June 7, 2010 – Pahoa, Hawaii

The following press release was issued by the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture:

HONOLULU — The Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is now accepting applications for lease negotiations on seven parcels of state agricultural land in the Pahoa Agricultural Park on Hawai`i Island. Interested persons should submit an application to the Agricultural Resource Management Division (ARMD) to determine whether they are qualified to hold an agricultural lease with the state. The deadline to submit the application is 3:00 p.m. on July 14, 2010. Once qualified, the applicant will be notified about submitting a proposal for the parcel.

To qualify, a potential lessee must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen who has resided in the State of Hawai`i for at least three years;  or
• Is a permanent status alien who has resided in the state for at least five years; and 
• Is a bon fide farmer or new farmer as defined in the Hawai`i Administrative Rules.

*  contact ARMD for additional eligibility requirements.

The parcels available in the Pahoa Ag Park include:

Phase I

• Lot 1 – 10.193 acres
• Lot 3 – 10 acres
• Lot 12 – 29.166 acres
• Lot 15 – 19.596 acres
• Lot 18 – 5.372 acres
• Lot A – 13.428 acres

Phase II

• Lot 8 – 5.002 acres

All lots have access to paved roads, irrigation water and/or potable water service, telephone and electricity.  The lots will require clearing and grading before any agricultural activity can commence and will be leased on an “as is” basis.  It is the awardee’s responsibility to inspect and develop the lot in accordance with applicable county regulations.

The leases are for 35-year terms and are designated for diversified agriculture only. Each parcel has an upset minimum annual rental and the lease will be issued by a negotiation process. In addition to the annual rental, each parcel has an additional rent of 1 ½ percent of gross proceeds from the agricultural operation. 

For more information on the exact location of the parcels and the terms, go to the HDOA website at:  http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/arm/arm_agparks/arm_agparks

Or, contact ARMD on O`ahu – 973-9476, Kaua`i – 274-3141 x39476; Maui – 984-2400 x39476;

Moloka`i & Lanai – 1-800-468-4644 x39476; Island of Hawai`i – 974-4140.