Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 9, 1 September 1992 — September water plan hearings postponed [ARTICLE]

September water plan hearings postponed

by Pearl Leialoha Page Hearings set for September to review the state water plan have been postponed indefinitely while the Department of Land and Natural ResourctA includes some of the issues raised during its series of information meetings held in July. The most pro-

nounced issue was the reservation of water for Hawaiian Homes Land. The announcement was made by William Paty, DLNR director, during the last information meeting held in Honolulu, July 30. "We feel there are key areas not being adequately addressed," Paty told those at the Honolulu meeting. "We need more input from you. It involves the counties. It involves the private sector. It involves the public-at-large, and it certainly involves the water commission bringing together

the things that are necessary to make this a workable document." He identified two specif-

ie elements to be added to the water plan revision before public hearings ean be set. They are input from an advisory working group for the island of Moloka'i and results of a Hawaiian water rights task force led by Water Commissioner Miehael Chun, Kamehameha Schools president, Chun is also trained as an engineer.

"One of the statements that we've heard from everyone at these informational meetings is that one big pieee was missing and that was addressing reservation of water for Hawaiians that was required by statute," Rae Loui, DLNR deputy director said. "We would like time for Mike's task force to eome up with procedures to reserve water and incorporate that into these plans," she said.