← Back to search

HRS §163D-15.6

Getting long-term farm leases and protecting them

The agribusiness development corporation must try to get landowners in certain Oahu areas to sign farm leases lasting 20 years or more, and to keep those leases from being changed or ended for non-farming use. For some central Oahu lands, leases cannot be longer than 55 years. The corporation must also watch over leases on lands using Waiahole water and use its power to protect farmers if a lease is changed or ended.

landowners

The statute, as written — Commitment and preservation of agricultural leases

(a) The agribusiness development corporation shall work toward obtaining commitments from landowners in the leeward and central districts of Oahu that their agricultural leases shall be for a duration of twenty or more years and shall not be amended or revoked to allow for a nonagricultural use of the land; provided that for lands in central Oahu acquired under Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, the agricultural leases shall be for no more than fifty-five years. (b) To further ensure the preservation of agriculture in the leeward and central districts of Oahu, the agribusiness development corporation shall monitor the agricultural leases of lands using the water from the Waiahole water system. In the event of any proposed amendment or revocation of any lease, the corporation shall do all things within its powers under this chapter to protect and defend the interests of the agricultural leaseholders to ensure the continuation of agricultural use for those lands.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.