Posted on: Monday, July 26, 2004
Maui mayor seeks way to help evicted farmers
Associated Press
WAILUKU, Maui — Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa is trying to find an alternative site for about two dozen Ma'alaea farmers being evicted by Wailuku Agribusiness Co.
But Wailuku Agribusiness President Avery Chumbley said the buyer of the 260 acres wants all of the tenants off the property.
The farmers were informed of the eviction deadline in January, he said.
Chumbley said he has talked with Arakawa about a 621-acre parcel that could be turned into an agriculture park.
Arakawa said he had proposed setting aside $14 million in the 2003-04 budget to look at buying land from Wailuku Agribusiness for various uses, including the agriculture park, but the County Council took the request out of the budget.
The mayor said he has asked Alexander & Baldwin Inc. to see if it has any parcels that might be appropriate for a new agriculture park.
Arakawa met with the farmers last week to explore whether there was a possibility of delaying the evictions set for Aug. 31.
Mayor Alan Arakawa
