For the most part, at the time the great irrigation systems were being developed, scant attention was paid to the effects of the water transfers upon farmers and others relying upon the stream water for their livelihood. In the case of the diversion of the upper flows of Waiahole Stream into Waiahole Tunnel, however, one H. Harrison protested vigorously. We reprint here his correspondence with the territorial governor of the time, Walter F. Frear:
1419 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, T.H.
October 26, 1912
To the Honorable,
The Governor of the Territory of Hawai`i.
As I am a land owner at various places along the stream which it is now proposed to sell, and at the outlet thereof, would like to know what are the conditions of sale and what arrangements will be made with the land owners in this locality to insure them a plentiful supply of water both for irrigation and domestic purposes, this being the only water we are able now to use.
Thanking you in anticipation of an early reply, I am, sir,
Respectfully yours,
H. Harrison
* * *
October 28, 1912
Mr. H. Harrison,
1419 Punchbowl Street,
Honolulu, T.H.
I have your letter of the 26th inst., inquiring in regard to the sale of water at Waiahole. The Waiahole stream increases rapidly in the quantity of water from its source at 820 feet elevation to the sea. It is expected that after the license of the water has taken what it is entitled to at the higher elevations there will be ample left for all persons below. The license was drawn only after taking measurements of the stream at different points for a considerable period, including some of the driest weather.
Respectfully yours,
Governor of Hawai`i
* * *
Honolulu, T.H.
October 29, 1912
To the Honorable,
The Governor of the Territory of Hawai`i,
I am in receipt of your note of the 28th inst., for which I thank you; but as I don’t quite understand what you consider an ample supply of Water, will you kindly explain to me more fully regarding quantity as herewith stated below:
There is at present a flow of 7,000,000 gallons per 24 hours in a ditch which supplies some of my patches on the Ka`alaea side of the river. Again at Waikane side of river, or the ditch that runs through Judge Aikue’s property has been supplying from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 gallons per 24 hours as required for patches further down.
As to our supply of water for domestic purposes, this we obtain from the Waiahole stream at the outlet which at present has an overflow of 25,000,000 gallons per 24 hours. Will you kindly state to me what quantity will continue to flow in said ditches and stream after the Assignees’ plant is fully established and running to its fullest capacity.
Awaiting your favorable reply and thanking you in anticipation, I am, Sir,
Yours respectfully,
H. Harrison
* * *
October 31, 1912
Mr. H. Harrison,
1419 Punchbowl St.,
Honolulu, T.H.
I have your letter of the 29th inst., replying to mine in regard to the Waiahole water. The proposed water license expressly provides that it is made subject to all rights of others, and if you have any rights in the water of the Waiahole stream, they cannot be affected in the least. But that is not all. As you state, 25,000,000 gallons a day are running to waste into the ocean after supplying all the rice and taro patches and other land above. As it is not probable that the licensees will take more than 10,000,000 gallons a day of the water now flowing in Waiahole stream, it follows that there will still be practically 15,000,000 gallons running to waste after supplying the rice and taro patches and other lands, which also are supplied in part by the other branch of the stream which comes from Uwau and Waianu II, the water of which has been sold by Mr. McCandless to the same people. It will be impossible to say now definitely how much water will continue to flow in the ditches and in the stream when the licensees’ plant is completed and running to its fullest capacity, nor is it necessary to say that. Some of the ditches at present are taking much more water than they need to. The water from some of them runs mostly back into the stream instead of into the rice and taro patches. I do not think you have any cause for worry.
Respectfully yours,
Governor of Hawai`i
Volume 5 Number 4 (October 1994)
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