Board certifies FY2026 acreage assessments for HDOA irrigation systems

The Board of Agriculture certified acreage assessments for five irrigation systems for fiscal year 2026 after a staff presentation from the Agriculture Resource Management Division.

Staff told the board that HRS section 167‑19(a) requires the board to determine and certify by June 30 each year the acreage assessment amounts necessary for acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance for each irrigation project, and to certify the acreage of agricultural and pasture lands for each occupier within the project. For FY2026, staff recommended certification of acreage assessment totals presented for Honokaupawilo, Molokai, Waimea and Waimanalo as a group at $99,103 and Kahuku at $31,910, and said the acreage of agricultural and livestock lands within the listed irrigation systems is reflected in attachments A–E to the staff report.

Staff recommended that agricultural lands bear 100% of the annual acreage assessments for Kahuku, Molokai, Waimanalo and Waimea irrigation systems, and that agricultural and pastoral lands bear 70%/30% respectively of the annual acreage assessments for the Honokaupawilo system. After brief board discussion and no public testimony, the chair called for the vote; board members raised no objections or recusals and the motion was approved.

Staff said the certified acreage lists are maintained as attachments to the board record and that certification enables the department to levy the annual acreage assessments in accordance with HRS 167‑19(a).