Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan
The 2010 Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan, prepared for the Hawai‘i County Department of Research and Development, is intended to guide the revitalization of agriculture as a basis for Hawai'i Island's economic development. The recommendations are focused on measures intended to increase the production of export products as well as food and material for local consumption. The planning process included thirteen community meetings and four meetings that were targeted to the agricultural industry, held during 2008 and 2009. The Hawai‘i County Agriculture Development Plan, submitted to theHawai‘i County Department of Research and Development and scheduled for review by the County Council, is now available:
Hawai‘i County Agricultural Development Plan
Hawai‘i County Agricultural Development Plan Health Impact Assesment
The Kohala Center has recently received a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to conduct a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the proposed 2010 Hawai'i County Agricultural Development Plan. Key research project partners include the Hawai'i Department of Agriculture, the Center for Health Research, Hawai‘i at Kaiser Permanente, and Human Impact Partners (HIP). The Health Impact Assessment will take an integrated look at selected agricultural plan recommendations so that island residents and decision makers can allocate island resources to maximize community well-being. Note that "health" in this context includes socioeconomic health as well as physical health.
The HIA findings, anticipated in December of 2011, will help the County and State craft policies aimed at improving community health while balancing a complex set of agricultural priorities. Though the specific recommendations for further analysis have not yet been finalized, we anticipate addressing questions such as: What would be the effect on low income families of a potential rise in fresh food prices as the island transitions to a more self-reliant food system? What are the job creation possibilities for different types of agricultural land allocations and scales of operation?
We would like as broad a perspective as possible in deciding which issues to examine and how to find or collect relevant information to address research questions, as we start the HIA process. If you would like to make initial suggestions, please contact Betsy Cole at cole@kohalacenter.org.
For more information about the Pew-RWJ Health Impact Project, see http://www.healthimpactproject.org/. For extensive information about the health impact assessment process, see the Human Impact Partners website at http://www.humanimpact.org.
Below are links to background information that informed the Hawai‘i County Agricultural Development Plan process and will be used in the Health Impact Assessment:
Health Impact Assessment Training Workbook, June 2010
Frequently Asked Questions about Integrating Health Impact Assessment into Environmental Impact Assessment
Integrating Human Health into Environmental Impact Assessment: An Unrealized Opportunity for Environmental Health and Justice
"Evidence Base" for use with HIA, compiled by Human Impact Partners
Healthy Development Measurement Tool
1992 County of Hawai‘i Agriculture Development Plan.
Hawai‘i State Department of Agriculture 2007 Action Plan Update, which was submitted to the 2008 Legislature.
Economic Impacts of Increasing Hawai‘i’s Food
Self-Sufficiency
by PingSun Leung and Matthew Loke, 2008
Island of Hawai‘i Food System Project
Rocky Mountain Institute, 2007