This document summarizes Hawaii's statewide planning framework and policies related to agriculture. It outlines the State Planning Act and State Land Use Law, which establish the statewide planning system and four land use districts (urban, rural, agricultural, conservation). The system aims to preserve important agricultural lands and guide development to appropriate areas. Key parts of the framework include functional plans, guidelines, land classifications like ALISH that identify important farmlands, and county general plans which must be consistent with statewide objectives. The State Land Use Commission oversees district boundaries and special permits, considering conformity with the overall system.

1. S
Future of Agriculture in Hawaii
Hawaii’s Statewide Planning
and Land Use Framework
October 30, 2013
American Planning Association-Hawaii Chapter
By Jesse K. Souki, Director
State Office of Planning

2. Statewide
Land Use
and Planning
State Planning Act
HRS Chapter 226
State Land Use Law
HRS Chapter 205

3. It’s Not Just About Land
Land
LaborCapitol

4. A STATEWIDE PLANNING
SYSTEM
Part I: Overall Theme, Goals, Objectives and Policies
Population
Economy
Physical
environment
Facility systems
Socio-cultural
advancement
Part III: Priority Guidelines
Economic
Population Growth
Crime and criminal
justice
Affordable housing
Education
Sustainability
Climate Change
Adaptation
Part II: Statewide planning
system
Functional plans
• Define and implement
Parts I and II
• Identify priority issues
• Implementing actions
County general plans
• Desired population
• Physical development
patterns
• Further define Parts I and
II
State programs
• State budget
• Land Use Commission
• Board of Land and Natural
Resources

5. Statewide Plan
Agriculture Objectives
HRS § 226-7
S Viability of Hawaii's sugar and pineapple industries
S Growth and development of diversified agriculture
throughout the State
S Component of Hawaii's strategic, economic, and social
well-being

6. Statewide Plan
Agriculture Policies
HRS § 226-7
S Establish a clear direction for
Hawaii's agriculture
S Making best use of natural
resources
S Prudent decision making for the
development of agriculture
S Agricultural and visitor
industries for mutual marketing
benefits
S Public awareness
S Diversified agriculture
S Research and development
S Public incentives and
encouraging private initiatives
S Increase the attractiveness and
opportunities for an agricultural
education and livelihood
S Expand Hawaii's agricultural
base
S Increase Hawaii's agricultural
self-sufficiency

7. Statewide Plan
Economic Priority Guidelines
HRS § 226-103
S Stimulate economic growth
S Encourage business expansion
and development
S Provide needed jobs for Hawaii's
people
S Achieve a stable and diversified
economy
S Balanced economic, social,
community, and environmental
priorities
S Expand vocational training
S Provide adequate agricultural
lands for sugar and pineapple
S Identify, conserve, and protect
agricultural and aquacultural
lands
S Reasonably priced water
S Freight rates for Hawaii's
agricultural
S Development of agricultural parks
S Closely monitor uses in Ag
subdivisions

8. Land Study Bureau (LSB)
S Considered by LUC in DBAs
S Overall Rating Detailed Land
Classification, UH-LSB, 1965-
1972
S Developed concurrent with
USDA soil survey
S Soils grouped into land types
based on soil & productivity
capabilities
S Overall Productivity Rating –
“A” very good to “E” not suitable
S Crop Productivity ratings for
pineapple, sugar, vegetables,
forage, grazing, orchard, timber
S Soil types drawn over aerial
photos

9. LSB Acreage in
State Agricultural District
A
3%
B
6%
C
15%
D
25%
E
51%

10. LSB Map

11. Agricultural lands of Importance
to the State of Hawaii (ALISH)
S Considered by LUC for IAL
S DOA, USDA/SCS, others, 1977
S National effort (USDA) to inventory
important farmlands
S National criteria applied, adapted by
USDA, CTAHR, & DOA
S Broad range of factors considered
S Prime
S Soils with the best physical,
chemical, and climatic properties
for mechanized field crops
S Urban lands and water bodies
excluded
S Unique
S For unique high-value crops, such
as coffee, taro, and watercress
S Other Important Ag Lands
S Needed, but e.g., requires
irrigation

12. ALISH Rated Lands
Prime
33%
Unique
1%
Other
66%

14. State Land
Use Law
To “preserve, protect and
encourage the development of
the lands in the State for those
uses to which they are best
suited for the public welfare.”
See L. 1961, c 187, § 1.

15. State Land Use Commission
S Nine Members
S Appointed by the Governor, Confirmed by the State
Senate
S District Boundary Amendments
S Special Permits
S Important Agricultural Lands Designations

16. State Land Use Commission
District Boundary Amendments
S The “commission shall specifically consider”
S State Plan Conformity
S Impact on “areas of state concern”
S Important natural systems
S Valued natural resources
S Natural resources relevant to Hawaii's economy
S Commitment of State resources
S County General/Community/Development Plans
S LUC Statutory Reference
S ALISH
S LSB

17. Allowed Uses in the State
Agricultural Land Use District
S LSB A or B
S Cultivation of crops
S Game/fish propagation
S Raising livestock
S Farm Dwellings/Employee
Housing
S Public and private open area
types of recreational uses
S Agricultural tourism conducted on
a working farm
S Wind energy facilities
S Biofuel processing facilities
S Agricultural-energy facilities
S Solar energy facilities
S 10% or 20 acres of land
S But not on LSB A
S LSB C, D, E, or U
S Cultivation of crops
S Animal husbandry and game and
fish propagation
S Aquaculture
S Wind generated energy
S Biofuel production
S Solar energy facilities
S 10% on B and C
S Agricultural tourism activities
S Agricultural-based commercial
operations
S Further defined by counties

18. State Land Use Commission
State District Boundaries
3%
49%
48%
0%
1969
5%
48%
47%
0%
2011
U
C
A
R

20. State Land Use Commission
Special Permits
S County planning commission
S May permit certain unusual and
reasonable uses
S Within agricultural/rural districts
S Not allowed by right in the
agricultural/rural districts
S Protective restrictions may be applied
S Greater than fifteen acres, approved
by the LUC

21. State Land Use Commission
Important Agricultural Lands
S Land currently used for agricultural
production
S Soil qualities and growing conditions that
support agricultural production of food, fiber,
or fuel- and energy-producing crops
S Land identified under agricultural
productivity rating systems; e.g., ALISH
S Native Hawaiian agricultural uses or unique
crops
S Water to support viable agricultural
production
S Consistent with county general,
development, and community plans
S Contributes to maintaining critical land mass
S With or near support infrastructure

23. County Plans
Comprehensive long-range
plan or development plan
adopted by ordinance or
resolution by a county council.

24. County Plans
S Content Requirements
S Consistent with State Planning Act
S Consideration statewide objectives, policies, and programs
S Data, analyses, and input from state agencies and the general public
S Population density, land use, transportation system location, public and community facility
locations, water and sewage system locations, visitor destinations, urban design
S Implementation actions to carry out policies
S Land use maps
S Programs
S Projects
S Regulatory measures
S Standards and principles
S Interagency coordination provisions

27. References
S Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapters 205, 225M, and
226, www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent
S Office of Planning, planning.hawaii.gov
S Hawaii Statewide GIS Program, Various Maps,
http://planning.hawaii.gov/gis/various-maps
S Hawaii Land Use Law and Policy,
hilanduse.blogspot.com