HAWI, Hawaii — Hawaii Land Trust and Island Harvest Inc. announced the protection of 28 acres of agricultural land in Kohala on Hawaii Island, which will help grow healthy food for residents and preserve the rural character of the community. 

Since 2007, conservation easements have been used in Hawaii to preserve land in perpetuity. A land trust or a government agency holds the conservation easement, with a voluntary commitment by a landowner to permanently limit development and subdivision rights. In exchange for this commitment, the trust or government agency compensates the landowner, which helps to offset the cost of the land and farm expenses.  

This photo shows the land before it was converted into ulu groves by Island Harvest. (Photo courtesy of Island Harvest)

HILT and Island Harvest made this recent conservation agreement with the financial backing of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. The Freeman Foundation, Ulupono Initiative, and other individual donors also provide funding. 

"We are thrilled to finalize the protection of these farmlands with values aligned landowner stewards like Island Harvest," said Lu‘ukia Nakanelua, Manager of ‘Āina Protection of HILT, in a statement. “And as the holder of the agricultural conservation easement, HILT is humbled by Island Harvest’s commitment to forever protect and secure the true value in which the land holds — the ability to grow healthy food and respectable jobs for Kohala’s families.”  

Island Harvest's Puehuehu Farm in Kohala. (Photo courtesy of HILT)

Jim Trump, a Kohala resident, founded Island Harvest in 1991 and transitioned former sugar cane plantation lands into macadamia farming. After operating on year-to-year leases for over 30 years, in 2020, Island Harvest bought the 28-acre parcel, hoping to expand into diversified agriculture. 

Now, Island Harvest grows about 5 acres of ulu (breadfruit) and 11 acres of citrus and macadamia nuts. Island Harvest reinvests its profits with 50% put back into regenerative farming practices, 25% put back into the Kohala community and organizations, and 25% shared with its employees.

"This farming parcel, located at the makai end of Union Mill Road, has high quality soil and receives sunlight and rainfall sufficient to successfully grow a variety of orchard crops. Orchard establishment takes time and funding to do it right. We look forward to sharing our success and learning from our challenges as we farm this potentially productive land," said Trump.

(Map courtesy of HILT)