Buying a North Kohala Farm or Ranch Large Acreage

I have written so often about agricultural properties, ranches for sale, macadamia nut farms, horse-friendly equestrian properties, and generally about what you can do with property zoned for agriculture, that it is unsurprising how many calls I get on these topics. Sometimes the caller already has purchased a property here on the Big Island and wants advice on something their agent failed to explain, like how to continue to qualify for a property tax deduction. Sometimes, it is a prospective buyer, and those range from experienced farmers and ranchers to people looking for a lifestyle change, which includes growing food or having animals on their property.

Right now there are excellent properties for sale in North Kohala, for both the serious agricultural producer and the hobby or beginning farmer. Some are vacant land parcels where you can also build your dream ranch home and equestrian facilities. Some have a starter house with room to expand or add a dwelling if you chose to do so.

North Kohalaʻs commercial level agriculture production includes dairy as well as beef cattle, macadamia nuts, and traditional crops like kalo and ʻulu

A Fifth Generation Rancher Talks About Agriculture, Conservation and Stewardship

Do you dream of farming or ranching in Hawaiʻi, contributing to our sustainability and local food security?  In his address last week to the Hawaiʻi State Senate, North Kohala resident AR Richards talked about the hard work of farming and ranching and growing food. He said it way better than I can. By the way – he and his twin sister are nine years old.

Established Farms and Ranches for Sale in North Kohala, Big Island

There are a number of working farms and ranches of various sizes for sale in North Kohala, looking for their next steward.

Focusing on large acreages with infrastructure and established agricultural production, here are some North Kohala agricultural properties currently available.

Oceanfront Agricultural Acreage Near Kapaʻau

Build a home or two on the oceanfront, with 400 acres for cattle and food production, asking $22 million. MLS 665113

This set of nine parcels totals 412 acres, and includes two oceanfront lots. Build a home or two near the oceanfront, let cattle continue to graze, and plant additional orchards and crops with nursery buildings and a deep well for ag water already included. Donating agricultural conservation easements across the bulk of the property good be an option that would keep this land in agricultural use in perpetuity.

Large Cattle Ranch Parcels on Kohala Mountain Road

A small state-owned parcel protecting an important cultural site lies along the upper boundary of the 615 acre ranch parcel. In this photo, the 615-acre parcel is just makai (towards the ocean). A buyer who purchased the three parcels for a total of 1,325 acres would be subject to an easement for cultural practitioner access to the site.

If you prefer a working cattle ranch at a bit more elevation with west-facing views of sunsets and Maui, you could buy one of these listings on Kohala Mountain Road. Each is listed for $5.9 million:

MLS 669545 is a 615-acre parcel.

MLS 670659 is a parcel of 185 acres that is potentially subdividable. Extinguishing entitlements would make an agricultural conservation easement value higher.

The two listings are separated by a third parcel of 525 acres, not shown separately in the MLS, that could be acquired for a total of 1,325 acres of cattle ranch just down the road from where AR and Lil Timmy the steer make their home.

Hawi Farm With Macadamia Nuts, Cacao, Coffee and Tropical Fruit Orchards

Gourmet chocolate bars were made from the rare Criollo cacao beans grown and dried on MLS 659670

If you are interested in farming more than ranching, this 141-acre farm for sale consists of two parcels. There is a modest home on the lower parcel along with agricultural buildings, and wonderful potential for an estate home on the upper parcel. Mature cacao, avocado, coffee, macadamia, fig, banana and kava are already planted on the property. If you look at this post from 2017 when the property was previously listed, you can see a short video from what would be a logical home site. Current asking price of $4,495,000 is only slightly higher than the 2017 listing price.

If what you are looking for is a much smaller acreage for a few horses, vegetable gardens, or orchards, I can also send you a list of those property for sale.