Water Rights – And Wrongs
For two decades plus, hundreds of luxury estates have been sprouting on former cane land south of Lahaina, more than half of which are not the primary home of their owners. Most of that time, the lush landscaping and extravagant water features sailed under the radar – until the stream that supported all of that could no longer do so.
What has happened in that area over the last six years should force county and state officials to reckon with just how willing they are to have prime agricultural land be developed with these sham farms. And how committed they really are to protecting and advancing the constitutionally protected rights of taro farmers, the resources that make up the public trust, and a society that furthers goals of equity, inclusion, and economic well-being for all.
The two “farm dwellings” on this condominiumized lot together consume an average of 6,339 gallons per day of potable water. A breakdown on non-potable water use was not available. The general irrigation standard for diversified agriculture is 2,500 gallons per acre per day.
Image provided to PUC by Launiupoko Water Company.
