McP,
I've thought the same thing myself! Hawaii is on the approximately on the same latitude as Cuba and I read that the Vuelta Abajo's soil is red clay... which is the predominant soil on most of the islands. Our soil is a volcanic clay type which is rich in nutrients... it must be because the weeds love it... LOL!
The problem I see with tobacco being grown as a commercial crop is the COST. The cost of land here is very high and by the time quality tobacco is grown & harvested it would already have a rather high price tag attached to it. The state is looking towards diversifying the agricultural industry and maybe one day someone will look at tobacco as a viable cash crop... especially cigar tobacco! But... with our high cost of living, high taxes, tons of government regulation and anit-business friendly enviroment I would doubt that any savvy tobacco farmer would want to grow it here. Just my opinion... I hope I'm wrong and someone will give it a shot as I'd think a great crop of tobacco could be grown here.
Aloha,
Wade