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The Need for Leadership:
Challenges of Agriculture in Hawaii Today
Hawaii’s future depends on urban and rural communities working together because the economic
vitality of agriculture and rural communities has reverberating effects throughout our entire
society. If we as a community maintain that a healthy thriving sustainable agricultural sector
is an important piece of Hawaii’s overall future we must continue to support those who will help
us get there. We need strong, effective voices helping to show the way.
Currently Hawaii’s agricultural industry faces many significant challenges. How will we move
towards sustainable solutions to issues and problems that impact all of the communities in our
state? Pressures to develop agricultural lands threaten the preservation of land that must be
saved for current and future farming needs. Do we save our agricultural lands for farmers and
ranchers to grow food and biofuels or do we develop it for housing and tourism?
What about conservation and preservation of our watershed and its native species- of which many
are of significant importance to our host culture? Water is a limited resource. Who owns it? Who
owns the irrigation systems? Who is responsible for maintaining those systems? Who gets to use
the water, and how much? Where does the runoff go and how does it effect our coastal
environments?
Globalization plays a very interesting role in our agriculture challenges. Individual
agribusinesses can be economically viable by developing export markets. At the same time the
need for Hawaii to maintain selfsufficiency with our food supply demands we develop local
markets that support more food grown for local consumption. Invasive species laws affect our
island import and export opportunities as well as pose serious threats to the fragile island
ecosystems and the health of our crops. How do we balance these diverse needs economically and
protect our land, water, crops and ecosystems?
Hawai‘i residents are connected to the land. Our love of green, open spaces is in our character
and is reflected in our laws. Yet development increases profits, helps meet the demand for
affordable housing, and gives a boost to the economy. We must preserve agricultural and rural
lands and open space.
Well-trained and effective leaders are essential for the success of any endeavor, in particular
in solving complex problems. Many in our community display the capacity for leadership but need
refinement and training to better utilize their skills. Independent farmers and rural
entrepreneurs have extremely varied backgrounds and form a diverse group with a wide range of
interests. The lack of coordinated efforts to solve their common problems, the difficulty of
achieving sustainability and the lack of opportunities to study and become articulate in public
affairs issues are challenges to overcome.
These leaders must be prepared to continue the process of bringing people together to address
key issues, such as land and water preservation and conservation, food and energy security,
changing communities and globalization. These issues affect all of Hawaii communities.
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