HI HCR103

Urges all four Hawaii counties to adopt zoning ordinances requiring owners of agricultural-zoned lands to execute and record declarations acknowledging state and county agricultural land use regulations, requirements, and penalties for noncompliance.

Notes that Hawaii has approximately 2,000,000 acres designated for agricultural use, but only 886,211 acres (120,632 crop acres and 765,579 grazing acres) are actively in use as of 2020.

Documents a 21 percent decrease in planted crop acreage between 2015 and 2020 (31,207 acres lost), largely due to Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company closure on Maui, offset partially by a 22 percent increase in diversified agriculture (3,695 acres).

References Maui County's existing practice of requiring agricultural land declarations upon building permit issuance and recommends recording such declarations so future owners are aware of requirements.

Encourages counties to provide agricultural land owners with information about farm apprenticeship and mentoring programs to facilitate productive use of agricultural lands.