I need the water for this farm." He feels that the Ag Coop is doing a good job and that we can handle the County lands. DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURAL SERVICES Tom & Maile Young a', Young's Farm (FS) y„~, Laupahcehce, HI Elev: 1,000' - 30 acres Crops: 6 acres of aspazagus with cattle & tish. Water source is a penmial stream. The Youngs have been helped with a cost share plan through the Soil and Water Con- servation in the 80's and recently a RETA-H grant for their asparagus. Tom has been farming since 1961, he worked for Hamakua Sugar for 16 years, and has had his farm for 26 years. He is a member of the North/Flilo Hamakua Ag Coop and the Farmer's Bureau. When asked about the Hamakua Ditch, "We definitely have to keep it going. It is one of the most tremendous resources we have for the Hamakua Coast." When asked about the Ag Coop's ability to manage county lands, "This would be a major benefit to the fanners and the people of this area to be able to get a fair price for ag lots." TAGADON'S FARM I Marcelino Tagadon Kapalena, HI Ag Coop lease - 21 acres Elev: 200' to 500' Crops: Macadamia Nut, Coftee, & soon Cocoa. Water source: Hamakua Ditch Started the farm in 1996. Received BETA-H grant for his coffee only which is planted between the mac nuts on the lower portion of the farm. Marcelino has treated his whole farm with crushed coral, mulched with mac nut husks, and planted iron wood wind break. He is letting the grass grow at present between the rows to mitigate wind and salt air. He mows 2x a month and has apprx. 60 mac nuts per acre. He has also developed a pond for water reserve and aqualculture, where he is raising catfish and talapia. E{e stresses that the Hamakua Ditich is very important to all the fanners and agrees that the Ag Coop could manage the county lands so that there can be more opportunity to expand and diversity. LOKELAN[ GARDENS Erin M. Lee Lakeland, HI I/2 acre (FS) Elev: 2,200' ~ ~ .N, Crops: Tomates, edible flowers and herbs. Started farm in 1987. Erin has 3 large green houses which are mulched and organi- cally certified. She has a drip system from county water. From seed to fruit takes about 100 days. She markets her tomatoes mostly to resturants and health food stores locally. Her herbs & flowers she packages for KTA. She believes in diversified ag for our local economy and helps to provide incentive to others to gow organically. j i, ~,~i I KALOPA KAI ORCHIDS & AKASAKI FARMS r: `~i Jerome Akasaki Kalopa, HI Elev: 800' 6 acres (FS) green houses V, Crops: Beautiful orchids from all over the world. Jerome started his business in 1975. He is a member of the Ag Coop and the Farmer's Bureau. He has 6 employees whom he gives use of his land to grow cash crops such as egg plant. He irrigates with the Hamakua Ditch. Jerome states that the ditch is critical for them, he uses too much water to take tom the county supply. He used a federal farm loan to get started. He is a supporter of the AG Coop's ability to lease county lands so the independent farmer can have a chance to get started. He cautions that it is a misconception to think that just because only I/3 of the Ag Coop's lease land is under cultivation that this is a failure. He states on the contrary, "that it takes time for farmers to get established and to find out what crops will grow well. We cannot expect instant farmers from all those who want to start farming. It takes time and support. [feel the Ag Coop is doing a good job for everyone out here." KALOPA HOMESTEAD 4 FARM ~ I Quintin Tomich & daughter, ~ ` Marsha Rose Kalo a, HI ~ . ` P . , 11 acres of FS, started in 1989 ' ~ ~ Elev: 1700 ~ ; tt,, Crops: Mac nut (1 acre), pineapples(500), Been pepper, tomatoe, summer squash, cucumber, green beans, egg plant (green house), 12 colonies of bees, I/2 acre in Koa, remainder pasture for 12 head of cattle. Mr. Tomich belongs to the Beekeepers Assoc., and has been instrumental in the life of our Kalopa State Park. He believes that the Hamakua Ditch should be used for irrigation for the Hamakua Coast. He and Marsha