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Agriculture

Federal Wildfire Grant Opportunities Open For Hawaii Courtesy: DLNR/2023

Federal Wildfire Grant Opportunities Open For Hawaii

Three grants are now available to help Hawaii's landowners fortify their wildfire defenses.

Hawaii Will Receive Another $3.5 Million For Food Security Microgrants Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat

Hawaii Will Receive Another $3.5 Million For Food Security Microgrants

The money will be distributed across Hawaii to bolster community-level food security.

Fast-Growing And Fire-Resistant Grasses Are Flourishing In Hawaii Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2023

Fast-Growing And Fire-Resistant Grasses Are Flourishing In Hawaii

Grass from East Indian sugarcane to African Guinea grass have been introduced to Hawaii for centuries, predating the state's increased risk of wildfire.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found On Maui David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found On Maui

The beetle was found dead in a bag of compost at a Maui big box store during routine survey work.

Hawaii Needs To Build Hundreds More Miles Of Firebreaks To Protect Against Wildfire Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Needs To Build Hundreds More Miles Of Firebreaks To Protect Against Wildfire

Fire officials and landowners have known for years about gaps in Hawaii's firebreaks and fuelbreaks. The problem boils down to money and cooperation.

Maui’s Fire And Winds Also Took A Toll On Farmers And Ranchers David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Maui’s Fire And Winds Also Took A Toll On Farmers And Ranchers

The state's ag industry mobilized to provide aid and the state bought feed, but ranchers need rain to grow grass soon.

Big Island Farmers Held Back A Fire Until Help Arrived: ‘It Could Have Been Another Lahaina’ Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2023

Big Island Farmers Held Back A Fire Until Help Arrived: ‘It Could Have Been Another Lahaina’

That same fateful day, a couple of farmers, a troop of cowboys and fire crews were all that stood between a Waimea wildfire and potential catastrophe.

State Ag Corporation Hires New Leader Courtesy: Peter Savio Realty

State Ag Corporation Hires New Leader

.The new director has a vision for community-focused innovative farming.

State Water Official Who Delayed Water Release Has Been Reassigned David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

State Water Official Who Delayed Water Release Has Been Reassigned

Kaleo Manuel was given another job in DLNR while officials investigate what happened.

The Lahaina Fire Could Prompt The State To Change How It Manages Water On Maui Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

The Lahaina Fire Could Prompt The State To Change How It Manages Water On Maui

A dispute over whether DLNR balked at releasing water to land owners played out in an exchange of angry letters in the days after the fire.