Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 6, 1 June 2013 — Contest gives chance at Kamehameha Schools ag lease [ARTICLE]

Contest gives chance at Kamehameha Schools ag lease

By Sarah Paeheeo Agribusiness has climbed its way to the top of the food ehain of hot-button issues in recent years, especially here in Hawai'i,

where the availability of land and natural resources are scarce commodities.

Today, only about 10 percent of Hawai'i's food supply is grown locally. That's the bad news. The good news is that some of the islands' most fertile acreage is located on Kamehameha Schools lands, and now, through the recently launched Mahi'ai Match-up eontest, KS is putting out a search for loeal farmers and entrepreneurs who will best utilize these lands,

thereby growing the state's agrelated businesses and supporting food security. Last month, KS and Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation launched Mahi ' ai Match-up. Contestants will "eompete for access to, and leasehold interest in, some of Kamehameha Schools' most valuable agricultural lands," said Thomas Kaeo Duarte, the schools' West Hawai'i strategic initiatives director. Kirra Downing, KS public relations specialist, said: "Kamehameha Schools stewards some of the most fertile and valuable agricultural land in the state, more than 88,000 highpotential acres. To support Hawai'i's sustainable food movement, KS is engaged in an ongoing effort to find talented farmers to lease its agricultural lands as well as educate and grow a new generation of farmers." The KS Land Assets Division identified six land parcels - three on Hawai'i Island, two on O'ahu and one on Moloka'i - that are viable for loeal agribusinesses. KS has invested millions of dollars toward infrastructure improvements to prepare these lands - Punalu'u Ahupua'a Farms on 0'ahu's North

Shore, and Pāhoehoe in Hilo, for example -

for their future tenants. Lots vary in size from 1 to about 91 acres, with a full detailed listing of location, acreage, elevation, soil composition, water availability, etc., available online. Entrepreneurs, farmers, ranchers, producers or anyone with an innovative idea are encouraged to submit their iniīial business plan

proposals via mail or e-mail no later than July 1. Teams ean have one to five members, and at least one member must be a Hawai'i resident who must play a key role in composing the business plan. Business plans must include growing something, must demonstrate that the production of food crops or organic crops will be held with greater preference, and must be tailored to one of the six available land parcels.

Winners will be announced in February 2014, when they will be awarded agricultural leases (rentfree up to five years) and cash prizes to get their business plans off the ground. For full contest details or to submit an application, visit www. pauahi.org/mahiaimatchup. ■

Sarah Paeheeo, an 0'ahu-based freelance writer, is aformer assistant regional editorfor MidWeek

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Ag-related business plans are being soughtforsix

sites owned by Kamehameha Schools. - KWO file pholo

LAND PARCELS O'ahu 4 Pa'ala'a 6.3 acres Waiawa .8 to 1 acre

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The Pa'ala'a parcel sits next to Hale'iwa Elementary School. - Courtesy: Kamehameha Schools

I Moloka'i ■ Mapulehu 43.8 acres Hawai'i P""alu u . . . 90.7 acres Kealia 3.7 and 2.2acres Pāhoehoe ~ 3and 6.5 acres