LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a farm-worker house at Ned and Marta Whitlock’s 28.5-acre organic farm in Moloa‘a. The Whitlocks are the first farmers on Kaua‘i to benefit from a bill that the Kaua‘i County Council
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a farm-worker house at Ned and Marta Whitlock’s 28.5-acre organic farm in Moloa‘a. The Whitlocks are the first farmers on Kaua‘i to benefit from a bill that the Kaua‘i County Council passed more than two years ago.
“I’m here for the long haul,” Ned Whitlock said. “I planted a lot of fruit trees that will outlast my kids.”
Whitlock said his farm operation, based on revenue, could probably handle three farm-worker dwellings, but he opted to start slow and possibly ask for more in the future.
The law, among a set of conditions, allows farmers who generate an annual gross income of more than $35,000 and have an agriculture dedication to apply for permits to build up to three farm-worker dwellings of no more than 1,800 feet of combined area.
In late 2008, council members JoAnn Yukimura and Jay Furfaro co-introduced the farm-worker housing bill.
Yukimura left the council that year for an unsuccessful run for mayor, but kept involved in the process by testifying at council meetings and working with farmers and the Kaua‘i Farm Bureau throughout the process.
After countless deferrals and amendments, the council approved the bill on July 28, 2010.
But it was only Tuesday that a farmer on Kaua‘i would receive the first permit to build a farm-worker housing.
The Whitlocks received overwhelming support from neighbors, friends and fellow farmers who testified at the commission meeting.
Kilauea farmer Louisa Wooton said Ned Whitlock worked diligently in helping to craft the farm-worker housing bill.
She said having a worker living on property would help to prevent theft of agricultural property, a crime her family has been victimized with.
In April 2011, two men trespassed Wooton’s property and beheaded working goat Kaitlyn, leaving her two unborn baby goats, her guts and body parts spread on the field.
However, despite the Whitlocks reputation in the community as true bona-fide organic farmers, the approval took a detour through an executive session, because Chair Jan Kimura insisted on adding safeguards against abuse. His concern was how to prevent future applicants from finding loopholes so they could have additional dwellings approved and then turn them into transient vacation rentals.
After emerging from executive session, the commission added two conditions to the permits.
The applicants would have to remove the structure if they violate the farm-worker housing agreement and are aware of a $10,000 fine.
Kimura said he wished there were more people on Kaua‘i like Ned Whitlock.
“Why there aren’t more, I’m not sure. I have so much fun doing it,” Whitlock said.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
