Sheep
Sheep farming on Hawaiʻi Island has deep historical roots and a contemporary presence in both wool and meat production. The island’s sheep and lamb inventory was about 8,646 head in 2022, making up roughly 40% of the state’s sheep. While not as prominent as cattle, sheep are raised on several ranches and homesteads, contributing to local lamb supply and land management (weed control).
Overview
Sheep farming on Hawaiʻi Island has deep historical roots and a contemporary presence in both wool and meat production. The island’s sheep and lamb inventory was about 8,646 head in 2022, making up roughly 40% of the state’s sheep. While not as prominent as cattle, sheep are raised on several ranches and homesteads, contributing to local lamb supply and land management (weed control). Notably, Hawaiʻi’s environment favors hair sheep (bred for meat and shedding hair, not wool) over wool breeds, due to climate and parasite considerations. The sector includes a few larger flocks (several hundred head) and many small flocks scattered around the island.
Production and Operations
Historically, Hawaiʻi Island (especially Parker Ranch and other upland ranches) maintained large flocks of wool sheep; in the late 1800s, the island had over 50,000 sheep when wool was a valuable commodity. Over time, wool demand fell and operations shifted toward meat (lamb/mutton) or were downsized. Today’s production is oriented toward meat lambs. Breeds like Katahdin, Dorper, and other hair sheep have become popular because they do not require shearing and have better resistance to the tropical climate’s challenges, such as flystrike (flies laying eggs in wool) which can be deadly in warm, humid areas. Hair sheep naturally shed and avoid that issue. According to former State Rep. Richard Creagan, hair sheep are “very compatible with Hawaiʻi” for precisely these reasons.
On Hawaiʻi Island, sheep are often integrated into ranching operations alongside cattle. For example, Kahua Ranch in Kohala runs about 500 breeding ewes, grazing them on rotated pasture land. This dual operation helps utilize pasture more completely (sheep graze closer to the ground and can eat some plants cattle avoid). Smaller farms might keep 5–20 sheep as a part of diversified ag, sometimes moving them around in electronet fencing for pasture cleanup. Breeding cycles are managed to produce lambs year-round or seasonally, depending on rainfall patterns. Many producers target the local Easter market or other times when lamb is in higher demand. Lambing rates in Hawaiʻi can be good (hair sheep often twin), but predation by stray dogs or feral pigs and disease (worms, etc.) can impact yields.
Wool vs. Hair
A minority of producers still raise wool sheep and produce wool or wool products. There are enthusiasts who keep breeds like Merino or Babydoll Southdown for specialty fiber or for the novelty (some agri-tourism farms like petting zoos favor small, cute wool sheep). However, wool requires shearing and the market is limited – there is no longer a large woolen mill in Hawaiʻi, so any significant wool clip must be shipped out or processed by hand locally. Some local wool is turned into hand-spun yarn by fiber artists who sell it as a Hawaiʻi-grown product (for instance, a Hawaiʻi Island fiber cooperative might blend alpaca and sheep wool). But for most ranchers, wool is now a by-product or nuisance, not the main goal.
Market and Data
Hawaiʻi Island has a modest but consistent demand for lamb. Lamb is not as common in local diets as beef or pork, but it has its niches – for example, Hawaiʻian, Samoan, and other Pacific Islander communities sometimes prefer lamb for certain dishes; Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine enthusiasts seek local lamb; and high-end restaurants occasionally feature local lamb specials. Kahua Ranch and others actively market lamb: one can find Hawaiʻi Island lamb at a Waimea butcher shop or on menus at fine dining restaurants like Merriman’s. Locally, a whole lamb for imu or spit roast can be obtained from farms, and cuts are sold at some farmers’ markets. Sheep also go through the slaughterhouses – Hawaiʻi Beef Producers (Pa’auilo) and others process sheep in addition to cattle, albeit at low volume. According to industry anecdotes, local lamb is generally consumed fresh locally, whereas local wool (if any) may be shipped or sold to crafters.
