Swap the Best for Last
Deception: Here's a great example of how D.R. Horton is deceiving the public. On their "Facts vs. Myths - Ho‘opili and Agriculture" page they list three myths saying that there has been some misinformation about Hoʻopili. What's the problem? The problem is that they made up their own myths! No one is claiming what they claim people are claiming! Confused? Let's take a closer look.
Click image to view this page on Horton's site
Myth (according to Horton) #1: Ho‘opili will displace the last farmable land on O‘ahu.
Nobody is saying that. No one has ever said that.
What people are really saying: Ho‘opili will displace the best farmable land on O‘ahu.
Truth: Some debate exists as to whether the farmland at Ho‘opili is really the best, but no one will argue that is isn't really, really excellent land for farming. Here is a good article by Civil Beat on the subject. To put houses on this land would be a tremendous shame.
Nobody is saying that. No one has ever said that.
What people are really saying: Ho‘opili will displace the best farmable land on O‘ahu.
Truth: Some debate exists as to whether the farmland at Ho‘opili is really the best, but no one will argue that is isn't really, really excellent land for farming. Here is a good article by Civil Beat on the subject. To put houses on this land would be a tremendous shame.
Click image to view this page on Horton's site
Myth (according to Horton) #2: All farming will end at Ho‘opili as soon as the project is built.
Nobody is saying that. No one has ever said that.
What people are really saying: Farming will end at Ho‘opili if the project is built.
Truth: If Ho‘opili is built, farming, on the scale it is being done today, will cease... forever. Horton, in their 'Fact' section under this myth states, "Ultimately, Ho‘opili will transition to a more sustainable, “method-intensive” farming community, using less land and water." This is simply not true. If there were a better way to farm, "method-intensive" or not, farmers would be doing it now. Horton's plan is to build nearly 12,000 homes plus roads, schools, businesses, and the usual urban development yet at the same time they're trying to convince people that the farming will remain. How is that possible? The truth is it's not!
Nobody is saying that. No one has ever said that.
What people are really saying: Farming will end at Ho‘opili if the project is built.
Truth: If Ho‘opili is built, farming, on the scale it is being done today, will cease... forever. Horton, in their 'Fact' section under this myth states, "Ultimately, Ho‘opili will transition to a more sustainable, “method-intensive” farming community, using less land and water." This is simply not true. If there were a better way to farm, "method-intensive" or not, farmers would be doing it now. Horton's plan is to build nearly 12,000 homes plus roads, schools, businesses, and the usual urban development yet at the same time they're trying to convince people that the farming will remain. How is that possible? The truth is it's not!
Click image to view this page on Horton's site
Myth (according to Horton) #3: Hawai‘i produces only 15% of its own food.
This isn't a myth. It's true!
[source: Food Self-Sufficiency in Hawai`i, A Hawai`i Department of Agriculture White Paper, page 2]
This isn't a myth. It's true!
[source: Food Self-Sufficiency in Hawai`i, A Hawai`i Department of Agriculture White Paper, page 2]
Conclusion: So there you have it, three 'myths' made up by Horton. Presumably they made them up to try and make themselves look good. It didn't work. Don't be fooled!
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