07-21-2014, 01:06 PM
Hawai'i County presently has an ordinance that covers agriculture tourism in the county code. This is a very good and necessary ordinance but it is only for real and genuine farmers. Farmers can qualify for agriculture tourism permits as long as 50% of their gross revenues come from farm activities i.e. the food they grow and sell.
Bill 25, as introduced by CM Zendo Kern, is an attempt to subvert the already established special use permit process (SUP) and creates two categories for agricultural tourism, major and minor. There is no definition for "minor" only a designation. So basically if your neighbor is growing pineapples or even plans on growing pineapples s/he can apply for a 'minor agricultural tourism operation permit' . This will give your neighbor the right, with very little corresponding responsibilities, to have 100 potential customers come to her/his house per week, 400-500 per month and 5,800 patrons per year. The language as written now permits this to be done on almost any size lot using public or private roads. In addition to cars bill 25 allows for 15 passenger tourist vans to roll down private roads to get to their minor agricultural tourism destination.
Why is your neighbor attracting so many customers? Because a 'minor agricultural tourism operation permit' will allow your neighbor to sell from his or her home such items including , but not limited to,
"all agricultural and horticultural products, animal feed, baked goods, ice cream and ice cream based desserts and beverages, jams, gift items, food stuffs, clothing, coffee mugs, tee shirts, and other items promoting the farm and agriculture in Hawai`i and value-added agricultural products and production on site. Non-agriculturally related products means those items not connected to farming or the farm operation, such as novelty tee shirts or other clothing, crafts and knick-knacks imported
from other states or countries, etc."
Also the bill allows for an unlimited number of "barn dances" with amplified and/or acoustic music. This will threaten the peace and tranquility of our agricultural lands.
P.S. Interesting to note only the folks from Wipio Valley are exempt from this bill.
Bill 25, as introduced by CM Zendo Kern, is an attempt to subvert the already established special use permit process (SUP) and creates two categories for agricultural tourism, major and minor. There is no definition for "minor" only a designation. So basically if your neighbor is growing pineapples or even plans on growing pineapples s/he can apply for a 'minor agricultural tourism operation permit' . This will give your neighbor the right, with very little corresponding responsibilities, to have 100 potential customers come to her/his house per week, 400-500 per month and 5,800 patrons per year. The language as written now permits this to be done on almost any size lot using public or private roads. In addition to cars bill 25 allows for 15 passenger tourist vans to roll down private roads to get to their minor agricultural tourism destination.
Why is your neighbor attracting so many customers? Because a 'minor agricultural tourism operation permit' will allow your neighbor to sell from his or her home such items including , but not limited to,
"all agricultural and horticultural products, animal feed, baked goods, ice cream and ice cream based desserts and beverages, jams, gift items, food stuffs, clothing, coffee mugs, tee shirts, and other items promoting the farm and agriculture in Hawai`i and value-added agricultural products and production on site. Non-agriculturally related products means those items not connected to farming or the farm operation, such as novelty tee shirts or other clothing, crafts and knick-knacks imported
from other states or countries, etc."
Also the bill allows for an unlimited number of "barn dances" with amplified and/or acoustic music. This will threaten the peace and tranquility of our agricultural lands.
P.S. Interesting to note only the folks from Wipio Valley are exempt from this bill.