During an often highly emotional public meeting late last week on a petition seeking the return of sugar company-controlled water to five perennial streams in East Maui, Native Hawaiian taro farmers made it clear again and again that they need more water to grow their staple crop. The meeting was in response to a petition filed on behalf of local taro farmers seven years ago by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. The petitioners said they actually want to see 27 streams restored. Because most of the streams have been diverted by East Maui Irrigation Co. mauka of Hana Highway, the natural water channels have been left as empty gulches that fill only during downpours.
(Read also a brief report here by Alan Murakami of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation as his offers his perspective on the meeting)