During Summit '24, Sarah Freeman from the County of Hawaiʻi’s Research & Development Department presented insights from a series of three pre-summit meetings held with producers and stakeholders. These meetings took place in Kona on March 19th, Puna on March 23rd, and Waipio Valley on March 30th, 2024. Freeman’s presentation identified key challenges in Hawaiʻi Island’s local food system, particularly in four areas: Regulation and Compliance, Biosecurity, Infrastructure, and Workforce Development. Producers and stakeholders highlighted regulatory hurdles, insufficient biosecurity measures, limited infrastructure, and workforce constraints as primary obstacles to strengthening local food systems.
In the area of Regulation and Compliance, participants voiced frustration with outdated and conflicting regulations, particularly across multiple jurisdictions, which often create confusion and delays. Farmers reported challenges in navigating complex permitting processes, especially for aquaculture and new farm startups. As a response, Freeman outlined opportunities to streamline processes through improved technology, clearer guidelines, and pre-qualified exemptions for faster approvals. She also emphasized the need for continued advocacy for county and state policy changes to reduce compliance costs for farmers.
The Summit also highlighted the pressing need to strengthen Biosecurity efforts, as Hawaiʻi Island faces frequent pest invasions and limited resources for pest management. Stakeholders called for improved coordination between agencies, greater public education on biosecurity issues, and increased government funding for research on biocontrol methods. Additionally, the lack of essential Infrastructure — such as water storage, cold storage, and processing facilities — was a major concern. Proposed solutions included cooperative models for shared infrastructure, improved maintenance of existing facilities, and regulatory reforms to support agricultural development.
Lastly, addressing Workforce Development emerged as a priority, with producers highlighting the need for improved training programs, better access to farmworker housing, and incentives to attract and retain skilled agricultural workers. The Summit stressed the importance of collective action, cross-sector partnerships, and continued engagement with stakeholders to address these challenges and unlock new opportunities for Hawaiʻi Island’s agricultural sector.