Thanks to extremely rich soil from heavy rainfall and a mild year-round climate, Hawaii is primed for agriculture. Home to 6,569 crop and livestock farms averaging around 160 acres in size, over 30% of Hawaii's land usage – or around 1 million acres – is dedicated to farming.

Hawaii, unlike most other states, relies on federal data because it doesn't have the staff or resources to produce it's own data. The 10.4% decline in the number of farms, from 7,328 to 6,569, is a “disappointing, somewhat disturbing” trend, Hawaii Farm Bureau Executive Director Brian Miyamoto said.

Today, the leading traditional crops, sugarcane and pineapple, are grown on large plantations. Sugarcane is grown on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. Fruits and vegetables are grown for local consumption, while greenhouse and nursery products, papayas, macadamia nuts, and coffee are grown for export.