Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 11, 1 November 1995 — Water dispute grows in Honokōhau [ARTICLE]

Water dispute grows in Honokōhau

by Patrick Johnston "They overthrew our government, and they took our water," Honokōhau Valley taro farmer Kimo Lindsey angrily points out, "and now we have to have to ask to get it back." Lindsey's sentimenLs - a reaction to a nearly century-old diversion of Honokōhau water - are shared by other Hawaiian families in this West Maui community and forewam of a showdown between farmers and othcr users over water from the stream. A sequel to 0'ahu's Waiāhole water dispute? There are similarities but the West Maui case has its own cast and a separate set of issues. In Maui, the issue centers around water from Honokōhau stream, a 16-mile river flowing northward from ihe mountainous center of West Maui. Wilh an annual strearn flow of 26 million gallons per day (mgd), the stream is one of the Iargest sources of surface water in West Maui. However, for the past 90 years most of ils water has been diverted to irrigate Pionecr Mill eane fields around Lahaina. The diversion began when Honolua Ranch built the Honolua Ditch system, diverting West Maui stream waters from Honokōhau and other sources. By 1930, the present Honokōhau dam and ditch water intake system was completed and aJl of Honokōhau's water was diverted. While a million gallons of Honokōhau water was

rediverted back into the strcambed as part of the irrigation project, the diversion has dramatically altered the ecology of the stream and loeal famters say Ihe smaller flow and resulting higher water temperature has caused bacteriato rotthe taro. Lindsey explains, ''When we get plenty rain, lhere's no problem, but when it doesn't rain, rot sets in." The shortage of quality water has made it difficult for farmers to grow taro over the decades and. until recently, most had given up. Honokōhau taro farmers cstimate that 2, (XX) taro lo'i usc<l to in openuion in the valley, now they say there are fewer Ihan 50. . But fanners - many of thcm Hawaiians whose families have owncd land in the valley - are starting to eome back and a movement has begun in the eommunity to restore both the taro and stream life of the valley. To do so lhey neee! the Honokōhau stream back. "What good is having Hawaiian gathering rights if there is nothing to gather?" Lindsey asks. But the stream's water has supported and continues to support major agricultural, residential. and eommcrcial developments in West Maui, developments that provide jobs for the island and that need the water for their eonlinueel eeonomie well-being. Pioneer Mill, the largest user of Honokōhau water and already having financial difficulties, says it needs the high quality "sweet" water to keep its sugar operation afloat. If continued page 8

Honokohau water dispute from 10

Pioneer Mill goes down - and takes the West Maui sugar industry with it - the region will have to rely almost entirely on tourism for its ineome. The issue eame to the fore in April this year at a Maui County eouneil hearing. Farmers from the Honokōhau Valley Association (HVA) used the hearing to air their concerns and get public supporī. In September, Honolua Ditch owner Maui Land and Pineapple Co. (MLP) agreed to release an additional one million gallons into Honokōhau river on the condition that valley farmers elean the river and replace the old 'auwai irrigation system with a newer, more efficient water delivery system. They also asked that Honokōhau farmers work with soil and water conservation experts to make more effective use of their water. Although the details have not been worked out, MLP would replace the million gallons it retums to Honokōhau with treated effluent and use that water for some of its own irrigation needs. While the community initially welcomed the added water allotted them in the agreement, some rejected a condition that they install the newer more efficient irrigation system and discard the ancient 'auwai ditches the Hawaiians had buiit

prior to the diversion. For the Honokōhau Valley eommunity it is a question of tradition. The 'auwai ditch system is what Hawaiians used for centuries, and many in the community see the restoration of the river as both a eultural and agricultural rebirth. And many in the community believe the agreement ignores a vital issue, whieh is the restoration of the stream and its natural gyFredric Monette, secretary of the Honokōhau Valley Association, says other features of the agreement are problematic and could take years to implement. One of these is the one mgd of treated effluent MLP would use for its own irrigation needs. He says standards and equipment for effluent use are not in plaee now and MLP will release no water until they are. MLP, while wanting to see progress on the issue. agrees that major hurdles need to be overcome, in particular with the use of effluent. Wes Nohara, plantation superintendent for Maui PIantation Co., and a liaison between farmers and MLP, says cost is another problem. "A major eoneem is the rate they (the county) want to charge for the effluent." Nohara says the county has to bring the price of effluent

down if they want plantation owners to consider using it. Maui eouneilman Tom Morrow, who has tried to work with both groups on the issue feels that some compromise is needed at this time. "Maui Land and Pine is putting its best foot forward. ... On the other side of the eoin, water has to go over to the other side where people live." He points that if the eommunity does not elean up the valley as stipulated in the agreement and put in the irrigation system - whieh MLP says it will do for free - then a lot of the water being offered to the community will sink into the ground and be wasted. Morrow says, that while he is sensitive to native Hawaiian concems, focusing too mueh on those issues will only slow down negotiations and hurt the taro farmers. "If you go into Hawaiian issues you're not going to solve anything. I can't resolve that. ... We can't go back to the 1800s. We're working towards helping taro farmers now." To that Lindsey responds he only wants what he believe rightfully belongs to the valley. "Why can't we just get our water from the river? Why do we have to ask some pineapple company for water. Who gave them the right to take all the water? This is my roots. This is inside of us. ... We have a right to the water."