The owners of Aloun Farms have publicly come out in support of Hoopili — a mater-planned community of 11,750 homes that will displace their farm. 

Alec Sou, who owns the farm with his brother Mike Sou, submitted testimony to the state Land Use Commission in support of the development on Tuesday. Commissioners are hearing arguments for and against whether to allow Hoopili to proceed. 

The development will displace 1,500 acres of prime ag land, most of it is being farmed by the Sou brothers. 

According to Alec Sou’s written testimony:

This will come as a surprise to many but Aloun Farms supports the development of Hoopili. We have worked with D.R. Horton to come up with an orderly, long term transition of our farm land. 

The Sou brothers have already secured 400 acres of alternative ag land, with the possibility of expanding it to as much as 1,000 acres, according to the testimony. The location of the land was not disclosed. 

The testimony is a surprise because according to their lease with property owner D.R. Horton, they are not allowed to publicly speak out about the project. 

Opponents of Hoopili have made the displacement of Aloun Farms a central component of their argument against the development.