The Hawai‘i Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) will hold its first board meeting on Maui on October 16, 2025. The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College Pilina Event Center. This marks the first time the ADC board has convened on Maui since its creation by the Legislature in 1994 to manage and repurpose agricultural assets left after the closure of sugar and pineapple plantations.
The ADC is currently finalizing its statewide strategic plan, which outlines priorities for one, five, and ten-year periods. These include identifying agricultural lands for acquisition, supporting diversified agriculture on former plantation lands, and investing in infrastructure that benefits the economy, environment, and local communities. The agency recently held a meeting on Kaua‘i to gather public input and plans another meeting on Hawai‘i Island in November.
ADC Chair Jayson Watts highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing food security: “Local food security is bigger than any one agency — it takes all of us. Farmers, educators, food industry leaders and community partners are collaborating with ADC to shape the future of Hawai‘i agriculture. It will take coordinated action — from infrastructure investment and farmer support, to education, innovation and market development — to move local agriculture forward and create a stronger, more resilient agricultural future for Hawai‘i.”
During the Maui meeting, community members will be invited to provide testimony regarding infrastructure needs and priorities for agricultural land acquisition.
Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up, spoke about how new infrastructure supports business growth: “Our companies are scaling because of the infrastructure ADC is investing in. Facilities like Wahiawā Value-Added and the HPP machine make it possible to extend shelf life, reach new markets and export Hawai‘i products globally. These projects help transform local ideas into world-class businesses that bring new dollars into our economy. Maui has the same opportunity to build on its Food Innovation Center by ensuring there are commercial-scale facilities that allow entrepreneurs to grow from prototypes into thriving enterprises.”
Mana Up has worked with over 100 companies across Hawaii whose graduates have generated more than $100 million in annual revenue while creating thousands of jobs locally. The organization’s efforts have also extended internationally through retail initiatives such as pop-up events at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
The ADC is advancing projects like the Entrepreneur Product Manufacturing Facility (EPMF) in Wahiawā as part of an O‘ahu Food Hub initiative aimed at helping Hawaii-based food companies expand beyond prototype production into commercial operations. The Wahiawā EPMF serves as a model for developing additional value-added agribusiness facilities across the state.
Residents can share their suggestions before or during the meeting by providing written or verbal testimony. Details about participation will be available once the agenda is finalized. Information about upcoming meetings can be found at dbedt.hawaii.gov/adc/meetings/.
For those unable to attend in person or who wish to offer feedback ahead of time, input can be sent via email or phone.
