The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Maui County Council on May 16, 2025.
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May 16, 2025, 9 a.m.
Kalana O Maui Building,
To: Maui County Council
Alice Lee, Chair
Yuki Lei Sugimura, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst
Re: Bill 75 (2025) — RELATING TO THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE ON AGRICULTURAL TOURISM
Aloha Chair Lee, Vice Chair Sugimura and other members of the Council,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 75 (2025), which would allow agricultural tourism activities as an accessory use in agricultural districts.
The bill includes a list of activities that would be considered agricultural tourism, such as gift shops, lei making, carving, coffee roasting and tasting, living history demonstrations and wayfinding using the stars.
Grassroot believes this measure would enable Maui’s farmers and ranchers to diversify their income sources and foster small-scale entrepreneurship. Agriculture-based tourism activities could help offset the cost of farming or ranching, and would promote Hawaii-made goods to visitors and locals.
Likewise, this bill would let more Maui residents participate in tourism, the island’s biggest economic engine.
As the bill points out, these changes are in accordance with the Countywide Policy Plan and the Maui Island Plan, both of which emphasize the need to promote the teaching of traditional practices and the diversification of the tourism industry.
The Maui Department of Agriculture’s 2024-2028 Strategic Plan also emphasizes the importance of this approach. It states that “to expand agritourism on the island of Maui, efforts could be made to develop and promote agritourism infrastructure, such as farm stays, campgrounds, and event venues; this would allow visitors to experience the daily workings of farms and ranches, and provide more opportunities for educational workshops and hands-on experiences.”[1]
The draft Maui County Food and Nutrition Security Plan recognizes the potential of agritourism. Its Goal 3 relates to vibrant local food economies, and states: “When appropriate, encourage forms of agritourism that support agricultural education opportunities for the community and help to connect residents to their food system.”[2]
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton
Policy Analyst
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] “County of Maui Department of Agriculture (MDOA) 2024–2028 Strategic Plan,” Maui Department of Agriculture, p. 133.
[2] “Maui County Food and Nutrition Security Plan,” Second Draft for Public Comment, Maui Department of Agriculture, December 2024, p. 32.
