Land Board Rejects Impact Statement On Aquarium Collecting in West Hawai‘i
On May 22, after hours of public testimony and a long executive session to discuss legal matters, the Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimously voted to deny a recommendation from the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Division … Continued
Decades-Long Dispute Over Maui Water Finally Reaches State Supreme Court
When, exactly, should an environmental assessment or impact statement be done for a state action? Regarding the century-long diversion of water from dozens of East Maui streams for sugarcane and now diversified agriculture and municipal uses, Alexander & Baldwin’s efforts … Continued
From the Archives: Complex Legal Issues Surround A&B’s Taking of East Maui Water
The following article was originally printed in our August 1997 edition. In the decades since, it is one of our many early pieces that have served as a good primer on the complex and convoluted discussions regarding East Maui stream … Continued
New & Noteworthy: ‘Ohi‘a Rust Rule, Another East Maui Lawsuit
Finally! An ‘Ohi‘a Rust Rule: In 2005, a new invader to the islands was discovered on trees in the myrtle family, including Hawai‘i’s iconic ‘ohi‘a tree. Some species, especially rose apple, were devastated by Puccinia psidii, a rust-type fungus that appears to … Continued
‘Unprecedented’ Permit Extension is Granted For Rock Revetment Fronting Maui Condos
On May 8, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources extended, for the third time, a Conservation District Use Permit for a controversial shoreline erosion control project fronting the Hololani Resort Condominiums in West Maui. Under the original permit … Continued
As Habitat Is Lost, So, Too, Are The Songs of Kaua‘i Forest Birds
The distinctive vocalizations of three Kaua‘i honeycreepers are disappearing. Once, and not that long ago, an ‘akeke‘e, or a Kaua‘i ‘amakihi, or an ‘anianiau could be identified by its song without setting eyes on the bird. Today, the calls of … Continued
Maui, Hawai‘i Counties Sit Tight, Awaiting Final Ruling on Wastewater
The Supreme Court’s April decision in a case involving effluent from the Lahaina, Maui, sewage treatment plant may have ramifications for a host of other facilities in Hawai‘i. That ruling found that where there was a close connection between the … Continued