MEDIA RELEASE
The County of Hawai`i is inviting farmers, ranchers and other interested applicants to bid on long-term leases for 718 acres of county-owned lands at Pa`auilo.
The 16 parcels of land range from less than 13 acres to nearly 110 acres, and are available for 10-year leases. The minimum rental price will be $11.63 per acre per year, which is based on an outside market appraisal of the land.
“We are pleased to be offering these lands up to the community to put them back into productive agricultural use,†said County of Hawai`i Mayor Billy Kenoi. “These lands have been sitting idle since the county first acquired them about 16 years ago, and we believe putting these lands back into production will provide a welcome boost to our agricultural sector.â€
The county will host an informational open house at Pa `auilo Gym from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on September 1 to discuss the details of the new leasing program, and to answer questions from the public.
All proposals by bidders must comply with the current agricultural zoning on the Pa`auilo lands, and must meet the terms of Hawai`i County Council Resolution 38-11. All proposals must be received by the county by 4:30 p.m. on October 14, 2011.
For more information, please visit www.co.hawaii.hi.us, or contact the county Property Management Division at (808) 961-8069.