What would happen if, at the end of the contested case hearing, the Water Commission allows continued flows in the Waiahole Ditch? The Waiahole Irrigation Company, in anticipation of this, has established a formal mechanism for distributing water to various … Continued
Before construction of the Waiahole ditch system, the stretch of the Ko`olau mountain range from Kahana to Waiahole could be thought of as an enormous reservoir. Water entered the mountains when rain, released from clouds snagged by the mountain peaks, … Continued
In a policy decision made at the highest levels of state government, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the state Department of Agriculture allied themselves with the interests of the leeward parties in the Waiahole contested case … Continued
Among the most important — but also most subtle — of the arguments made in support of increased flow to the windward side is that natural flows in streams are part of the public trust. As such, the argument continues, … Continued
Around 24 million gallons a day of water are trapped by the windward tunnels that feed into the Waiahole Ditch. Until December 1994, all of this water was taken to the leeward side of the island. Following an agreement negotiated … Continued
Since the second decade of the 20th century, the volume of fresh water flowing into Kane`ohe Bay has steadily dropped. Most scientists studying the bay agree that total freshwater input from streams and springs has dropped about 47 percent overall. … Continued
The state Commission on Water Resource Management has six members. Two are members by virtue of their having been appointed to cabinet-level positions by the governor. These two are the head of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, … Continued