Doesn't make sense to use it for farming
Oh, we have a LOT of farming going on. Other than the Honolulu area, these islands are really empty. But it's Sugar and Pinapple. This sums it up:
FARMS - THEIR GROWING PLIGHT
While farm employment is declining nationally, Hawaii's is growing. Although statistics vary depending upon definition and methodology, estimates show that Hawaii's total agriculture sales (farm production, agricultural service, forestry and fisheries, and food processing) contribute at least $1.94 billion annually. Agriculture (including distribution), contributes as much as 3.0% of gross state product.
One of the barriers to building an agriculture industry is that farmers - most of whom operate on relatively short-term leases - have little incentive to invest heavily in equipment, supplies or other infrastructure. As a consequence, thousands of acres are fallow.
Good agricultural land is available, some 100,000 acres around the Islands. Perhaps 10,000 acres could grow all the perishable food Hawaii needs. Unfortunately, key factors in utilizing these acres are the high cost of some land, tax laws & leasing difficulties, water, labor & transportation.
You just can't grow cucumbers on $95,000-an-acre land.
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