Mayor Mufi Hannemann this morning announced a deal to preserve 115 homes in the Kunia Plantation Village that are home to agricultural workers and former employees of the Del Monte Plantation, according to a city news release.

The James Campbell Company agreed to transfer the 119-acre village to the nonprofit Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC) for $1.

HARC would maintain in perpetuity the plantation homes as affordable rentals for agricultural workers and retirees, according to the release.

"When finalized, this agreement should bring peace of mind to Del Monte retirees living in Kunia Village," said Hannemann, in a news release. "The city has been working closely with the Campbell Company and ILWU since Del Monte announced the closure of its operations in Hawaii in 2006. I am pleased that we are able to preserve a significant part of our island history and support our vital agriculture industry. This is the type of public-private partnership that our administration prides itself on. I'm hopeful that the Planning Commission and City Council will recognize the merit of this important plan and approve it."