IAO VALLEY - Mondays release of 10 million gallons per day of water back into Iao Stream marked a historic occasion, but activists whove fought decades for the return of water to Na Wai Eha, the four great streams of Central Maui, said that the fight is not over yet. This is a great day, it means a lot to me and mostly for the community, said Hui O Na Wai Eha President John Duey, whos spearheaded efforts to return stream flow to Wailuku (Iao), Waihee, Waiehu and Waikapu streams for more than a decade. Dozens of Native Hawaiians, environmentalists, local farmers and families gathered at Kepaniwai Park on Monday morning to witness the release of the water into Iao Stream. Article Photos Hui O Na Wai Eha and other activist groups have been fighting to return stream flow from mauka to makai in all four waterways of Na Wai Eha. Monday’s return of 10 million gallons per day to Iao Stream marked “a big step.” The Maui News / EILEEN CHAO photo A few who rallied Monday voiced their concern that the water should flow mauka to makai, not mauka and makai. Duey said that even with the release Monday, water does not always flow all the way to the ocean because of another intake located slightly downstream of Kepaniwai that inhibits stream connectivity. We have to be able to get the water over the intake to get connectivity so stream life can move upstream, said the 75-year-old Iao Valley resident, who has lived in the valley since 1969. The fights not over. Environmentalists have said that the uninterrupted flow of water from mauka to makai is essential for the streams native freshwater creatures like opae (shrimp), oopu (a stream fish) and hihiwai (freshwater opihi) to thrive. Wailuku Water Co., a descendant company of Wailuku Sugar Co., which first began diverting water from Na Wai Eha in the 1800s to irrigate its sugar plantation, agreed in April to restore 10 mgd of water to Iao Stream and 2.9 mgd to Waikapu Stream. Wailuku Water Co. was ordered in 2010 to return 10 mgd to Waihee River and 2.5 mgd to Waiehu Stream. Company officials said Monday that they are working with the state Commission on Water Resource Management and the state Division of Aquatic Resources to come up with a plan to be able to ensure a continuous overflow over the intake. During times of high stream flow, the diversion does not take all the water and much of the water flows over the intake, though connectivity may become an issue when stream flow is low, said Wailuku Water Co. President Avery Chumbley. Wailuku Water Co. still is allowed to divert 3.9 mgd from Iao Stream on days where stream flow is measured between 15 million and 10 million mgd. On days when average flow falls below 10 mgd, 3.4 mgd still may be diverted from the stream. The water company delivers surface water to several users, including Maui County, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. and several agricultural users from the northern Waihee ridge area to Maalaea. Water Commissioner Jonathan Starr said restoring mauka-to-makai stream flow would bring back a natural cycle as well as a cultural cycle. Central to our culture and island philosophy is this concept of mauka to makai. . . . Its because this allows the water to flow so that traditional users and (other) people can use it downstream to grow kalo (taro) and other crops. Meanwhile, the fish and creatures that have been in this stream since time immemorial but have been stopped because of the dryness, now will be able to flow up the stream and reproduce, Starr said. Commissioners said the next step would be to look at appurtenant rights in order to determine who will have access to the water, ensuring the stream flow standards are upheld and making sure the water does flow uninterrupted to the sea. Noting that there still were challenges ahead, Iao Valley taro farmer Allan Ornellas said Mondays water release was a start. The amount of water that passes in front of my house has not been enough to support the kalo, said Ornellas, whose family has lived in the Kumuwiliwili area in Iao Valley for at least four generations. He said he plans to restore his loi once the water begins flowing and to start planting wetland taro on his ancestral lands, which has not been done in more than 20 years. We have kalo now but only get the dry land, its not as much as if wed open the loi, Ornellas said. This is a big deal for the family, this is what I been trying to do all my life (to) set up retirement. You try buy poi now, and its (too expensive). Ornellas added the recreational benefit to having water running in the stream now. My moopuna learning to swim in that river now, but sometimes the water is so low and get algae growth, its not healthy, Ornellas said. My youngest grandchild is learning how to swim right now, so its important that the water is put back in. Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chief Executive Officer Kamanaopono Crabbe heralded the water release as a partial victory, (but) an important one worth celebrating. All four Na Wai Eha streams are flowing again. And we have an important legal precedent that will bring future victories for our environment, for Hawaiian cultural practices and for everyone who relies on our islands drinking water reserves, Crabbe said in a statement. Downstream of Kepaniwai later Monday afternoon, HC&S opened up its Spreckels Ditch sluice gate located near Happy Valley in the presence of Hui O Na Wai Eha members and state commission staff, a company spokesperson said. Even with the gate opened, though, officials said there still may be a 150-foot stretch of dry land along Iao Stream when stream flows are low. HC&S plans to remedy this in the near future, ensuring a continuous wetted flow in this dry section, the company said in a statement. Dan Dennison, spokesman for DLNR, reported that officials moved on from Iao to Waikapu Stream later in the day and observed the release the 2.9 mgd into the stream in a less ceremonial event that completed the restoration of the flow to Na Wai Eha. * Eileen Chao can be reached at echao@mauinews.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 02:08:41 +0000
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