sell regularly at the Waimea Farmer's market and at Honoka'a Farmer's Market. j~l I VOLCANO ISLAND HONEY COMPANY Richard Spiegel j~~~ ' , Ahualoa, HI i " 5 acres (FS), since 1982 ~.r Elev 1900' ,aw" ` ~ ~'v° Crop: Honey Richard has l00 hives which he rotates around the island. He also processes all his very high quality product which he sells through out the state & mainland and he is beginning to market in Europe. He feels that the Hamakua Ditch should be available as a public resource. The water as a resource should be protected as well as the ve- hicle, the ditch should also be protected. This will require our community working together for the good of the whole. II Y III I i ~I I ~ PUA'ALA FARMS Zack Gibson -manager for Bill & Kohala Ann Gibson apprx. 1,000 acres (FS) Elev: 200'-1,000' Crops: organic medicinal herbs & cattle The farm was started 3 years ago after the land was released from Hamakua Sugar lease. The land was granted to the Cooper Ohana during the l 800's. Zack has 35 acres under cultivation at present and has 100 acres in reserve until he can mitigate the water dilemma. Right now they are relying on the Hamakua ditch. Zack feels that this is very unstable and is looking into a well. But he admits, "we need the ditch to sur- vive and be profitable since the costs of pumping water is so high." They are planning a reservoir and have been helping the Farm Bureau to lobby the State Legislature for funds to repair the ditch. Zack also has 650 acres in pasture where he is helping the University study the use of perinnel peanut for nitrogen fixing and feed. They also lease 150 acres of Bishop Estate for pasture which runs the length of either side of their property to the gulches. "fhe farm has hired I S employees with benefits. Zack is a member of the Farm Bureau and soon the Ag Coop. He is very concerned about diversified ag in Hamakua and feels that this is our most desired future. When asked about the County lands going to the Ag Coop, "Z,ack answers, "if given the opportunity we can farm it. The State prom- ised to keep Flamakua in diversited ag with the demise of sugar, how can they raise the leases of the Ag Coop to $ 125. an acre?" Zack shakes his head. "T'here are so many opportunities happening with the two Incubator Kitchens now in place and mar- kets opening up for cocoa and coffee as well as hot peppers and medicinal herbs. [ wish the State and County would believe in the people and farmers out here and sup- port us instead of pulling the rug out from under us." ~ 1. ~ ~ 14;1, ti:.. ~ ° ' "~'~n!" i ' ~'~lyJltr TROP - AG HAWAII Dr. Ben &Paulita Mahilum Kalopa & Kapulena, HI 5 acres (FS) 29 acres Ag Coop lease Elev: 13,500' & 200'to 80' Crops: mac nut & coffee with some tropical friut trees in Kalopa. They started this farm in 1986. Both Ben and Paulita work for the University of Hawaii. Ben is a member of the Ag Coop. In 1995 he started his Ag Coop lease. Crops include papaya (photo), coffee, soybeans, snap beans, cocoa, ginger, eggplant, bitter melon, squash, taro, pineapple, all vanities of fruit trees: mangos, avocados, langsat, caimito, lychee, mangostein, rambotom, ecerola, Chinese manderan, orange, starfruit, jack friut, bread fruit, & sour sap. Ben says its good to intercrop with beans or soybeans. Ben shakes his head when asked about the Hamakua ditch, "Without water we are a goner!" Ben has worked hard to make the BETA-H grant available for coffee. He is setting up a coffee pulper and roaster with the RETA monies so that everyone can COOP with their coffee produce. "We want to create a label for all our cotfee out here, F{amakua Coftee. [t is better than Kona cof= fee." Ben is also working on a solar dryer for fruit products that will be down on the Ag Coop Kapulena lower acres. Paulita and Ben work hard and love farming. They want to help the farmers and the Hamakua Coast be the diversitied ag area that it is meant to be. Ben sees using mac nut husks and coffe pulp in the future for our source of mulch. They believe that we can create our future to be sustainable and productive.