Agriculture

A Ka Ike Ranch lease of more than 1,000 acres of West Maui land from Maui Land & Pineapple Company marks the company's "renewed mission."

State lawmakers are moving along measures to curb crimes on farms, including those that would establish a “stand your ground” law to give farmers and ranchers more ability to defend themselves. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

State lawmakers are moving along a bill that would bring a host of biosecurity improvements to the state — but stakeholders feel uneasy about a provision that could have a significant impact on the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council.

The top priorities for state lawmakers in key agriculture positions this year are agricultural crimes, biosecurity, and the formation of a sustainable food system. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

A “landmark” biosecurity bill provided the state Department of Agriculture with $10 million to tackle invasive species in Hawaiʻi. But less than 15% of it has been spent so far. HPR's Mark Ladao has more about what that could mean.

Melissa Danielle has been working in food systems for 20 years and moved to Oʻahu during the pandemic. The Conversation talked with her to learn more about the experience of local farmers.

Some Hawaiʻi Island lawmakers want the state to come up with a humane plan to manage avian flu. The Hawaiʻi County Council has introduced a resolution urging the state Department of Agriculture to work with local poultry farmers to develop a plan. The resolution was heard in a council committee meeting on Tuesday.

State lawmakers' react to Gov. Green's State of the State address; Professor Rudy Guevarra Jr., author of "Aloha Compadre: Latinx in Hawaiʻi," discusses the response to a hit new song by Bad Bunny about Hawaiʻi's history of colonization

Lawmakers grilled the state agriculture department for its management of a $10 million fund it received last year for biosecurity. In an informational briefing last week, Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole noted that the department has only spent about $1 million of that funding so far.

Today we head over to Hawaiʻi Island where the ʻUlu Cooperative has been busy scaling up. Think ʻulu flour and pancake mix. Could ‘ulu be turning up on school lunch trays? The Conversation talked to Dana Shapiro, the CEO of the ‘Ulu Cooperative, about plans for an ʻulu-filled future.