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If the recent experience of the dairy industry is any indication, the prospects for reaching better food security for Hawaii are looking dim. Read more

If the recent experience of the dairy industry is any indication, the prospects for reaching better food security for Hawaii are looking dim. There have been two attempts to make dairies a going concern in Hawaii again, and both have stumbled.

Ulupono Initiative, the local investment firm established by billionaire eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, has hit a wall in its hopes to create Hawaii Dairy Farms on Kauai. Its plan to manage the waste from its 2,000 cows appeared likely to face challenges in meeting state Department of Health environmental regulations. A few weeks ago, Ulupono Initiative issued a statement indicating it was ready to throw in the towel.

Likewise, wastewater spills due to the effects of Hurricane Lane at Big Island Dairy last August led to steep fines assessed against its owner, who decided to shut down instead.

There are myriad problems trying to run a dairy on an island prone to heavy rains and runoff that fouls the water, to name one risk. And this is likely to become an even bigger hurdle with the advent of climate change. In addition, as residential and tourism developments continue to encroach on agricultural land, there are complaints from residents and visitors who don’t like the sounds — and smells — of nearby farm operations.

The Ige administration has a stated goal of improving food production in the state, but there has been little strategizing for how to overcome impediments such as these.

Surely there could be solutions in the offing. But if a billionaire can’t make a go of it, that’s pretty dispiriting.

Correction: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly attributed the statement suspending plans for Hawaii Dairy Farms to Pierre Omidyar. The statement was issued by the initiative itself, which had been pursuing the plans for the Kauai dairy