PLEASE SUPPORT EAST MAUI TARO FARMERS!
Date: April 10, 2008 (Thursday)
Time: 5 PM to 9 PM
Place: Haiku Community Center
The Commission on Water Resources Management is convening a Community Fact Gathering meeting in connection with petitions to restore flow to 27 East Maui streams filed by Na Moku Aupuni O Ko`olau Hui, Beatrice Kekahuna, and Marjorie Wallett.
Following 7 years of delay in acting on petitions to restore stream flow to 27 East Maui Streams, the Commission is asking the public to provide "testimony and additional information," which it can add to its set of Instream Flow Standard Assessment Reports for 5 hydrologic units covering only the following eight (8) streams: Honopou, Hanehoi, Puolua, Pi`ina`au, Palauhulu, Waiokamilo, Wailuanui, and Kulani. The governing statute does NOT require this meeting.
Taro farmers have endured great hardships growing taro without enough water. `O`opu, `opae, hihiwai and other foods once gathered by families from the streams have disappeared because there is no water. Massive diversions by Alexander and Baldwin and East Maui Irrigation (A&B/EMI) have taken all the water out of East Maui streams.
Talking points:
1. A&B has never had to prove what water it diverts is actually needed. The law says the one who takes the water is supposed to prove that what they need does not harm the stream or the small taro farmer.
a. A&B uses 17,000 gallons per day per acre in the wet season and 34,000 gpd per acre in the dry season.
b. A&B diverts an average of 160 million gallons per day (MGD), about as much as all of O`ahu consumes.
2. Native Hawaiians are beneficiaries of the ceded lands trust. Why do its beneficiaries suffer while big companies benefit from a public trust resource?
a. The State of Hawai`i allows A&B to divert over 75% of this water from state ceded lands.
b. A&B pays only 1/5 of 1 cent per 1,000 gallons for East Maui water, while most farmers pay over 35 cents per 1000 gallons for irrigation water.
3. CWRM has had the scientific data, contained in U.S. Geological Survey studies, for the past three years. Why can't CWRM act immediately to restore East Maui streams? CWRM can restore the streams NOW.
4. By law, CWRM is required to act within 180 days of receiving a petition. It's been 7 years since taro farmers filed their petitions. CWRM should act on the petitions NOW.
If you have any comments regarding the need to protect these streams, please prepare to testify in support of restoring these streams for East Maui taro farmers and subsistence gatherers.
Attend a preparatory meeting just prior to the April 10 event at 3:30 PM if you want more information about helping the East Maui farmers and cultural practitioners outside the Haiku Community Center
Alan T. Murakami, Esq.
Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation
1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1205
Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel: 808-521-2302
Fax: 808-537-4268