KAHEA - The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance

Restore Water to East Maui!

Parched loi in East Maui, July 2008

WRITE YOUR OWN LETTER OF SUPPORT USING THE FORM BELOW
Or you can also just press send on the pre-written letter of support that outlines the legal case made by the attorneys for the taro farmers.

Water Commission to Consider Taro Farmers Petitions
to Restore Water to 8 Streams in East Maui
WEDNESDAY, September 24, 2008
Haiku Community Center
1:00 PM (to continue into the evening)

Taro farmers and traditional cultural practitioners are seeking your help to return the natural flow of water to their streams. A public hearing on whether and to what extent water should be returned to eight streams in East Maui will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2008. It has taken taro farmers seven years worth of legal battles to get this important hearing. Now, your support is urgently needed.

In 2001, Na Moku Aupuni O Ko`olau Hui, an association of taro farmers and Hawaiian subsistence gatherers of Wailuanui Valley, and Beatrice Kekahuna and Marjorie Wallett of Honopou Valley filed petitions to restore 27 streams in East Maui. Under the law, the Water Commission was supposed to respond in 180 days.

Finally, after an unexplainable 7-year delay, the Commission on Water Resources Management is ready to finally review its staff recommendations on whether and how much water to restore to 8 East Maui streams. The Water Commission has set a meeting for this purpose on September 24, 2008 on Maui to receive input from the public on this crucial issue.

East Maui Irrigation Company (EMI), a subsidiary of Alexander and Baldwin, currently diverts an average of 160 million gallons of water per day and as much as 450 million gallons of water per day. Virtually all of this water is diverted from 33,000 acres of land once owned by the Hawaiian Kingdom and now held in trust for the public by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. While typical irrigation subscribers pay a minimum of 35 cents per 1000 gallons of water, EMI pays the state only 1/5 of a cent for every 1000 gallons of water it diverts from over 100 East Maui streams.

Currently, all O`ahu domestic water consumers use about as much water as EMI diverts from East Maui. Hawaiian taro farmers and gatherers need only a fraction of this massive diversion to preserve their cultural traditions dependent on free flowing streams. Without doubt, these companies will use all of their economic and political muscle to stop or limit this effort to restore the natural flow of water to East Maui.

Please spread the word for people to support the taro farmers and subsistence gatherers by:

(1) testifying in person at the meeting on Wednesday, September 24th at the Haiku Community Center

(2) sending in written testimony or letters of support in advance of the Sept. 24th meeting

(3) attending a possible press conference at the hearings to signify support for releasing water back into the streams

(4) writing letters to the editors of the Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu Star Bulletin, Maui News, Haleakala Times, Honolulu Weekly,

or other publication.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO WRITE YOUR OWN LETTER USING THE FORM BELOW, it will be sent to the Water Commission for you.

Or you can simply press send on this pre-written letter of support that outlines the legal case made by the attorneys for the taro farmers.

>>Learn More

February 10, 2010

Subject:

Dear Members, Commission on Water Resources Management

I am writing in support of the taro farmers and families of East Maui who have suffered too long with insufficient water in their streams. On behalf of the severely distressed communities, native ecosystems, watershed flora and fauna, from mauka to makai, please restore the water to East Maui Koolau. The legal rights that are designed to protect and perpetuate traditional Hawaiian customs, environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture in Hawaii must be fully and properly enforced. Ua mau ke ʻea o ka ʻaina i ka pono. At the September 24, 2008 meeting on Maui please consider the following: * Priority: Please ACT NOW to amend interim in-stream flow standards so that water is allowed to naturally flow again in the streams. The law requires the Commission to act in 180 days of the filing of a petition to amend an interim in-stream flow standard. Na Moku filed its petition in 2001. The Commission must act now. * EMI has diverted this water with state permission for over a century without regard for protecting the superior water rights of taro farmers and traditional subsistence gatherers and fishermen. * Place the burden on EMI to demonstrate how it is using the water it diverts and that its diversions do NOT harm the interests of those with superior rights to water, which traditional taro farmers and subsistence gatherers have under the Hawaii constitution. * Restore this resource for the continuation of Hawaiian traditions and customs, as protected under the Hawai`i Constitution and the public trust. This is vital to assuring that the cultural rights of Hawaiians are protected. * Taro farmers cannot wait years, months, or even weeks for water. They need prompt action when they lose water to diversions by EMI. * Please uphold the law and not cater to the political and economic arguments of the diverter. Please have consideration for the unique and fragile resources of the East Maui watershed and communities. Please ACT NOW to correct the many years of catastrophic mismanagement of such a vital public trust resource as water. Upholding the state constitution must take precedent over protecting corporate self-interests.
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