Newly released, first-of-its-kind agricultural maps for the state of Hawaiʻi are set to transform how the state monitors crops, supports food security, and responds to environmental threats. The Hawaiʻi Cropland Data Layer (HCDL), developed by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), provides high-resolution, crop-specific data for the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. The maps are publicly accessible through NASS’s geospatial platforms, CroplandCROS and AgriWatch. For years, Hawaiʻi lacked detailed annual crop maps, leaving a critical gap in agricultural monitoring. This absence hindered efforts to track land use, assess crop diversity, and support food security initiatives. The situation became especially apparent during the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires, when officials had limited ability to quickly determine which farms were affected, what crops were lost, and where recovery resources were most urgently needed. Without current, field-scale data, assessments relied on outdated maps and on-the-ground reports, delaying response and recovery efforts. The HCDL fills this void by using advanced technology, including Google Earth Engine and AI-powered tools from Google’s DeepMind, to analyze satellite imagery and classify crops at a fine scale. The project was led by Qi Chen from UH Mānoa’s Department of Geography and Environment, with co-direction by Zhe Li, a geographer with the USDA. Hawaiʻi’s agricultural landscape presents unique challenges. Unlike large, uniform farms common on the U.S. mainland, the state’s farms are typically small, fragmented, and grow a wide variety of crops together. This complexity makes mapping difficult but also makes accurate data especially valuable. High-resolution maps can now help guide irrigation planning, manage invasive species, and improve resilience to climate change and natural disasters. Beyond disaster response, the maps have long-term benefits. By combining crop data with real-time satellite information on drought, weather patterns, and wildfire risk, agencies can proactively identify vulnerable areas and direct support—such as water resources, pest control, or extension services—where it’s needed most. The HCDL will be updated annually, with the 2025 dataset expected to be released in February 2026. The research team includes Noa Lincoln from UH Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Zhengwei Yang of the USDA, Haonan Chen from Colorado State University, and Changyong Cao of NOAA’s Satellite Meteorology and Climatology Division. With this new tool, Hawaiʻi is taking a major step toward more sustainable, resilient, and data-driven agriculture.