KAPP White Paper
This white paper presents a research-based proposal for the Kuleana AgTech Pathways (KAPP) program. It examines Hawaiʻi’s agricultural workforce challenges, analyzes structural gaps in the state’s education-to-career pipeline, and outlines a coordinated strategy to build long-term resilience through agricultural technology and civic infrastructure training. It is designed to inform policymakers, educators, agency leaders, and community partners about both the urgency of the issue and the viability of the solution.
What Is KAPP?
The Kuleana AgTech Pathways Program (KAPP) is a proposal developed through the Food+ Policy Food Policy Incubator, a 14-week pilot program guiding participants through transforming food system challenges into community-rooted policy solutions.
The Incubator supports research, stakeholder outreach, systems analysis, and collaborative proposal development grounded in Hawaiʻi’s local realities. KAPP emerged from this process as a workforce and resilience initiative centered on agriculture, education, and civic infrastructure.
KAPP has been introduced in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature through two Senate measures: SB2168 and SB2320, both relating to agriculture and establishing the Kuleana AgTech Pathways Pilot Program. SB2168 was introduced by Senators Richards and Chang and referred to EDU/AEN and WAM, but is not currently advancing. SB2320, introduced by Senators Gabbard, Chang, Hashimoto, Kanuha, McKelvey, Richards, and San Buenaventura, carries the same core proposal and is currently moving through the legislative process. SB2320 establishes the program within the University of Hawaiʻi system, requires interagency collaboration (UH, DOE, DAB, ADC, DLIR, and community partners), mandates reporting to the Legislature, and includes an appropriation measure.
The first scheduled public hearing for SB2320 is February 18 at 4:15 PM.
Written testimony for this hearing must be submitted by February 17 at 4:15 PM.
A community testimony template is available below to support participation in the legislative process.
Program Overview
Proposal: Senate Bill 2320 (SB2320)
Focus: Agriculture + Geospatial Sciences + Workforce Development
Scope: Statewide Pilot Program
SB2320 proposes establishing the Kuleana AgTech Pathways Program within the University of Hawaiʻi system in collaboration with:
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Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE)
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Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity
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Agribusiness Development Corporation
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Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
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Community-based partners
The program is designed to create structured education-to-workforce pipelines in agricultural technology.
The Challenge
Aging Agricultural Workforce
Hawaiʻi’s farmers are among the oldest in the nation, creating succession risk across the agricultural sector.
Uneven Education Access
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) pathways exist in select HIDOE schools but lack consistent statewide scale, technical specialization, and integration with emerging AgTech skills.
Import Dependence
Hawaiʻi remains heavily reliant on imported food, increasing vulnerability during supply chain disruptions and disasters.
Farm Contraction
Between 2017 and 2022, the number of farms declined, and farmland acreage decreased statewide.
What KAPP Would Do
Regional AgTech Hubs
Establish county-based hubs to coordinate curriculum, equipment access, mentorship, and industry partnerships.
Technical Skill Development
Students would gain training in:
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Geospatial sciences (GIS and spatial analysis)
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Drone operations and remote sensing
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Climate-smart agriculture
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Data automation and reporting
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Precision agriculture technologies
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Systems-based land stewardship
Work-Based Learning
Structured internships, apprenticeships, and supervised agricultural experience placements aligned with farms, loʻi, and community agriculture sites.
Dual-Credit & Stackable Credentials
Clear pathways from HIDOE CTE programs into University of Hawaiʻi community college credentials and industry-recognized certifications.
Why this matters
KAPP positions agriculture as a high-skill, high-demand sector rather than solely field labor.
Geospatial capacity strengthens:
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Farm efficiency
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Water management
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Wildfire preparedness
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Climate adaptation
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Disaster response coordination
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Public planning infrastructure
The same spatial competencies used in agriculture are essential in emergency response and civic resilience.
Place-Based Foundation
KAPP integrates cultural grounding with technical training. Students would be paired with local farms or community agriculture sites to complete applied capstone projects such as:
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Irrigation mapping and water-use optimization
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Wildfire risk buffer analysis
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Soil health dashboards
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Farm logistics and market access mapping
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Pest monitoring and reporting systems
This model ensures learning remains rooted in Hawaiʻi’s land, culture, and community needs.
Testimony Template
A testimony template is now available for community members who wish to support SB2320 — the Kuleana AgTech Pathways Program. The first public hearing is scheduled for February 18 at 4:15 PM.Written testimony is due by February 17 at 4:15 PM. Use this template to submit testimony and help strengthen Hawaiʻi’s agricultural workforce pipeline.
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