There have been many opinions expressed about Hawaii Dairy Farms, from genuine concerns to strong endorsements. There has also been a lot of misinformation and fear. As communications director for Hawaii Dairy Farms and Ulupono Initiative, I’d like to share
There have been many opinions expressed about Hawaii Dairy Farms, from genuine concerns to strong endorsements. There has also been a lot of misinformation and fear. As communications director for Hawaii Dairy Farms and Ulupono Initiative, I’d like to share the facts.
I was raised on the Big Island, so my work and belief in Hawaii Dairy Farms are from being kamaaina with a deep concern about economic sustainability and food security for our islands.
It has been 30 years since Hawaii produced 100 percent of its own milk. Today, only 9 percent is produced on the Big Island, with the rest imported from the Mainland. Hawaii Dairy Farms will more than double local milk production and help ensure Hawaii families, especially our keiki, have access to fresh, local milk at affordable prices. No milk will be shipped out of state.
We selected Mahaulepu because it is Important Agricultural Land with ideal growing conditions and access to required operational inputs. The farm is 582 acres of pasture, located on land where ranching and farming have been conducted for centuries, more than two miles from populated areas. Agriculture like this is part of Kauai’s fabric and we’re committed to upholding that legacy.
Kauai is one of the world’s best places to grow nutritious forage grasses. Our cows’ diet will be Kikuyu, which is the lush, thick grass found in Kokee State Park, mixed with supplemental feed and vitamins. This humane approach will double the cows’ lifespan.
We chose this state-of-the-art, 21st century grass-fed dairy model, based on New Zealand’s proven best practices, because it is the cleanest, most cost-effective and sustainable method available. We will use monitored rotational grazing, which controls the time the cows graze on each paddock and evenly applies manure for grass growth. Because Kauai produces more grass throughout the year, we can have more cows per acre than found in New Zealand and other parts of the world. Most important, it is adaptable to protect the environment, our cows’ health and milk quality.
We understand the odor concerns. Our system will have one-twelfth the waste of dairies of the past. Due to additional dilution, smell will travel less than 20 to 50 feet from the pasture. Because of the worry we’ve heard, we are looking into methods to further reduce any potential odor.
Our farm will not discharge into the water. All manure and recycled effluent will be used as fertilizer to feed the grass and regenerate the soil. We need it to stay on the farm to maintain the growth of the grass. The farm will also have setbacks, native plants and fencing to protect all drainage ditches and water systems.
Also, we don’t want flies any more than you do, so we will use biological and chemical controls that have been proven to work in Hawaii’s dairies. We will not introduce any invasive species.
We are working with the state Department of Health, the County of Kauai, U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service and West Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District to meet or exceed all regulatory requirements. No work has been done outside of our existing permits. This dairy is designed to be resilient and adaptable to climate changes. Computerized systems will continually monitor farm operations. Once our beyond compliance measures are finalized, we will share them with you.
Your involvement enriches our community. We are honored by the public and private support we’ve received, and we respect the dissenting voices that use facts, not fear.
Please seek the facts for your questions firsthand. Our full website will be available soon at www.hawaiidairyfarms.com and we will provide updates there.
• Amy Hennessey is director of communications with Hawaii Dairy Farms and Ulupono Initiative.
