Environmental survey touts benefits of planned Waikane cacao farm

A plan by a geologist and former mineral exploration company chief executive to establish an organic cacao farm in Wai­kane Valley took a step forward with publication of a draft environmental assessment Sunday.

The project by ‘Ohu­le­hule Forest Conservancy LLC headed by Paul Zweng would have positive environmental benefits that include removing invasive plants, restoring a historic taro field and returning farming to prime agricultural land, according to the draft report filed with the state Office of Environmental Quality Control.

An archaeological inventory survey of the proposed orchard area confirmed that no historic sites are present.

Zweng, who moved to Oahu in 2008 and bought 1,444 acres in the Windward Oahu valley, intends to plant a shade canopy of koa trees under which an orchard of 2,000 to 2,625 cacao trees on five acres would be established as a pilot project.

Cacao trees are expected to mature in about three to five years. If commercial production succeeds, the farm would be expanded to 50 acres, and other area farmers would be encouraged to grow cacao with the idea of establishing the Wai­ahole-­Wai­kane region as an origin for premium cacao. Facilities to process cacao beans, which are used to make chocolate, are also part of Zweng’s plan.

If cacao doesn’t do well, other crops such as avocado and citrus might be cultivated instead, the environmental assessment said.