College Eyeing Dairy Land For Ag Center
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Del.icio.usThe University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources has proposed to lease 283 acres of Waimanalo land from the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to support an overall center for research, cultivation, grazing and showcasing plants.
The college has set its sights on the land at least since 2001 when previous landowner Meadow Gold announced it would close dairy operations there.
CTAHR already maintains 100 acres next door, and in its master plan, it would combine both parcels to form a Waimanalo Research Station.
As the grand operation is envisioned, it will have 10 areas of focus: food-production research, grazing of domestic animals, forestry, entomology, archeology, biofuel crops, a floraculture arboretum for showcasing and researching native and foreign plants, a CTAHR education center, wetlands, and a “best management practices” test area for crop production, erosion control and storm water pollution.
The new station also would take advantage of existing terrain. The wet-lands, for example, would be in an existing flood area; forestry would be on steeper lands unsuitable for agriculture, and the designated archeological area already contains a heiau and other artifacts.
CTAHR has shared its plan with the area neighborhood board, Waimanalo Agriculture Association and other community groups. Feedback suggests that residents would like to be involved in its programs and have some land reserved for a community farm.
The property also is expected to support UH extension programs such as 4-H, Master Gardening and Community Nutrition.
The plan is currently undergoing an environmental assessment that should be ready by the fall for public review and a comment period.
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