Kamilo Nui Farmland of Hawaii Kai in Danger
About a dozen farmers lease 87 acres of ag land from Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate in the back of the Kamilo Nui Valley. The valley is the largest and last parcel of open, undeveloped land in east Honolulu, and the lush productive region also serves as a watershed area to control flood waters coming down the valley to Hawaii Kai. Farmers have been working together for at least 5 years to prevent development.
While their leases don't expire until 2025, the rent renegotiates next year. The farmers are justifiably worried that the rents will be increased so much that they will be priced off their land. In 2004, Stanford Carr, a mainland and Hawaii Kai developer, petitioned the city to rezone the valley for development, but the plan never moved forward.
Last Saturday, the farmers held a "Farm Day" to publicize the issue, which I highlighted in my Active Rain blog. Gov. Linda Lingle attended, said she supports the farmers, and added, "I think Kamehameha is very sensitive to this issue....For us in Hawaii, agriculture is what sustains our lifestyle having locally grown produce, but it's also about a lifestyle for the people who want to live a more rural way of life," she said.
State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, who also attended, said the state's laws protecting important agriculture offer tax credits to large owners to dedicate the property to agriculture. "Clearly this is an amazing oasis in the midst of an urban development," Hanabusa said.
Kekoa Paulsen, Kamehameha spokesperson, said the owner plans to keep the area in agriculture "at least through 2025. Discussions with the farmers will start at the beginning of the year, Paulsen said, noting that the lease rents have not been raised in 35 years. "We expect them (lease rents) to go up. ... We have six months with the farmers to work with them to reach an agreement," Paulsen said.
The farmers of Kamilo Nui are apart of a cooperative. Under the terms of the 1970 agreement with the land owner, all of the farmers are automatically members of the co-op. According to Glenn Nii, President of the Co-op, Kamehameha Schools has said they want to keep the land as it is, but the big question is how much they'll charge the farmers.
Drive into the valley and buy fresh flowers from one of the growers or just enjoy the quiet and peaceful valley. You'll see why this area is so special and unique in east Oahu. If you want to support the farmers, visit Livable Hawaii Kai *** and contact your Neighborhood Board, City Council members, Mayor Hannemann, Gov. Lingle, or Sen. Hanabusa.
Barbara Abe, Realtor