Report Title:

Land Use; Agricultural Lands; Ewa Plains

Description:

Prohibits the reclassification of certain lands in the Ewa plains out of the agricultural district, except lands set aside for University of Hawaii West Oahu campus, pending negotiations between the fee owner and department of agriculture.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1793
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to agriculture.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there are certain lands in the Ewa plains, presently under cultivation, that serve:

     (1)  As a valuable source of replenishing the underground Ewa aquifer;

     (2)  To promote agricultural self-sufficiency for the State;

     (3)  To provide agricultural employment opportunities for local residents;

     (4)  To provide educational opportunities for the Future Farmers of America program; and

     (5)  As a valuable green belt between urban and other uses in the region.

     The purpose of this Act is to preserve certain lands in the Ewa plains in the agricultural district.

     SECTION 2.  Those lands presently under cultivation in the Ewa plains situated south of the H-1 highway, west of Fort Weaver road, north of Renton road, and east of Fort Barrette road shall not be reclassified out of the agricultural district, pending the provisions contained in section 4.  The land use commission shall not accept, hear, or act upon any petition to reclassify the lands described in this Act to a land use district other than the agricultural district, pending the provisions contained in section 4.

     SECTION 3.  The provisions of this Act shall have no effect on any lands, under cultivation or not under cultivation, that are purchased, sold, exchanged, reserved, or otherwise set aside to be used for the University of Hawaii West Oahu campus.

     SECTION 4.  The department of agriculture is directed to enter into negotiations with the fee owner of the lands described in section 2 to assist in the provision of:

     (1)  An extension of the existing leases with present tenants of the lands that are under long-term agricultural leases and currently are engaged in cultivating agricultural crops on the land; or

     (2)  An agreement to assist in the relocation of the tenants of the land that currently are engaged in cultivating agricultural crops on the land, at the termination of their current leases, to suitable other agricultural lands with sufficient agricultural infrastructure to support the agricultural activities the tenants wish to continue.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.