Board Weighs Transferring 7,600 Acres to Agriculture Dept
Hawai'i's land board will consider setting aside two Big Island pasture parcels for the state agriculture department, a move opposed by conservationists.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Should the state keep these Big Island lands for conservation instead of leasing them to ranchers?
The Hawai'i Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider setting aside two state-owned Big Island parcels, totaling slightly more than 7,600 acres, to the Hawai'i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The parcels would then be leased as pasturelands to a Hāmākua cattle ranch and a South Hilo beef cattle operation.
Why it matters
A state law passed in 2003 mandates setting aside agriculture lands to ensure long-term productive use of public lands already under lease. The Conservation Council for Hawai'i opposes the transfer, arguing the land could instead be restored as forest near critically endangered native habitat.
The two parcels have been leased as pasturelands for at least 40 years, and the state Land Department now recommends their transfer after earlier reconsidering its position. Whether the board approves the set-aside and the governor signs the executive order remains unresolved.
The players
Hawai'i Board of Land and Natural Resources
The state board that oversees public land use and will vote on whether to set aside the two Big Island parcels.
Hawai'i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity
The state agency that would receive the parcels and lease them out for pasture use.
Conservation Council for Hawai'i
A statewide environmental group that opposes the transfer and advocates restoring the land to forest habitat.
Gov. Josh Green
Hawai'i's governor, whom the board's recommendation asks to issue an executive order approving the set-aside.
The details
The state Land Department recommends transferring certain pasture-leased lands, including both parcels, to the agriculture department. The Hāmākua parcel is planned for lease to a local cattle ranch, while the South Hilo parcel is expected to go to a beef cattle producer; the Conservation Council for Hawai'i opposes the transfer, citing U.S. Geological Survey models that suggest restored forest would greatly expand habitat.
Timeline
2003: State law mandated setting aside agriculture lands to the agriculture department.
Prior to 2023: The state transferred about 28,450 acres of pasture lands.
Nov. 13, 2026, 9 a.m.: The Board of Land and Natural Resources considers setting aside the two parcels in Honolulu.
Season Trajectory
The proposal follows the 2003 state law that required setting aside agriculture lands to ensure long-term productive use of public pasture. The state's earlier transfer of about 28,450 acres shows this has been a recurring practice, and the current recommendation reflects a reconsideration of which pasture leases should be included.
Residents who lease, farm, or depend on pasture on Hawai'i Island may see changes in who manages these parcels and on what terms they are leased. Those interested in the outcome can follow the board's Nov. 13 meeting agenda and public testimony opportunities.
The takeaway
Land set-asides can lock in a single use for decades, so the choice between continued pasture and forest restoration carries long-term consequences for habitat and agriculture alike. Watching the board's decision on Nov. 13 will show which priority the state chooses.
What happens next
The Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider the set-aside of the two parcels at its 9 a.m. meeting on Nov. 13, 2026, in Honolulu.
Further reading
For more on how land use shapes farming in the islands, explore Organic Food coverage for Hawaii.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Big Island Now | Big Island News and Information.
Live Poll
Should the state keep these Big Island lands for conservation instead of leasing them to ranchers?
