Legislature eyes special water fund to nurture agriculture

The Maui News
Wednesday, January 11, 2006

HONOLULU – Leaders of the state House and Senate on Tuesday said they will propose a $50 million special fund to repair and maintain agricultural irrigation systems around the state, including the state's Molokai irrigation system and three private systems on Maui.

The funding is focused on protecting water systems for diversified agriculture, according to Big Island Sen. Russell Kokubun, chairman of the Senate Water, Land and Agriculture Committee.

"We are at a critical juncture for Hawaii's irrigation systems, which is a fundamental building block for a successful agriculture industry," Kokubun said. "For too long, the state has lacked the resources to properly repair and maintain the irrigation systems, jeopardizing the future of farming and diversified agriculture."

Maui Sen. J. Kalani English, whose district includes Molokai, said the Senate committee had seen the Molokai system and recognized it "really needs a lot of repair work after years of deferred maintenance."

"Since there is some surplus in state revenues this year, it is a good time to put some of it into repair and maintenance of essential systems," he said.

According to the announcement of the joint House-Senate agriculture package, the proposals include:

• $12 million to be allocated as a priority for improvements to state irrigation systems on Kauai, in Waimanalo on Oahu, on Molokai and at Waimea and Hamakua on the Big Island.
• Incentives such as special revenue bonds and tax credits for private water system operators to maintain and repair the systems for water that will go to areas classified as Important Agricultural Lands.
• Placing state agricultural lands under the Agribusiness Development Corp. The corporation would manage land being used for diversified agriculture and the water systems that provide for those lands, and provide marketing and business support to the industry.

The announcement specified the systems to be assisted include the East Maui Irrigation system operated by Alexander & Baldwin, the Wailuku irrigation system operated by Wailuku Water Co. and the Honokohau irrigation system operated by Maui Land & Pineapple Co.

A spokeswoman for A&B and the East Maui Irrigation Co. said the company was not aware of the legislative proposals and was not involved in drafting any legislation on the islands' irrigation systems.

"We appreciate the Legislature trying to help real agricultural operations, and we are hopeful that it will lead to something that is beneficial to agriculture in Hawaii," said Linda Howe, an A&B information officer.

Rep. Ezra Kanoho of Kauai, who chairs the House Water, Land and Ocean Resources Committee, said the Legislature last year set up a law to designate Important Agricultural Lands. The new package is designed to support farming on these lands and "raises the state's commitment to agriculture and sustainability," he said.

English added that providing support for irrigation systems may encourage the private owners to have their lands listed as Important Agricultural Lands to take advantage of the special funds and tax credits.

"That's one of the important things about this, to provide an incentive to protect our agricultural lands for agriculture," he said.

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News.

Original article URL: http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=15912

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