Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 8, 1 August 1992 — Hawaiian priority water rights unresolved [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian priority water rights unresolved

State water plan plots Hawai'i island growth

by Pearl Leialoha Page If growth continues as expected in the Big Island area of North Kona and South Kohala, the demand will outstrip present water supply by 20 10. That and other Big Island water issues are outlined in the revised water plan that was reviewed during a public information meeting held in Hilo last month. The meeting was part of a series being held throughout the state in July, focusing on the water issues of the individual counties.

Increased resort development, eeonomie growth in Waimea and residential and farm development planned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands account for most of the expansion in South Kohala. DHHL plans to develop 363 acres for farm land use and 22,800 acres of livestock water distribution in Mauka South Kohala. To meet anticipated demand, the county plans to expand the Waimea Irrigation System. The

state's Lalamilo Agricultural Park will also benefit. Those plans eall for putting the Pu'ukapu deep well into production to fill a proposed 133-mil-lion-gallon reservoir. Estimated cost for pumping equipment is set at $l million, according to the water plan.

Cost to expand the Waimea Irrigation System is estimated at $9,648,700. To meet the coastal resort growth, the county proposes an ambitious plan to build a Kohala Coastal Transmission Pipeline to import water from the North Kohala aquifer. Cost: $50 million.

Nansay Hawan ine. plans to develop a $500-million Puako Residential Golf Community over the next 20 years, including six golf courses and 2,000 single and multifamily units, a golf academy and a commercial eenter on 3.000 acres in Puako and Ouli. Nansay reports that the majority of the homes will be sold to state residents planning to retire on the Big lsland and that average prices are pro-

jected at slightly above median-priced homes. In North Kona, the demand for water is most likely to eome from condominium and residential development. The state-owned Kealakehe tract is slated for l,500-plus housing units. The area between Kailua and Keahole Airport is under strong development pressure. Other state projects under development iand /or

expansion include Keahole Airport, Honokohau Harbor, Keahole Agricultural Park, the Natural Energy Lab, the new Hawaii Oeean Science and Technology Park (HOST Park) and the state's extensive Kealakehe Community projects.

The first large-scale resc. in Kona, Bishop Estate's Keauhou Resort, still needs additional water to reach its eonūnueā on page 3

Biessing ceremonies and an open house welcomed OHA beneficiaries and guests to OHA's new offices at 711 Kapi'olani Blvd., July 17. Kahu Kawika Kaakalea and chanter Manu Boyd offered prayers of dedication. See page 12 for more photos.

Hawai'i water plan

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goal of 3,000 hotel rooms and 3,000 residential units. To date, three hotels and 967 condos have been completed.

New wells are important for eontrolled growth in North Kona, according to the plan. The county is current-

ly working on new wells at Kalaoa, Honokohau and Wai'aha. It has also engaged the U.S. Geological Survey to help explore wells in Haleki'i, Kawanui and Moeanoa. Other potential drill sites for North Kona include Kiholo, Wai'ahaKeopu and south of Keauhou. Other options include transferring water from another aquifer, possibly in South Kona. In other districts of the Big Island. new stricter federal guidelines for safe drinking water will affect all water systems drawn from surface sources, including springs, ditches, streams and tunnels.

The state Department of Health is in the process of identifying whieh water systems may require filtration and disinfection.

Revisions Revisions to the water plan focus on refining hydrological data, re-eval-uating existing and projected water uses for eaeh county and strengthening water conservation, surface water and state project demands. What' s missing is a clear statement about reserving water sources for use

on Hawaiian Home Lands, according to David Penn, who's tracking water issues for the Native Hawaiian

Advisory Council, a watchdog organization concerned with native Hawaiian water rights. "There's a difference between planning for a reserved use of water and planning for a projected demand," he said. Penn and others at the meeting also felt that the plan didn't adequately address protecting watershed

areas, especially for West Hawai'i. Peter Simmons representing Bishop Estate said a study was necessary and

that it be sent out for peer review. Puna residents took note that industrial water uses for geothermal energy and manganese nodule processing were also not included in projected demands.

One small water user from Maui brought up that the Maui County plan called for developing the springs in Ke'anae. "That water is already being used by taro farmers and for domestic uses," Elaine Wender pointed out. "There is nothing in the streams," due to some 365 diversions, she added. She pointed out that the plan should take into account all water users, not just the major users if it is to guide county planners.

Safe drinking water rules One of the most important factors affecting water supply and costs in East Hawaii is stricter safe drinking water standards for surface water sources, commented Megumi Kon, a consultant hired to assist with water plan revisions. The new regulations take effect July 1, 1993 and eall for filtering and disinfecting drinking water. The tougher regulations are meant to protect drinking water from Giardia lamhlia, an continued on page 8

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Hawai'i water plan

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organism that causes infection in the small intestine and that may be carried in rats and mongoose. explained William Wong. safe water branch director, Department of Heahh. The DOH is currently running tests for the organism on Big Island streams. ditches, springs and tunnels.

The cost for water treatment per customer would be high for those systems with a small number of service accounts. The Hawai'i County water depanment is considering modifying all of its system sources, except the Waimea-Puukapu-Nienie System to ground water well sources, states the Hawai'i Water Plan. The safety of water catchment systems was also brought up by those attending. Basically it's the Hawai'i County Planning Commission's eoneem, said Wong of the DOH. "Those who live outside of urban water systems are on their own," he said. However, a subdivision ean be designated for County water improvements if 60 percent of the lot owners agree to be assessed for those improvements. Gaining a consensus among the owners however, is particularly difficult because many are absentee landlords.

The DOH is responsible for 160 water systems in the state and for catchment systems with 15 or more connections or one that serves 25 people for 60 days of the year. Public hearings in September The Hawaii State Water Plan consists of four

parts: a water resource protection plan prepared by the commission; a water use and development plan for eaeh county prepared by eaeh county; a state water projects plan drawn from agencies having jurisdiction over various projects; and a water quality plan prepared by the state Department of Health. The plan serves "as a long-range guide for water resources management."

The nine-volume set with a blue cover; one for eaeh county and an overview for the state as a whole was the first draft. The revised plan has a yellow cover and ean be found in public libraries statewide. DLNR is accepting written testimony through September when public,hearings are scheduled state wide: On Hawai'i. Sept. 8, 7 p.m. at Hilo lntermediate School Cafeteria, 587 Waianuenue St„ Hilo and

Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. at Kealakehe Elementary School Cafetena, 74-5118 Kealakaa St„ Kailua-Kona; On Kaua'i , Sept. 15, 7 p.m. Wilcox Elementary School, 4319 Hardy St„ Lihu'e On O'ahu, Sept 16, 7 p.m. state Department of Land and Natural Resources Board Room, Kalanimoku Building, Rm. 132, 1151 Punchbowl St. Honolulu:

On Maui, Sept, 17, 7 p.m. Waikapu Community Center, Waikapu, Maui; On Lana'i, Sept. 22, 7 p.m. Lana'i High School Cafeteria, Fraser Ave. Lana'i City; On Moloka'i, Sept. 23, 7 p.m. Mitchell Pau'ole Center, Kaunakakai. The Water Resource Management Commission is scheduled to adopt the state water plan in January 1993.