Before construction of the Waiahole ditch system, the stretch of the Ko`olau mountain range from Kahana to Waiahole could be thought of as an enormous reservoir. Water entered the mountains when rain, released from clouds snagged by the mountain peaks, … Continued
In a policy decision made at the highest levels of state government, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the state Department of Agriculture allied themselves with the interests of the leeward parties in the Waiahole contested case … Continued
Among the most important — but also most subtle — of the arguments made in support of increased flow to the windward side is that natural flows in streams are part of the public trust. As such, the argument continues, … Continued
Around 24 million gallons a day of water are trapped by the windward tunnels that feed into the Waiahole Ditch. Until December 1994, all of this water was taken to the leeward side of the island. Following an agreement negotiated … Continued
Since the second decade of the 20th century, the volume of fresh water flowing into Kane`ohe Bay has steadily dropped. Most scientists studying the bay agree that total freshwater input from streams and springs has dropped about 47 percent overall. … Continued
State Water Division Contracts Are Issued Before Permits Received The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Water and Land Development has routinely signed contracts for water development projects without assurance that permits for them will be issued … Continued
Water Commission Is Poised to Vote On Proposal to Tap Makaleha Springs The state Commission on Water Resource Management has scheduled a meeting on August 2, at which time it is to vote on a proposal to divert water from … Continued
Big Island rancher and Water Commissioner Herbert “Monty” Richards has not yet responded to the request for a statement of no financial conflict made by the attorneys for the windward parties in the contested case over Waiahole water. Nor had … Continued
In December, Environment Hawai`i published the letter of Sheryl Nicholson to Keith Ahue, in which Nicholson, attorney for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, described her encounter with Land Board member Libert Landgraf. Below we reprint, in its entirety, Landgraf’s affidavit, … Continued
A mediated settlement has been reached over what to do in the short term about Waiahole Ditch water that has been emptied into gulches on the leeward side of O`ahu. O`ahu Sugar Company’s practice of wasting the water — 14 … Continued