This past summer a crop of watermelons and bell peppers became the first fruits and vegetables produced from fields of rich soil near Wahiawa that had been fallow since 2004 after decades of pineapple farming.

By all accounts, the harvest covering 250 acres was a success. But it marked an undersized and delayed realization of a plan that state leaders touted four years ago to make 1,200 acres of a former Del Monte pineapple plantation into a major new source of fresh local produce.

The watermelons and bell peppers grown by local farmer Larry Jefts of Sugarland Growers Inc. and Kalena Farms were a far cry from an abundance of cabbage, lettuce, basil, tomato and other crops that were expected to be planted on the 1,200 acres by mid-2013 as touted during a news conference held by then-Gov. Neil Abercrombie with state agriculture officials.

“Within about six months the land should be ready to go, ready to plant,” James Nakatani, executive director of the state Agribusiness Development Corp., said at the December 2012 event celebrating the state’s acquisition of the land.

Added Abercrombie: ”I think we’re going to take major strides toward agricultural sustainability that simply hasn’t been possible.”

Nearly four years later, Jefts produced his crop on a relatively small portion of the site, and he plans to plant another mix of crops next spring. Yet it could be another year, or maybe more, before farming reappears on most of the old Del Monte site.

The problem has been water and money.

The state spent $13 million in 2012 to buy the 1,200 acres as part of a $25 million deal for 1,700 acres purchased from the Galbraith Estate. The city, U.S. Army, developer D.R. Horton and the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs chipped in the $12 million balance that gave the Army a buffer from urban development and provided OHA with 500 acres surrounding the historic Kukaniloko Birthstone site where famous Hawaiian chiefs were born.

During Abercrombie’s news conference, the farmland was described as having some consistent rainfall and water wells while the soil just needed grading and calcium added to reduce high acidity left over from pineapple.

But existing water sources were actually inadequate for much more than what Jefts has grown, according to Nakatani, who said in an interview that things were overstated at the 2012 news conference.

The well water and rain was sufficient for pineapple, which needs relatively little water. But for diversified crops, a bigger and better water system was needed.

Hawaii lawmakers set aside $750,000 in 2012 for irrigation planning and design work on the Galbraith site. Another $8 million was sought at the Legislature to build irrigation infrastructure, but bills to secure that money failed in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“At this present time, the Galbraith land does not have an irrigation system compatible with today’s diversified agricultural farming operations,” the Agribusiness Development Corp. said in written testimony on a 2013 bill.

Meanwhile, the agency also had to prepare an environmental assessment for planned irrigation system improvements that include four reservoirs and one new well. The assessment was finished a year ago.

Earlier this year, a state budget was passed with $13 million to pay for two reservoirs, pumps and other infrastructure to supply most of the Galbraith site with water to support diversified farming. Two farms, Kalena led by Jefts and Ohana Best Farm led by Hwa (Jun) Young Chung, also plan to build their own reservoirs for an estimated $500,000 each.

Nakatani said the first state reservoir should be in place by next summer to irrigate 600 to 900 acres. He also said some smaller farms could be on plots by the end of this year.

“We’re moving,” he said, acknowledging that the pace has been slow.

Ohana Best has a license to use 160 acres of the Galbraith site, and has been preparing its land for diversified farming. The state also licensed 50 acres for use by Ho Family Farms.

Jefts, one of Hawaii’s biggest diversified crop farmers who operates in Kunia and other parts of the state, said the Galbraith site is prime farmland and has the potential to be a good source of local food production. “The Galbraith land, if managed properly, is as good as any other,” he said.