Whitmore Agricultural Hub

Waialua was once celebrated for its abundant and fertile soils, fondly known as “the poi bowl.” The landscape was covered with loʻi kalo (wetland taro patches) and its uplands flourished with diverse crops. However, today Hawaiʻi faces a new reality, importing about 90% of its food supply.

Preserving farmland is crucial for ensuring food security, especially as climate change heightens the risk of natural disasters that could disrupt supply chains. In central Oʻahu and along its North Shore, development poses additional challenges. Proposed projects, including hotels and thousands of condominium units, have sparked long-standing concerns: not only do they threaten public land access, but they also risk permanently transforming precious agricultural land.

Since 2012, Trust for Public Land has partnered with the State of Hawaiʻi Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) and local communities to protect these essential lands. In Whitmore Village’s Wahiawā annex for agricultural use, we’ve helped preserve 234 acres for agriculture, supporting ADC’s ambitious goal to double food production by 2030.

This preservation effort also benefits our partners at the Department of the Navy. For local communities, it safeguards farmland, while for the Navy, it provides a natural buffer for military activities at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Annex and the Helemano Military Reservation.