Hawaii legislators are drafting a bill that would create a tiered classification system for farms, aiming to curb tax breaks enjoyed by “gentleman farmers” who own land zoned for agriculture but produce little or nothing. Senate Bill 2153, introduced by Sen. Tim Richards, would require the state’s agriculture agencies to assess farms based on output, size, community value and environmental stewardship, officials said. Critics worry the new rules could burden small‑scale growers while larger operations continue to dominate the islands’ agricultural landscape.
The legislation reflects a broader effort to protect Hawaii’s dwindling number of family farms and ensure that tax incentives and state support reach genuine producers rather than developers exploiting agricultural zoning for profit.
Sen. Tim Richards, a cattle rancher, told reporters, “What if you have an old, retired guy that raises a couple of grass‑fed animals for the family, and he kills an animal every eight months then shares that with his family? That’s bona fide agriculture, absolutely. It’s subsistence.” He said the bill could help small and subsistence farmers by clarifying what counts as agriculture.
Former Land Use Commission chair Jonathan Likeke Scheuer pointed to clusters of properties on West Maui and the Big Island where “farmland is mainly providing scenic backgrounds.” “They’re nothing approaching what any reasonable person would say is an agricultural use,” Scheuer said, adding that some owners even claim to “grow turf” simply because they have a large lawn.
Advocacy groups such as the Hawaii Farmers Union warn the proposal could add paperwork and proof‑of‑income requirements that would strain smallholders. “My concern is that we then increase the hurdles and headaches for smallholders, without meaningfully addressing the consolidation of land ownership,” said Hunter Heaivilin, the union’s advocacy director.
The bill would task the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity with developing the classification matrix this year, with input from the Agribusiness Development Corp. The matrix would then be reviewed by lawmakers next year. While supporters hope clearer definitions will channel tax breaks, grants and subsidies to legitimate producers, they acknowledge the effort will be “a little bit of grinding and mixing before you get done,” as Richards put it.
Hawaii’s agricultural sector has been shrinking; the state lost more than 1,000 farms between 2007 and 2022 as average farm size grew, concentrating land in the hands of larger enterprises. Lawmakers see the new definition as a first step toward reversing that trend, but the debate over how to balance oversight with support for genuine farmers is expected to continue.