The Hawaii Island Food Basket has started clearing a portion of its 24.5 acres of land meant for an agricultural innovation campus in Hilo.
The large parcel off Ponahawai Street eventually will be home to the Hawaii Island Agricultural Innovation Park and Food Systems Campus, which has been renamed “Hale Pueo.”
The land, located next to the Homelani Memorial Cemetery, was purchased in 2022 from Suisan for $1.6 million.
The goal for the park and campus is to help alleviate food insecurity, lift barriers to pursuing agriculture, and provide the capital needed to create a robust agricultural economy.
While the nonprofit food bank has not reached the point of officially designing and building the campus, the Food Basket is clearing part of the parcel for the development of agricultural land that will be used by local farmers and growers.
According to Leelen Park, director of development, the Food Basket still needs to hire a local architect for more detailed blueprints of the buildings.
For now, the contractor, Backyard Monkeys, is clearing the albizias and other invasive species while helping to preserve as much native forest and plants as possible.
Forest Solutions Inc. will be managing the land and helping to take care of it during development.
The Food Basket currently is working on a website where people can follow updates about the development of Hale Pueo.
Phase A of development will include a community food center and food bank, an agricultural lands support structure, and an agricultural innovation center.
The project’s budget is approximately $78.2 million.
For more information about the the Food Basket, visit thefoodbasket.org.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.