If a frog becomes a king, he will make the whole kingdom muddy! - Mehmet Murat ildan

1. STATE DECISION REACHED IN NA WAI 'EHA WATER CASE
BUT WORK FOR COMMUNITY IS FAR FROM OVER
By Kehaulani Cerizo, The Maui News, July 1, 2021
<https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2021/07/state-decision-reached-in-na-wai-eha-water-case/>
Water allocations for Na Wai 'Eha available stream flows include: 51 percent for in-stream
habitat and related benefits; 28 percent for reasonable and beneficial uses, such as
diversified agriculture; 14 percent for kalo cultivation; 7 percent for municipal water
supply; and 0.09 percent for domestic use.
The commission's decision approved two permits that total 3.2 million gallons per day so
the County of Maui Department of Water Supply may continue to supply water from Na
Wai 'Eha system to people in Kuau, Paia, Spreckelsville, Kahului, Puunene, Kihei, Wailea,
Makena, Waikapu, Wailuku, Waihee and Waiehu, according to county Deputy
Corporation Counsel Caleb Rowe.
[Emphasis Supplied]
MAYOR MICHAEL VICTORINO
TRUMPS DECISION OF THE COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Maui Mayor Michael Victorino announced he decided to reserve water for the development of
affordable rental units and attainable workforce homes for central and south Maui residents on
Tuesday, July 6.
The balance of available water was recently allocated to the Department of Water by the Hawaii
Commission on Water Resource Management.
Upcountry Maui water restrictions go into effect Friday <https://www.khon2.com/local-news/upcountry-maui-
water-restrictions-go-into-effect-friday/>
Mayor Victorino said his decision was made to benefit the resident workforce.
“I am prioritizing our resident workforce as the first beneficiaries of this water to motivate
construction of right-priced housing as soon as possible. I want those who are most
deserving, the very people who built this community, to benefit from the Commission's
recent order to increase the County's Central Maui Water system's maximum reliable
capacity to 3.2 million gallons per day.”

2. Victorino's decision is slated to give developers an incentive to build units quicker by offering
more certainty to those who would like to construct affordable rentals and attainable workforce
housing.
Source: Maui mayor reserves water to develop affordable rentals, attainable workforce homes
By Web Staff, KHON2 News, July 6, 2021
<https://www.khon2.com/local-news/maui-mayor-reserves-water-to-develop-affordable-rentals-attainable-workforce-homes/>
________________________________________________________________________
From The Bully Pulpit
The Commission on Water Resource Management recently issued its decision and order that
grants the County of Maui’s Department of Water Supply with an existing use permit for 1.784
million gallons of water per day and a new use permit for 1.416 million gallons per day.
With a daily supply of 3.2 million gallons for the County, the Commission's ruling ensures more
than 100,000 citizens in Central and South Maui, Paia and Kuau will have a reliable source of
water into the future. It also allows the department’s new $21.5 million Iao Water Treatment
Plant to operate at full capacity.
“On behalf of Maui County citizens, I want to thank the Commission for its diligence in
considering over 150 different applications for water use amidst a complexity of issues tied to
water use rights,” said Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino. “Since the Iao aquifer designation
in 2003, the Commission has reviewed thousands of pages of legal findings and studies, and
conducted months of hearings. Its decision and order struck a good balance between the rights of
traditional farmers, agricultural needs, and a growing Maui population. At the same time, it
protects our watersheds and aquifers and the wildlife that depends upon them.”
Source: County of Maui Press Release, July 1, 2021 <https://mauicounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=11040>
__________________________
County of Maui Press Release, July 6, 2021
<https://mauicounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=11040>
Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino today announced his decision to reserve the balance of
available water recently allocated to the County's Department of Water by the Hawai'i
Commission on Water Resource Management to develop affordable rental units and attainable
workforce homes for residents in Central and South Maui.
“I am prioritizing our resident workforce as the first beneficiaries of this water to motivate
construction of right-priced housing as soon as possible,” explained Mayor Victorino. “I want
those who are most deserving, the very people who built this community, to benefit from the
Commission’s recent order to increase the County's Central Maui Water system's maximum
reliable capacity to 3.2 million gallons per day.”

3. The mayor's decision is expected to incentivize developers to build more units sooner by offering
greater certainty to those seeking to build affordable rentals and attainable workforce housing.
On June 28, 2021, the Hawai'i Commission on Water Resource Management issued its long-
awaited decision and order in the Na Wai Eha contested case over the use of water from four
major Central Maui streams. The commission's decision recognizes the rights of traditional
farmers, stream wildlife, diversified agriculture and municipal water supply. The commission
endorsed the County of Maui's existing use permit for 1.784 million gallons of water per day,
plus ratified a new use permit for 1.416 million gallons per day.
__________________________
MAUI COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
<https://www.mauicounty.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=112>
WHERE DOES MAUI WATER COME FROM?
If you live in UPCOUNTRY MAUI, your water is surface water from the streams in East Maui.
It's treated and disinfected at one of our three water treatment facilities (Kamole, Piiholo, Olinda)
before it's delivered to your home.
Customers in Haiku get their water from the Haiku or Kaupakalua wells and/or the Kamole
WTF.
For Central Maui (Kahului, Wailuku, Waihee, Maalaea, Kihei, and Paia) your water is
groundwater from the Iao Aquifer under the West Maui Mountains. That water is naturally
filtered by lava rocks, disinfected, and sent to your home. A small amount of filtered surface
water is added to the Central System at the Iao WTF.
Hana and Molokai also use groundwater. Lahaina has a mix of surface water and groundwater.
The water treatment facilities for West Maui are located above Lahainaluna School and near the
Kapalua Airport.
WHY DO WE HAVE DROUGHTS UPCOUNTRY?
Because the water for the Upcountry area is from streams. When it stops raining, the stream flow
stops, too. Droughts are a part of the regular climate cycle, and occur every 3 to 4 years.
The Department of Water Supply is currently endeavoring to mitigate the effects caused when we
experience a drought by the integration of ground water sources from East Maui as an alternative
supply.
Additionally the Department is in the process of investigating the feasibility of constructing
additional storage reservoirs to meet peak demand during droughts. These reservoirs are very
expensive as well as environmentally controversial. The County of Maui State Legislative
package for this year contains two million dollars for this purpose. Without State funds, we
would not have the storage that we currently have.

4. Current Upcountry Water Levels
<https://www.mauicounty.gov/1085/Upcountry-Water-Levels>
NOTE SUPPLIED
Please review Upcounty Water Level Reports to determine water availability for Upcounty:
Upper Kula, Lower Kula, Ulupalakua and Kanaio
[Current and Historical]
__________________________
I never cease to amaze myself. And I say this humbly.
When we started, it was based on lies.
It's changing now.
There are no secrets in the business.
You've got to come with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
It's becoming very confusing.
Don King