On October 22, the Hawai‘i Island AgriPolicy Summit gathered more than 150 passionate participants, including farmers, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders, all united by a common goal: strengthening our agricultural systems and enhancing food security and sustainability on the island.

The summit was co-convened by our office in partnership with Council Member Michelle Galimba, Dept. of Research & Development, Senator Tim Richards, and Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa. Participants identified actionable solutions for improving local agriculture and shared innovative ideas for how the County can allocate dedicated funding to support agricultural initiatives.

Key discussions revolved around building resilient food systems that prioritize the health of our land, community, and families. Topics included zoning and permitting;  protecting farmers and agricultural crimes; creating locally-sourced meals for our keiki; developing value-added products; agricultural water use; biosecurity; food rescue and community composting; promoting Hawai‘i Island grown and made products; and fostering workforce and youth development in ag entrepreneurship.

We are currently drafting a Collective Action Roadmap based on the summit discussions, which will be published in December. The roadmap will outline commitments from County and State governments to take action over the next year.

We encourage continued involvement from all participants, whether through advocacy, support, or direct implementation. If you're interested in contributing to these efforts, please let me know!