5th Biennial Agtourism
Conference Agenda and Reports
Friday, January 12, 2007
Keauhou Beach Hotel, Kona, 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Highlights
• Optional after-conference tour
• Conference background
• Registration
• Agenda
• Sponsors

Conference Highlights

• Sandra Kunimoto, Chairperson, Board of Agriculture, and Dr. CY Hu, CTAHR Associate Dean, opened the conference, providing their views on the importance of agtourism for sustainable agriculture in Hawaii today and in the future.
• Featured guest speaker Brent Warner, Agtourism Specialist with the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and author of Marketing on the Edge: A Marketing Guide for Progressive Farmers.
• Featured guest speaker Holly George, University of California Davis, and author of Agricultural and Rural Tourism in California (2006).
  NOTE: All participants received a copy of this book.
• Premiere viewing of the new agtourism video Agtourism in Hawaii.
• Understand the diverse elements of successful agtourism and learn who's doing what right now in Hawaii and North America.
• Make contacts with other like-minded individuals involved in agtourism.
• Learn from farmers and chefs how to participate in the farmer-chef strategic alliance to provide Hawaii-grown cuisine.
• Understand the role of infrastructure in creating successful agtourism attractions, especially farm visits: the importance of creating a regional identity, networking with others, benefiting from zoning regulations, and working with subcontractors.
• Learn about the current status of Hawaii zoning for agtourism from County of Hawaii Planning Dept. Director Chris Yuen and provide input to County planners
• Help create a Hawaii Agtourism Association, and if you wish, become a founding member.
• “Hawaii Grown” lunch
• Optional next-day tour to Hamakua agtourism area for participants who want more in-depth information about getting started in agtourism or expanding their existing operations.

Optional Agtourism Tour

Optional tour to Hamakua agtourism region. Space is limited. Cost: $100/person. For more information, contact Dr. Kent Fleming at fleming@hawaii.edu, or 808-989-3416.

Farm visits will include:

• Volcano Island Honey Company
• Hamakua Mushroom Farm
• Hawaiian Vanilla Company, with lunch

Background

The conference is a continuation of the public discussion and series of programs kicked off as a result of the first four agtourism conferences in Kona in 1999 and 2001, Waimea in 2003, and on three islands (Big Island, Maui, and Oahu) in 2005. All conferences have been organized by the University of Hawaii-Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR), with additional financial support from Kamehameha Schools and a wide range of county, state and federal government agencies, non-government organizations (such as farmer groups and cooperatives), and private farms with agtourism attractions.

One of this conference’s goals is to provide more information on the practical aspects of developing an agtourism attraction.

Registration

The last four agtourism conferences sold out in advance, so early registration is recommended. Registration includes all conference materials, morning breaks, and lunch.

Cost of Registration
Registration is $95, postmarked by January 6, and $110 thereafter, space permitting.
Note: Includes "Hawaii-Grown" lunch (regular or vegetarian) and all conference materials, including new UC-Davis agtourism book and UH-Manoa agtourism DVD

Optional tour Registration
Registration is limited for the optional tour, and is $100 each.
Note: Includes "Hawaii-Grown" lunch and all transportation. (Participants must take part in the group transportation.)

Mail-in or Phone Registration
Download the flyer/registration form and mail with check to Ke Kai Kealoha, 2211 Date Street #91, Honolulu, HI 96826, or call (808) 927-2343 for more information.
with contact information.
Note: You will need Acrobat Reader to open the flyer.

Online Registration with Credit Card
You may also register online by credit card.

Conference Agenda

8:00 – 8:30, Registration
8:30 – 8:50, Welcoming remarks

• Dr. Kent Fleming, Professor & Extension Economist, CTAHR & Conference Chair
• Todd Low, Manager, Market Development Branch, Hawaii Department of Agriculture
• Dr. CY Hu, Assoc. Dean, University of Hawaii, Manoa, CTAHR

8:50 – 9:30, Featured Speaker Holly George

• Holly George, Farm Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension and author of Agricultural and Rural Tourism in California (2006).
  Introduced by Dr. Rick Standiford, Assoc. Vice President of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of California.

9:30 – 10:15, Featured Speaker Dr. Ed Mahoney

• Dr. Ed Mahoney, Professor & Extension Economist, Michigan State University.
  Introduced by Brent Warner, BC Ministry of Agriculture.

10:15 – 10:30, Morning coffee break

10:30 – 11:00, Featured Speaker Brent Warner

• Brent Warner, Agtourism Specialist, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and author of Marketing on the Edge: A Marketing Guide for Progressive Farmers.

11:00 –12:00, Premier of film “Agtourism in Hawaii”

DVD produced (with Western Center for Risk Management Education funding) and directed by Kent Fleming, with panel of participants:

• Chef Peter Merriman, co-founder of Hawaii Regional Cuisine & owner of Merriman’s Restaurant (Waimea), The Hula Grill (Kaanapali, Maui), and the Marketplace (Waikaloa).
• Monty Richards, Kahua Ranch, Waimea
• Lani Weigert & Ali’i Ching, Ali’i Kula Lavender, Kula, Maui
• Jim Reddekop, Hawaiian Vanilla Company
• Gus Brocksen, Coffee farmer, Pele Plantation, Kona

12:00 –12:10, Chef Keith Stelle

• Chef Kieth Stelle, Keauhou Beach Hotel, describe the upcoming lunch.

12:10 – 1:10, “Hawaii Grown” lunch

1:10 –2:10, Chris Yuen, Director, County of Hawaii Planning Department

• Chris Yuen will present the new agtourism zoning regulations and will answer questions and receive comments from the audience.
  Introduced by Dr Richard Bowen, Professor & Extenison Economist, CTAHR.

2:10 – 3:30, Dr Donna Ching, Professor & Extension Specialist, CTAHR

• “What next?” Donna Ching facilitated a group discussion about the possible need to form a Hawaii Agtourism Association. See the transcribed notes in PDF format (if you don't have Acrobat Reader, get it here).
• NOTE: An upcoming meeting to discuss the emerging Agtourism Association is planned for Feb. 8. More information here.
• Kona coffee provided by Pele Plantation and Holualoa Kona Coffee Company.
  

• College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR), University of Hawaii – Manoa
• Kamehameha Schools
• Hawaii Department of Agriculture
• Western Center for Risk Management Education
• Holualoa Coffee Company
• Pele Plantations
• Kona Farmers Alliance