JOINT LEGISLATIVE INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING: AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS OF MARCH 2026 KONA LOW STORMS

Co-Hosted by: Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment (AEN); Senator Chris Lee, Chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts (WLA); Representative Cory Chun, Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems (AGR); and Representative Nicole E. Lowen, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection (EEP).

This joint briefing will provide an overview of the impacts of the March 2026 Kona Low storms on Hawaiʻi’s farming communities. Presenters will share statewide damage assessments, urgent needs identified by farmers and ranchers, and updates on federal and state response efforts. The session will also highlight gaps in recovery support and outline potential policy and funding actions to support agricultural recovery and long-term resilience.

The Hearing Notice can be found here.

Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Conference Room 325

415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813

Click here for the live stream of this meeting via YouTube.

Moderator: Dr. Amanda Shaw, Statewide Food Systems Coordinator

Introduction and background

Brian Miyamoto, Executive Director, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau (HFB)

Federal and state response efforts and needs

Hunter Heavilin, Advocacy Director, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union (HFU)

Disaster reporting tool, HFU outreach efforts, and farmers’ needs

Sharon Hurd, Chairperson, Board of Agriculture & Biosecurity (BAB)

Statewide recovery assistance funding

Suzanne Shriner, Administrator, Synergistic Hawaiʻi Agriculture Council (SHAC)

Farmer impacts and disaster guide

Nicole Galase, Managing Director, Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council, Inc. (HCC)

Amy Miller, President and Executive Officer, Hawaiʻi Foodbank

Elia Herman, Director of Advocacy, Hawaiʻi Foodbank

Food access needs and assistance