Dole Food Company Responds to City’s Landfill Selection, Emphasizes Agricultural Priorities and Pending Irrigation System Transfer
Dole Food Company Hawaii has responded to the City and County of Honolulu's selection of its lands as a potential site for Oʻahu's next landfill. The company expresses surprise at the announcement and emphasizes that its primary focus remains on protecting Central Oʻahu's agricultural community. The Wahiawā Irrigation System (WIS), which supports over 50 farmers and 500+ agricultural jobs, is currently pending transfer to the State of Hawaiʻi under Act 218 (2023). This transfer is important for system upgrades and accessing federal funding for agricultural and water security. Dole indicates that landfill discussions will need to wait until after the irrigation system transfer is completed.
- Planned transfer of Wahiawā Irrigation System to State of Hawaii will enable access to federal funding
- Current irrigation system supports 50+ farmers and 500+ agricultural jobs
- Potential conversion of Dole land to landfill site threatens agricultural operations
- Delay in irrigation system transfer could impact agricultural sustainability
Insights
The announcement of Dole's land being selected for Oahu's next landfill raises significant concerns about Hawaii's agricultural sustainability. The Wahiawa Irrigation System serves as critical infrastructure supporting over 50 farmers and 500 agricultural jobs in Central Oahu. The pending transfer to state control under Act 218 is important for accessing federal funding for necessary upgrades and ensuring long-term agricultural viability.
The company's defensive stance against the landfill proposal signals potential conflicts between urban development needs and agricultural preservation. The WIS's dual role in irrigation and flood control makes its proper management essential for both food security and public safety. This situation exemplifies the growing tensions between urbanization and agricultural land preservation in Hawaii.
The proposed landfill site selection on Dole's agricultural land presents a complex environmental governance challenge. The proximity of waste management facilities to water infrastructure like Lake Wilson and the Wahiawa Dam raises serious environmental concerns. The timing of this announcement, while the irrigation system transfer is pending, could complicate both processes and potentially impact water quality management.
The city's decision reflects the difficult balance between waste management needs and agricultural land preservation. This situation highlights the broader challenges of land use planning on an island with space, where competing priorities of waste management and food security must be carefully weighed.
“Our immediate priority remains safeguarding Central Oʻahu’s agricultural community,” said Dan Nellis, General Manager, Dole Food Company Hawaii. “The Wahiawā Irrigation System (WIS) is the lifeblood of our region’s farmers, providing essential water for agriculture and flood control. The transfer of this system to the State of Hawaiʻi, as outlined in Act 218 (2023), is critical to ensuring the continued viability of agriculture on Oʻahu. Protecting our farmers and the community remains our top priority at this time.”
Dole has been actively working with state agencies to finalize the donation of the Wahiawa Irrigation System from Dole, including Lake Wilson and the Wahiawā Dam, to the State of Hawaiʻi. This initiative, supported by Act 218, which passed in 2023, will enable necessary upgrades to meet safety standards and unlock federal funding opportunities for agricultural and water security.
“We urge the City and the State to recognize the urgency of finalizing the Wahiawā Irrigation System transfer,” the spokesperson continued. “The irrigation system supports over 50 farmers and more than 500 agricultural jobs in Central Oʻahu. It also provides critical flood protection to Central O‘ahu and the North Shore. We appreciate the importance of the landfill discussion, but ensuring the longevity of agriculture on O‘ahu remains our focus at this time.”
Dole emphasized that discussions regarding the proposed landfill site will need to take place after the implementation of Act 218 and the completion of the Wahiawa Irrigation System transfer. “As stewards of this land, we are committed to protecting Hawaiʻi’s food security, water resources, and agricultural future,” the company stated.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211859376/en/
For media inquiries, please contact:
William Goldfield, Director Corporate Communications
Dole Food Company
Phone: 818-292-0548
Email: William.goldfield@dole.com
Source: Dole Food Company
FAQ
How will the proposed Oahu landfill site selection affect Dole's agricultural operations?
What is the significance of the Wahiawā Irrigation System transfer under Act 218?
How many jobs depend on Dole's Wahiawā Irrigation System in Hawaii?
What is Dole's current stance on the Oahu landfill site selection?
