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Posted: Sunday, January 30th, 2011 8:04 AM HST

No development vowed for 2,000 Oahu, Kau acres

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — A self-storage entrepreneur is protecting more than 2,000 acres of Hawaii agricultural land from development. The conservation easement deal between property owner Ed Olson and the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust guarantees housing developments and shopping malls will never be built on 1,276 acres on the slopes of Oahu's Waianae mountains and 907 acres in the Big Island's Kau district. The agreement protects farmland and ensures people will continue to be able to enjoy scenic views uninterrupted by houses, roads and power lines. Most of the Oahu property is used by three small ranchers, who will continue to lease the land. The Kau land was once used to grow sugar cane. A renewable energy company now plans to use it to grow biofuels.