(HONOLULU) – In deference to a request from Maui Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr., Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) Chair Dawn Chang has withdrawn item D-12 from the BLNR agenda for Friday, Sept. 27.

D-12 is related to the contested case for the issuance of a water license covering the diversion of public surface water from the Ko‘olau Forest Reserve on Maui.

Chair Chang supports the mayor’s request, stating, “Withdrawing item D-12 allows us to not only respect the newly established local water authority on Maui, but also to support Mayor Bissen’s request to explore long-term partnership opportunities to address public and private interests that depend on this important water resource.

“I attended the East Maui Regional Community Board meeting on Wednesday and heard heartfelt comments from the board and community members who are seeking a path that is mutually beneficial; not only to current water users but to ensure water for future generations,” Chang said.

What’s happening: The water authority, created by voters in 2022, offers a community-driven alternative to corporate control by Mahi Pono and East Maui Irrigation. Chair Dawn Chang from the Department of Land and Natural Resources will be attending this important meeting, so it’s crucial we show strong community support. Why it matters: Maui’s water belongs to the people and should support our community, not private profits. The East Maui ditch system is outdated—public control could help secure funding for critical upgrades. The public trust doctrine supports local control over water, ensuring fair water rates and sustainable management. The water authority offers a better future for Hawaiian Homes and all of Maui. We speak for the streams—their flow, their life, and their legacy. Let’s make sure they continue to serve the community and ʻāina, not corporate interests. How you can help:Submit written testimony: board.EMRCB@mauicounty.goTalking points found here.Attend the meeting (in person or virtually):When: Wednesday, September 25, 9am-12pmWhere: Maui County Business Resource Center, Liquor Control Conference Room #212A (upstairs)110 ʻAlaʻihi Street, Suite 209, Kahului, HI 96732Or via Webex,meeting number: 2663 930 0006; Password: E@st1By phone:1-650-479-3208Access Code: 2663 930 0006Thank you for standing up for Maui’s water future. Please share this action alert with your friends and family and encourage them to submit testimony and show up next Wednesday too!  There will be more opportunities to advocate for Maui’s water in the coming days and weeks—stay tuned!

Volunteers needed and donations are welcome!

Help Maui Sierra Club care for our streams and watersheds. Donate your colorful tropical blooms, productive fruit trees, healthy native plants, cut flowers as well as gently used yard sale items, gift certificates and home made baked goods.

Volunteers welcomed to pick up plants and help to set up May 10 and day of event May 11.

To help out or donate, please call or text Raina : 303  289-1087.

There are three parcels for sale by Wainaku LLC, of Honolulu. These parcels contain the traditional access road to the Pauwela Lighthouse, which the County owns. The lot most makai is 82 acres and is being sold for $3.5M. The next lot mauka is 44 acres is being sold for $2.0M. The last lot is next to Hana Hwy, is 6.7 acres and is being sold for $1.3M. Total acreage is 133 acres.

The community uses the Pauwela Lighthouse Road to get to the coast as well as the lighthouse, and the new owner may not allow use of the road by the public. Furthermore, the path which goes along much of the coast between Maliko and Kaupakalua gulch will also be blocked. And lastly, this land has been the home of the Waikikena Foundation, run by the late Alex Bode and Kathy Kaohu.

The best thing for the community would be that the County of Maui purchases these lots as part of its land preservation program. The county could use the mauka properties for expansion room for the Haiku School or Haiku Community Center, traditional public access would be retained, and Waikikena can continue its work.

Let the county council know what you think during the upcoming budget meetings. You can email them here.

The map below shows the land owners along the coast. Orange properties are owned by Kamehameha Schools. Yellow is the Hamakualoa Open Space, owned by the County. Blue is just Lot 1 of the Nalu Ola project. The light purple lots (“Wainaku Parcels”) are the three for sale and the green lot is the Pauwela Lighthouse, owned by the County. Blue line is the coast.

“What’s up with Upcountry Water” is the focus of the meeting. Our meeting agenda presentations will include:

• Dr. Christopher Schuler of UH Mānoa Water Resources Research Center, who will report on water quality testing UH has been conducting at homes in in the Ha’iku and Upcountry area.
• County Department of Water Supply Director John Stupplebeen will speak to County plans to better manage Upcountry water shortages and the reliability of Ha’iku’s water supply.
• Joyclynn Costa, giving updates on Aha Moku Council
• Hamakualoa activities
• Updates on Ha’iku Community Association projects and activities, including information on the distribution of HCA Fire Funds. Local State and County lawmakers have also been invited to attend.

For more information about this meeting, contact Kristine Kozuki, HCA Project Manager, 808-870-6879. For information about HCA activities go to https://www.haikumaui.org/

August 8th was a terrible day for our island – fires in multiple locations across the island with the loss of close to 500 homes, dozens of deaths, and countless lives disrupted. And of course the near total devastation of the town of Lahaina. We are all in shock; we are a big island but a small community so this tragedy touches all of us. 

Ha’iku was largely untouched by these events but we nevertheless feel it is our kuleana to help our Maui ohana in any way we can. The Ha’iku Community Association therefore is dedicating all donations made to HCA over the next 60 days to be applied directly to Maui fire relief. We will be working with local partners to distribute funds, partly as cash grants and partly in-kind (food, clothing, other goods) to affected families and individuals. HCA will use 100% of the donated funds for direct relief.

Donations can be done easily using a credit card through the website or by sending a check to the HCA.  The HCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization so all donations are tax deductible.

To donate, click here.