Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan
The 2010 Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan, prepared for the Hawai‘i County Department of Research and Development, is intended to guide the revitalization of agriculture as a basis for Hawai‘i Island's economic development. The recommendations are focused on measures intended to increase the production of export products as well as food and material for local consumption. The planning process included thirteen community meetings and four meetings that were targeted to the agricultural industry, held during 2008 and 2009. The Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan was submitted to the Hawai‘i County Department of Research and Development in 2010 and approved by the County Council in 2011:
Download The County of Hawai‘i Agriculture
Development Plan (October 2010).
Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan Health Impact Assessment
In April of 2010 The Kohala Center received a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to conduct a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the proposed 2010 Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan. Key research project partners include the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, the Center for Health Research, Hawai‘i at Kaiser Permanente, and Human Impact Partners (HIP). The Health Impact Assessment will take an integrated look at selected agricultural plan recommendations so that island residents and decision makers can allocate resources to maximize community well-being. Note that "health" in this context includes socioeconomic health as well as physical health.
The HIA findings, anticipated in December of 2011, will help the County and State craft policies aimed at improving community health while balancing a complex set of agricultural priorities.
In June 2010 a group of approximately 35 stakeholders selected the following Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan recommendations for assessment:
• Expansion of local production of fresh fruit, vegetables, and protein
• Increase in institutional buying, specifically the purchase of local fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV) by the Department of Education for its Pre-K to 12 schools
• Increase in home food production on the island
The HIA is examining how each of these three recommendations might impact family food security, the availability of a reliable food supply, food safety, and community well-being as measured by income, job creation, and the multiplier effect of increased island commerce.
On July 29, 2011 some preliminary HIA findings and recommendations were presented to the stakeholder group to elicit community feedback and suggestions. Click here to download the summary PowerPoint presentation from the July 29 meeting.
For more information about the Pew-RWJ Health Impact Project, see http://www.healthimpactproject.org/. For extensive information about the health impact assessment process, see the Human Impact Partners
Web site at http://www.humanimpact.org.
Below are links to background information that informed the Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan process and will be used in the Health Impact Assessment:
Health Impact Assessment Training Workbook, June 2010
Frequently Asked Questions about Integrating Health Impact Assessment into Environmental Impact Assessment
Integrating Human Health into Environmental Impact Assessment: An Unrealized Opportunity for Environmental Health and Justice
"Evidence Base" for use with HIA, compiled by Human Impact Partners
Healthy Development Measurement Tool
University of Hawai‘i System Report on the Feasibility of Establishing a Farm to School Program in Hawaii's Public Schools
1992 County of Hawai‘i Agriculture Development Plan.
Hawai‘i State Department of Agriculture 2007 Action Plan Update, which was submitted to the 2008 Legislature.
Economic Impacts of Increasing Hawai‘i’s Food
Self-Sufficiency
by PingSun Leung and Matthew Loke, 2008
Island of Hawai‘i Food System Project
Rocky Mountain Institute, 2007
Inshipment Trend and Its Implications on Hawaii's Food Security
Hawaii Department of Agriculture, 2007
A Comparison of Agricultural Input Prices: Hawai‘i vs. Its Major Export Competitors
Hazel Parcon, Shawn Arita, Matthew Loke, and PingSun Leung