Interested in adding agritourism to your farm operation on Kauaʻi?
While the process can be challenging, the County of Kauaʻi provides proactive support and guidance for those who are seeking to develop this component for their business.
Agritourism plans and permit requests are reviewed on a case by case basis and may require approvals from multiple departments. While Kauaʻi has a high level of visitor activity and presence in certain areas, the County is seeking to support the development of more agritourism operations to diversify the tourism landscape.
Here are steps you can take to strategize your course of action when developing a diversified agri-business to include tourism.
Navigating the Planning Process:
Plan ahead for additional time to complete the planning and approval process. The County is working to improve and streamline compliance processes and will advise and support navigation of the process, but businesses should anticipate having to put time and capital investment toward ensuring that all requirements are satisfied.
Preparation and Insight:
Before you begin, review the Hawaiʻi Agritourism Checklist to prepare for the different aspects and compliance considerations for your proposed operation. Create a plan and budget for each area.
Make an appointment with the Economic Development Specialist for Agriculture to see what kind of support and resources may be available to you, and to get guidance toward the right planning department contacts and processes.
Your current Agriculture Specialist is:
Niki Kunioka-Volz
Economic Development Specialist IV – Agriculture
4444 Rice St., Suite 200
Lihue, HI 96766
P: 808-241-4951
nkvolz@kauai.gov
*Note that positions change, take the initiative to make contact.
Resources & Contacts:
Click here
Partners in Research and Development:
We’d like to thank the agribusinesses below for their participation in gathering practical intel on the agritourism compliance and capacity-building process on Kauaʻi. Engaging with visitors on your farm to generate revenue and create collaboration within the community takes bandwidth and initiative from all involved. Please take a look at these diverse business models to get inspiration and ideas for your own operation and the possibilities that exist.
