Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 2, 1 March 1984 — Hana 'Water Families' Seek Overdue Payments [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hana 'Water Families' Seek Overdue Payments

By Ed \lichelman Public Information Officer The day is hot and muggy, but cooled by occasional periods of light rain from the mountains overlooking the immaeulate grounds of Pi'ilani Hale Heiau near Hana. A gentle oeean breeze spreads the aroma of kalua pig, yams and breadfruit from the nearby imu. Children play rocks near the water, while their elders engage in earnest conversations with friends and relatives. Some have eome from as far away as California to attend the gathering. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is represented by its Chairman, Joseph Kealoha. This meeting on Mar. 2 brought together the "water families" of Maui, descendants of 55 Hawaiians who were parties to the original Wailuku Water Course deed in 1861. Names like Kekahuna, Opunui, Keawe and Kaiewe. "Here areyourdescendants," intoned Parley Kaho'okele of the Hana District Pohaku. "Here is Ho'opai, Ho'opi'i, Waikiki, Lono, Kunewa, Niki and Pili. Hear us . . . look down upon us. We pay homage to those who have lived here, worked here, tilled the soil and fished here . . . whose bones are here in

the earth." Family members clustered in small groups to document their geneologies and establish relationships to the original konohiki of the water course. The Wailuku Water Course system originates in Nahiku in East Maui and extends all the way to lao Valley in the central part of the island. According to Bill Chang, president of the Hana Community Association, there are serious discrepancies in the State of Hawaii's elaim to ownership of the water rights and in the licenses issued to East Maui Irrigation Company. Chang says the water rights still belong to descendants of the original signers of the Agreement and he claims that no payment have been made since 1914. Chang calculates the value of those payments over the last 69 years at about million . . . closer to $7 or $8 million if you add interest. The Hana Community Association is asking the state to repay the water families "all moneys outstanding and due" retroactive to June 1, 1914, either in cash or the equivalent in land. Chang says his group has been waiting for a forma! opinion from the state Attorney General on the elaim, but now is eonsidering legal action to force the issue.

The Hana "water families' gather on the grounds of Pi'ilani Hale Heiau to work on their geneologies.