HONOLULU (KHON2) — A new law is set to change the game for Hawaiʻi’s farmers and ranchers who have been victims of agricultural crimes. Senate Bill 1249 — also known as “Duke’s Law” — is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Josh Green next week, launching a major crackdown on trespassers, thieves and poachers targeting agricultural land.
Once signed into law, the state Department of Law Enforcement will initiate a pilot agricultural enforcement program starting July 1. The program will deploy nine dedicated officers — four on Oʻahu, four on Hawaiʻi Island and one supervisor overseeing both teams.
“The message we want to send out to these poachers and criminals is there is a new sheriff in town, and we’re not playing games anymore with criminal activities happening on ag land,” said Sen. Samantha DeCorte, who represents West Oahu. “If you do the crime, you’re going to do the time.”
The law is named in memory of Cranston “Duke” Pia, a 39-year-old Waiʻanae rancher who was fatally shot in 2024 during a confrontation with trespassing hunters.
His death spearheaded community members, lawmakers and agricultural groups to push for more serious enforcement and tougher penalties.
On Saturday, officials from the Department of Agriculture, lawmakers, ranchers, the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau and Cattlemen’s Council joined the DLE to prepare for the bill’s rollout, and send a message to criminals.
“The biggest thing we want the criminals to know is that the ag community is fed up,” said DLE Director Mike Lambert. “Law enforcement hears it, and it’s going to be a sure thing that penalties will be stiff.”
Currently, many agricultural crimes result only in small fines. Under the new law, habitual offenders — those with three or more ag-related offenses within five years — will face felony charges and jail time. The bill also allows for the seizure of weapons, vehicles and other equipment used in these crimes.
The pilot program, with about $2 million in funding, will utilize tools like drones and license plate recognition cameras to help patrol large and remote land.
“It could take 30 to 40 minutes for an officer to investigate,” Lambert explained. “In theory, if we had a drone at the location, it could be out in one minute and begin capturing that violation.”
DLE will continue coordinating with the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ DOCARE branch — which focuses more on conservation — while DLE’s efforts will prioritize human-related crimes like theft and trespassing.
The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau estimates that ag crimes cost local farmers and ranchers up to $15 million annually.
“Ag crimes are such a big issue for our farmers and ranchers, and for lawmakers to recognize it’s a crime and pass this historic bill will make a difference,” said Brian Miyamoto of the Farm Bureau.
“If we didn’t have trespass, we wouldn’t see vandalism and theft,” said Sen. Tim Richards, a Big Island rancher and vice chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment. “If we can get our arms around trespassing, we can knock these crimes way down.”
For Pia’s family, the law represents hope for others.
“With this ag bill, his name is going to live on,” said Kalei Salcedo, Pia’s aunt. “I have never had the faith and expectation that I have right now with DLE. They have the tools, and they’re going to get it done.”
DLE officials are urging farmers and ranchers to report all incidents, no matter how minor, to help build cases and show the scale of the problem.
“Ag crime is no different than any other crime,” Miyamoto said. “It impacts lives and livelihoods.”
Officials said the more people reporting crimes, the more data they will have and be able to use to enhance laws in the future to utilize more funding, staff and tools.