Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate wants to destroy small business farmers in Kamilonui Valley

NEWS + VIEWS: Ag Land Increases

By Sam Slom
President, Smart Business Hawaii and SBH Entrepreneurial Education Foundation

Another point of view: Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate wants to destroy small business farmers in Kamilonui Valley, Hawaii Kai. Their lease re-negotiation came up last week with a figure of nearly 25 times current lease amounts! KSBE says they want the farmers to stay and are only asking for “fair” rent which has not been raised since 1973. The farmers are old and not capable of paying those rents. Is ag zoned land worth that increase? If KSBE wants to help, let them really help. However, as an KSBE commercial tenant, SBH can tell you that the Estate is more interested in big bucks revenues and development than preservation of small businesses. Just an opinion.