1.
Founding Association
Members
Hawaii Papaya Industry
Association (​HPIA​)
Hawaii Cattlemen's Council
Big Island Banana Growers
Hamakua, Hilo & Kohala Farm
Bureau Counties
Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery
Association
Supporting Partners
Hawaii Coffee Association
Hawaii Farm Bureau
Hawaii Island Economic
Development Board
Hawaii Macadamia Nut
Association
Hawaii Leeward Planning
Conference (HLPC)
Grassroots Council
Ross Sibucao
Oliver English
Eric Tanouye
Judi Houle
Eric Weinert
Jason Moniz
Chris English
Richard Ha
Peter Houle
Michael Madamba
Dennis Gonsalves, PhD
Lorie Farrell, Coordinator
We Grow 93% of Hawaii Island Agriculture Crops
~ 625,000 acres of land in production ~ $194 Million in Revenue ~
Who is HFRU ?
We are Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United; having formed an informal
group to oppose bills 79, 109 and 113. It began when Bill 79 was before the
Council. Most of us had never testified before the County Council before,
ever! We quickly realized we had to activate agriculture on Hawaii’i Island, as
a vocal minority knew exactly what they were doing. We’ve been forced to
defend our livelihood and ourselves in a very emotional public setting; yet we
have done so with integrity. We’re passionate about this issue, and we’re not
going away. It’s of utmost important to us and our future.
We have devoted almost 3 years and countless hours to this issue. Our
farms and families have paid a high cost. We have missed soccer games
and school functions while testifying against these bills. Historically we have
never seen agriculture “United” like this. An amazing momentum has been
created straight from fields, farms and ranches of Hawai’i island. We have
united as members of the community, in connection with every major
agricultural commodity, Ag association, local businesses and the economic
core of Hawai’i island to Oppose Bill 113.
We stand proudly united advocating for our Right to Farm on behalf of all
sectors of Hawaii Island agricultural producers. Collectively, we represent
93% of all agricultural revenue on Hawaii Island; $194 Million out of a total of
$202 total agricultural revenue, and almost 3,000 farmers and ranchers
working on 630,000 acres of land. We believe that Bill 113 is unnecessary
and broadly unfair to local family farmers and ranchers.
We stand Proud and United to Protect our Freedom to Farm and
Provide Safe, Affordable Food and agriculture commodities for Hawaii.
-- We Feed Hawaii -- Follow us on ​