On December 9, the Land Board backtracked on its November 10 decision regarding the continuation of four revocable water permits to Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., and East Maui Irrigation Co., which A&B co-owns with Mahi Pono, LLC. Mahi Pono grows … Continued
“Hopefully we can put to rest, at least for a couple years, all the East Maui water issues,” Mike Buck said at the October meeting of the state Commission on Water Resource Management. Alas, that would not be the case … Continued
On November 15, the Water Commission approved a settlement with Olowalu Water Company, LLC of a violation case commission staff brought in October. Staff had initially recommended that the commission find that the company had violated the interim instream flow … Continued
In April, press releases from the state Commission on Water Resource Management and the Earthjustice law firm trumpeted the commission’s decision that month to restore five streams on Molokaʻi for the first time in more than a century. Broadcast, print, … Continued
“I almost can’t believe I’m going to say this,” said commissioner Mike Buck before moving to defer taking action on alleged violations of the interim instream flow standard (IIFS) for Olowalu Stream in West Maui. At the commission’s October 18 … Continued
In September, Water Commission hydrologist Ayron Strauch presented a draft proposal to amend the interim instream flow standards of 11 streams in East Maui that were not part of a 2018 contested case hearing decision and order amending about two … Continued
Commission Gives Hui Permit to Rebuild Waiheʻe ʻAuwai Destroyed by 2018 Flood On February 18, 2018, a massive flood ripped away a 500-year-old ʻawuai that fed dozens of acres of loʻi kalo in North Waiheʻe in Central Maui. Although hundreds … Continued
Sierra Club Appeals BLNR Decision Over Four East Maui Stream Permits For now, the four permits granted in 2020 by the Board of Land and Natural Resources to Alexander & Baldwin and its East Maui irrigation Company so they could … Continued
On June 24, the Public Utilities Commission approved a new rate schedule sought by Launiupoko Irrigation Company (LIC) for the delivery of water to its 400-plus agricultural and residential customers. Instead of paying a flat rate of 76 cents per … Continued
“We’re already pushing our luck with a hundred-year-old dam,” said Aimee Barnes last month. Barnes was the sole member of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to vote against a recommendation by the Department of Land and Natural … Continued