Kohala residents now have nearly 30 acres of farmland in their community that is permanently set aside for growing food and future farmers.
The Hawaiʻi Land Trust and Island Harvest were granted an agricultural conservation easement to protect 28 acres of food-producing lands in Pūehuehu, makai of Union Mill Road.
Conservation easements have been explored as a solution in Hawaiʻi to aid the preservation of land in perpetuity. In this case, it would be preserved for agricultural use and value.
Luʻukia Nakanelua, manager of ʻĀina Protection at the land trust, said the rich agricultural history of these lands includes generational families of sweet potato farmers.
Today, Island Harvest grows approximately 5 acres of ʻulu and 11 acres of citrus and macadamia nuts on the parcel. They now plan to do even more.