In terms of numbers, the state had ~21,500 sheep in 2022, which shows some growth from prior years (2017 was ~27,000, but numbers may have fluctuated). The increase in hair sheep might mean more lambs surviving and flocks expanding due to easier care. There’s also been a push by ag advocates like Creagan suggesting sheep as a solution for small farms, given their size and multi-use (meat, weed control, wool). If even a fraction of Hawaiʻi’s 7,000 small farms took on a small flock, it would increase production notably.
Value-Added and Niche Uses
Sheep in Hawaiʻi provide some value-added opportunities. Sheep dairy is virtually nonexistent (no known sheep milking operations in Hawaiʻi), but meat and fiber allow for artisan products. One interesting niche is using sheep for wildfire control: grazing sheep and goats to reduce brush is being explored more, especially after recent wildfires in Hawaiʻi – a Hawaiʻi News Now piece (2023) discussed increased demand for sheep and goats as “living lawnmowers” to mitigate fire risk. This could drive public or private grazing contracts where flocks are moved to clean up invasive grasses like guinea grass. Another value-add is agritourism: some ranches offer lamb-themed dinners or “sheep shearing day” events for the public.
Challenges
The primary challenges for sheep on Hawaiʻi Island are health-related (parasites thrive in the warm climate – stomach worms can cause anemia, so many hair sheep were introduced for their parasite resistance) and predation (as mentioned, stray dogs can decimate unguarded flocks). Also, processing infrastructure is geared towards cattle; sheep producers often have to coordinate shared slaughter days or improvise if wanting USDA-inspected lamb. Feed can be mostly pasture, but during drought, supplementary feed (imported hay or cubes) may be needed, adding cost.
Trends
A notable trend is the promotion of sheep for small farms as a means to boost local protein production. Creagan’s advocacy in 2021–22 argued that an average Hawaiʻi farm (151 acres statewide average, though that figure is skewed by large ranches) could incorporate sheep more feasibly than cattle. The idea is that sheep are safer and easier for an aging farmer population to handle, and one can start with a small flock cheaply. This thinking has permeated some extension workshops, which now include sheep and goat management for diversified ag. Additionally, hair sheep expansion is likely to continue – already most large flocks are hair breeds, and if wool prices don’t justify shearing, even small-scale folks opt for hair varieties.
Sheep also figure into sustainable agriculture discussions. Multi-species grazing (cattle + sheep) can improve pasture utilization and soil health. There’s interest in silvopasture (integrating trees with grazing) that could involve sheep under tree crops.
In summary, Hawaiʻi Island’s sheep sector, though not headline-grabbing, is steady and possibly growing slowly. It straddles the line between old legacy ranching (the paniolo era when sheep were second to cattle) and new regenerative ag approaches. Lamb isn’t everyday fare for all residents, but those who do partake increasingly can find a local source. And on the production side, the adaptability of sheep to small farm settings suggests they’ll remain an important “small ruminant” option as Hawaiʻi seeks to diversify its livestock beyond the dominant cattle. As one advocate put it, “Sheep have a lot of possibilities” for Hawaiʻi, from carbon sequestration grazing models to providing meat on small plots.
Sources:
USDA NASS Hawaiʻi County data (2022) – Sheep inventory
Honolulu Civil Beat – “What is the Future of Hawaiʻi’s Farming? Some Say Sheep” (Jan. 2022)
Civil Beat – historical context of sheep (late 1800s 100k sheep, 2017 count 27k)
Civil Beat – Creagan quotes on sheep viability
Hawaiʻi News Now – “Wildfire risks lead to demand for more sheep” (Aug- Sources:
USDA Census of Agriculture (2022) – Hawaiʻi County sheep inventory
Honolulu Civil Beat – “What Is The Future Of Hawaiʻi’s Farming? Some Say Sheep” (Jan. 2022)
Honolulu Civil Beat – discussion of sheep historical and 2017 numbers
Hawaiʻi News Now – “Hawaiʻi wildfire risks lead to demand for more sheep” (Jan. 2025)
Kahua Ranch – Ranch history and current operations (accessed 2024) (mentions 500-ewe flock and lamb sales)
Hawaiʻi Sheep and Goat Association – event reports (e.g., “Taste of Lamb” dinner 2019) (illustrates local lamb promotion)