HB 1356 Summary

• Defines "customary and traditional subsistence farming" conducted by native Hawaiian cultural practitioners as farming used for direct personal or family consumption on land without dwellings or residents, and includes this practice as a protected farming operation under Hawaii's Right to Farm Act (Section 165-2).

• Amends agricultural district statutes to clarify that cultivation of crops, animal husbandry, and aquaculture may be conducted for either economic use or customary and traditional subsistence farming as defined in the bill (Sections 205-2 and 205-4.5).

• Adds a new state policy objective under the Hawaii State Planning Act (Section 226-7) to assure the right of native Hawaiian cultural practitioners to engage in customary and traditional subsistence farming for direct personal or family consumption.

• Makes conforming amendments to multiple sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to integrate customary and traditional subsistence farming protections throughout agricultural land use provisions.

• Effective date: July 1, 2060.