Ranchers urge transfer of active ag leases to Dept. of Agriculture; DLNR opposes mandatory transfers

Senate Committee on Water and Land members heard rival views March 17 on SR 118, a resolution asking the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer active agricultural leases to the Department of Agriculture to support agriculture.

The measure drew support from ranchers and farming groups who said the transfer is needed to keep working ranches viable. Nicole Galassie of the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council told the committee the ranching community is asking for “less than 11,000 acres” to be transferred and said partial transfers proposed by DLNR would strip ranchers of water infrastructure and supplemental pasture. “If they just transfer parts of these leases, they will not be able to stay in business,” Galassie said.

Why it matters: supporters framed SR 118 as a targeted land‑use fix to preserve active agricultural production and protect ranch infrastructure that ranchers built and maintain. Opponents, led by DLNR, said the department has worked with the Department of Agriculture to transfer parcels where there is mutual agreement and that the…