Via: Hui o Nā Wai ʻEhā After 10 years and 4 months (June 2004) which included a long drawn out Contested Case, protests, marches, documentaries, a dissenting opinion, appeals, and a Supreme Court Ruling, Hui o Nā Wai ʻEhā along with Maui Tomorrow and Office Hawaiian Affairs have secured the release of stream flow from Wailuku Water Company and HC&S diversions that have been used for 152 years. For the first time in more than a century, 3 of 4 streams (Wailuku, Waiehu, Waiheʻe) will flow mauka to makai. Waikapū Stream will also have a restored flow, however Wailuku Water Company will continue to divert all of the water near the Honoapiʻilani Highway via the Waiheʻe Intake for use by their paid customers. Waikapū will only flow to the wetlands and estuary of Keālia during sporadic and seasonal freshets. Monday, October 13, 2014 will be a historic day for streams of Wailuku and Waikapū which will see a restored flow and begin to benefit like the previous restored streams of Waiheʻe and Waiehu in 2010. It is our continued hope to see that; 1. Native aquatic species such as ʻoʻopu, ʻōpae, hīhīwai, and hapawai will thrive once again in their natural habitat. 2. Farmers will return to their ʻāina to cultivate their loʻi kalo and other crops to further increase Hawaiʻis local food sources. 3. Aquifers begin to recharge to ensure the longevity of this important resource that affects everyone here on Maui. 4. Near shore fisheries and marine habitat will flourish due to replenished estuaries. 5. The public will be able to enjoy all parts of the stream whether it be at the muliwai, kumuwai and everything in between. 6. Ahupuaʻa and communities be inspired to manage all aspects of their watersheds using best practices. We would like to mahalo each and everyone of you for continuing to support an issue that affects ALL of us here on Maui and beyond. Please know that this is just the first step in a process that is still very flawed. Many more details regarding the Nā Wai ʻEhā implementation still need to be worked out however, we will move forward while ensuring that Wailuku Water Company, HC&S, and the Commission on Water Resource Management follow through and that the laws and the agreed upon decision are upheld. It is critical that those who manage this precious resource are held accountable for upholding the Public Trust (Water). We live on islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and wai needs to be protected in perpetuity. This is definitely a time to celebrate and honor those who have waited patiently for years and/or generations for this to occur, many who are no longer with us today. We hope all of you can join us on Monday in ʻĪao to celebrate this historic first step to bringing life back to Nā Wai ʻEhā! E ola ka wai a Kāne! ʻAʻohe wai.....ʻaʻohe ola! Without water, there is no life! Mahalo Mahalo Mahalo!
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:46:58 +0000
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