---
title: "Important Agricultural Lands Application Process"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/f9a5a79a-e40e-4e4f-af6d-675b492624f0
source_url: "https://www.honolulu.gov/dpp/planning/applying-for-changes/important-agricultural-lands/"
stack: https://stacklist.com/c/places/stack/6d0b51b2-9f06-4721-a014-fff8ba63366a
summary: "Important Agricultural Lands (IAL) is a Hawaii designation that preserves land for agricultural use, offering incentives to landowners who voluntarily designate their property. The program, rooted in a 1978 constitutional amendment and codified in HRS Chapter 205, has resulted in 15,205 acres designated on Oahu with an additional 45,400 acres proposed by the DPP."
tags: "important-agricultural-lands, hawaii, land-use, agricultural-preservation, oahu, land-designation, zoning"
key_entities: "Important Agricultural Lands (IAL) (concept), Hawaii (location), Oahu (location), Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) (organization), State Land Use Commission (LUC) (organization), Honolulu City Council (organization), 1978 State Constitutional Convention (event), HRS Chapter 205 (concept)"
classification: "reference"
content_hash: "sha256:9558d32570b0788e89de788695ac388f1fb7af1a46a8f49538a5f26e7d9397c9"
acp_version: "0.2"
token_counts_approximate: 780
visibility: public
agent_accessible: true
status: "final"
---

# Important Agricultural Lands Application Process

Skip to content Important Agricultural Lands Lands that contribute to agricultural production may be designated as Important Agricultural Lands (IAL). This designation helps to preserve the land for agricultural use . Owners of land that has been designated as IAL can benefit from a variety of incentives , in addition to those already afforded to owners of agricultural land. The DPP has compiled a Table of Incentives for owners of agricultural land, including additional incentives for IAL. Background As an outcome of Hawaiʻi’s post-statehood shift away from a plantation-dominated economy, concerns about the need to promote the viability of agriculture and protect Hawaiʻi’s agricultural lands prompted the 1978 State Constitutional Convention to propose a constitutional amendment to identify and designate Important Agricultural Lands (IAL). The proposed amendment was approved by Hawaiʻi voters as Article XI Section 3 and set out the framework for state policies and all subsequent legislation related to IAL. In 2005, the intent and purpose of Article XI Section 3 of the Hawaiʻi Constitution was codified in Chapter 205 of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statues (HRS), which provides for the following: A formal definition of IAL ( Section 205-42, HRS (opens in a new tab) ) Policy guidance to assure the long-term agricultural use of IAL ( Section 205-43, HRS (opens in a new tab) ) Standards and criteria to be used in identifying IAL and assigning land to an IAL designation ( Section 205-44, HRS (opens in a new tab) ) Separate processes and responsibilities for landowners, the counties, and the State to identify lands with potential for IAL ( Sections 205-44.5 (opens in a new tab) , 47 (opens in a new tab) , 48 (opens in a new tab) , and 49, HRS (opens in a new tab) ) The establishment of a State IAL designation process that encourages landowners to volunteer their land for IAL designation ( Section 205-45, HRS (opens in a new tab) ), and Incentives for landowners to petition for IAL designation ( Section 205-46 (opens in a new tab) , and 46.5, HRS (opens in a new tab) ). Map of Existing IAL Landowners have voluntarily designated a total of 15,205 acres as IAL on Oʻahu Oʻahu IAL Mapping Project Section 205-47(a), HRS (opens in a new tab) mandates each county to identify and map potential IAL within its jurisdiction. Accordingly, the DPP published a report with recommendations in August of 2018 ( Appendices ). On June 5, 2019, the Honolulu City Council adopted Resolution No. 18-233, CD1, FD1 , identifying lands recommended for designation as IAL and sent the Resolution to the State Land Use Commission (LUC) for approval. On January 6, 2022, the LUC remanded the City and County of Honolulu’s recommended IAL designations back to the County for further action. For more information regarding the Petition, please visit the LUC website (opens in a new tab) or contact DPP’s Planning Division. Map of Proposed IAL DPP’s report recommended designating an additional 45,400 acres as IAL on Oʻahu Scroll to Top search Search If you are human, leave this field blank.