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Posted: Sunday, May 8th, 2005 7:08 AM HST

Lawmakers implement 1978 amendment to preserve agricultural lands

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ In 1978, Hawaii voters approved a state constitutional amendment calling for the conservation and protection of agricultural lands. Nearly 27 years later, the state Legislature has finally passed the legislation to implement the amendment. Represenative Ezra Kanoho says the bill, which passed Tuesday, is only the beginning of the process. It could be another four or five years before the constitutional mandate is fully implemented. A version of the bill has been introduced every year since 2001. The bill that passed is a compromise measure intended to set policies and procedures for identifying important agricultural lands, and for developing incentives for agricultural viability in Hawaii. Governor Lingle says if it is a good bill, she will sign it with enthusiasm because this kind of a measure has been required since 1978 by the constitutional convention. (Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved.)