While the overall purpose of the association is to encourage communication and fellowship among members, and to work together for long term solutions to problems, the association was originally formed because of the escalating theft in the farm areas.

Waimanalo Agriculture Association (WAA) came to be in November of 1995. Three notorious thieves had been hitting nurseries hard. Hot items included red palms, aphis and large phoenix palms— but nothing was off limits. Reports from that time include plants, equipment, fertilizer, and even exotic birds.

As you might expect in a small community, everyone around here knew who was responsible for the thievery, but not much could be done unless caught in the act. Residents of the farm lots gathered at Glennʻs Nursery to form a plan—the inaugural meeting that would morph into an official assembly of the Waimanalo Agriculture Association.

The result of their meeting was to enact a nightly neighborhood patrol— the first in the state—covering from Flamingo to Ahiki, Hihimanu and mauka. A magnetic sign was donated to distinguish the vehicle on duty, and fifty or so people took turns patrolling day and night.

The added vigilance was successful at curtailing crime, but more importantly, fostered community and camaraderie amongst folks of the backroads. Here we are, nearly thirty years later. The notorious thieves have since passed, but farmers continue to meet every odd numbered month to discuss problems or new developments in the agricultural community. Many of the original members remain, some are even joined or proceeded by their next generation, the future of Waimanalo agriculture.