§163D-4 Powers; generally. (a) Except as otherwise limited by this chapter, the corporation may:

(1) Sue and be sued;

(2) Have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure;

(3) Make and alter bylaws for its organization and internal management;

(4) Adopt rules under chapter 91 necessary to effectuate this chapter in connection with its projects, operations, and properties;

(5) Make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions under this chapter;

(6) Carry out surveys, research, and investigations into technological, business, financial, consumer trends, and other aspects of agricultural production in the national and international community;

(7) Acquire or contract to acquire by grant or purchase any real, personal, or mixed property or any interest therein for its immediate or future use for the purposes of this chapter; own, hold, improve, and rehabilitate any real, personal, or mixed property acquired, and sell, assign, exchange, transfer, convey, lease, or otherwise dispose of, or encumber the same;

(8) By itself, or in partnership with qualified persons, acquire, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, improve, alter, or repair any infrastructure or accessory facilities in connection with any project; own, hold, sell, assign, transfer, convey, exchange, lease, or otherwise dispose of, or encumber any project;

(9) In cooperation with the department of agriculture, pursuant to chapter 167, or otherwise through direct investment or coventure with a professional investor or enterprise or any other person, or otherwise, to acquire, construct, operate, and maintain water facilities for conveying, distributing, and transmitting water for irrigation and agricultural uses at rates or charges determined by the corporation; provided that:

(A) This chapter shall not be construed to permit or allow the department of agriculture or any agribusiness development corporation to:

(i) Amend or modify rights or entitlements to water as provided for by article XI, section 7, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, or the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, and chapter 168;

(ii) Diminish or abridge the traditional and customary rights of ahupua`a tenants who inhabited the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778 under sections 1-1 and 7-1; and

(iii) Impair, abridge, or terminate the legal rights or interests to water and its uses, whether by lease, easement, or other means, which are possessed or held by organizations whose primary purpose is to benefit people of Hawaiian ancestry; and

(B) All usage of water shall be in accordance with chapter [174C] and other applicable laws in the State;

(10) Assist agricultural enterprises by conducting detailed marketing analysis and developing marketing and promotional strategies to strengthen the position of those enterprises and to better exploit local, national, and international markets;

(11) Carry out specialized programs designed to develop new markets for Hawaii agricultural products;

(12) Receive, examine, and determine the acceptability of applications of qualified persons for allowances or grants for the development of new crops and agricultural products, the expansion of established agricultural enterprises, and the altering of existing agricultural enterprises;

(13) Coordinate its activities with any federal or state farm credit programs;

(14) Grant options to purchase any project or to renew any lease entered into by it in connection with any of its projects, on the terms and conditions it deems advisable;

(15) Provide advisory, consultative, training, and educational services, technical assistance, and advice to any person, partnership, or corporation, either public or private, in order to carry out the purposes of this chapter, and engage the services of consultants on a contractual basis for rendering professional and technical assistance and advice;

(16) Procure insurance against any loss in connection with its property and other assets and operations in such amounts and from such insurers as it deems desirable;

(17) Accept gifts or grants in any form from any public agency or any other source; and

(18) Do all things necessary or proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(b) The corporation shall develop, promote, assist, and market export crops and other crops for local markets. [L 1994, c 264, pt of §1; am L 1999, c 117, §2]