Hawaii Sustainable Agriculture Skill Panels
In partnership with Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) and Department of Agriculture (HDOA), the WDC is coordinating a statewide series of Skill Panel meetings to address the present and future workforce needs of the agriculture industry in Hawaii. Beginning in December 2011 on O'ahu, the Skill Panel meetings bring together farmers, industry professionals, HDOA staff, representatives from the education and public workforce systems, and other industry stakeholders to discuss challenges facing the agriculture industry and to propose practical solutions on both a local and statewide level. Here we will provide the materials generated for these meetings.
2013 Update on Legislation:
Click any link below to be taken to the State Capitol website to read more about these bills.
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Workforce Development bills related to agriculture
Department of Agriculture
2013 Legislative Package Bills
- Increase barrel tax allocation (HB857/SB1088)
- Increase availability of capital for agricultural infrastructure (HB770/SB992)
- Provide support for new farmers and new farm innovation (HB771/SB993)
- Promote purchases of locally grown agricultural commodities (HB769/SB991)
- Clarify permissible uses on IAL (HB774/SB996)
- Amend provision allowing overnight accommodations on agricultural land (HB772/SB994)
Statewide Data to Download:
- All Agriculture Education and Training Programs in Hawaii:
Click here for Excel version (Excel, 100 KB) Click here for PDF version (PDF, 216 KB) - Agriculture Labor Market and Career Information (PDF, 2.7 MB)
- Workforce Development Resources for Agricultural Businesses in Hawaii (PDF, 507 KB)
- Hawaii Farm Facts (PDF, 549 KB)
- UHERO Report, May 2012: Hawaii's Green Economic Trends (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- Hawaii's Workforce Development Program Funding Summary, 2003-4 (PDF, 764 KB)
- What Are Industry Skill Panels? (PDF, 73 KB)
Governor Neil Abercrombie gives a kick-off speech at the O'ahu Agriculture Skill Panel Conference on December 14, 2011. The series of conferences, held at least once in each of Hawaii's four counties throughout 2012, attempts to collectively address the workforce and business challenges for Hawaii's farmers and the agriculture industry in Hawaii as a whole.
Maui: June 7, 2012
- Agenda for the Maui Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 281 KB)
- Panelist listing for the Maui Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 268 KB)
Notes from the Maui Meeting:
- Best Management Practices Discussion Notes (PDF, 685 KB)
- Labor Issues Discussion Notes (PDF, 751 KB)
- Strengthening Diversified Agriculture Discussion Notes (PDF, 702 KB)
Kaua'i: May 11, 2012
- Agenda for the Kaua'i Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 212 KB)
- Panelist listing for the Kaua'i Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 194 KB)
Notes from the Kaua'i Meeting:
- Application of Automation and Technology Discussion Notes (PDF, 525 KB)
- Business Development Discussion Notes (PDF, 718 KB)
- Food Safety Discussion Notes (PDF, 702 KB)
- Increasing Productivity Discussion Notes (PDF, 695 KB)
Kona/West Hawai'i: March 6, 2012
- Agenda for the Kona/West Hawai'i Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 633 KB)
- Panelist listing for the Kona/West Hawai'i Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 176 KB)
Notes from the Kona/West Hawai'i Meeting:
- Topics for the Kona/West Hawai'i Agriculture Skill Panel meetings (PDF, 83 KB)
- Education and Training Discussion Notes (PDF, 239 KB)
- Food Distribution Discussion Notes (PDF, 280 KB)
- Infrastructure Discussion Notes (PDF, 260 KB)
- Innovation and Sustainability Discussion Notes (PDF, 272 KB)
- Recruitment and Retention of Workers Discussion Notes (PDF, 267 KB)
Hilo/East Hawai'i: January 24, 2012
- Agenda for the Hilo/East Hawai'i Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 192 KB)
- Panelist listing for the Hilo/East Hawai'i Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 251 KB)
Notes from the Hilo/East Hawai'i Meeting:
- Topics from the Hilo/East Hawai'i Agriculture Skill Panel meetings (PDF, 428 KB)
- Education and Training Discussion Notes (PDF, 229 KB)
- Infrastructure and Marketing Discussion Notes (PDF, 243 KB)
- Innovation and Sustainability Discussion Notes (PDF, 246 KB)
- Regulatory Issues Discussion Notes (PDF, 553 KB)
O'ahu: December 14, 2011
Click here to watch our video channel from the O'ahu Agriculture Skill Panel on Vimeo.com
- Agenda for the O'ahu Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 248 KB)
- Panelist listing for the O'ahu Skill Panel meeting (PDF, 310 KB)
Notes from the O'ahu Meeting:
- Full Build-Out of the Agricultural Infrastructure (PDF, 670 KB)
- Enhancing Opportunities for Farmers and Farm Workers (PDF, 623 KB)
- Expanding Regulatory Capacity (PDF, 594 KB)
- Growing Diversified Agriculture (PDF, 644 KB)
- Practical Applications of the Agriculture Skill Panels (PDF, 574 KB)


