(ABOVE VIDEO) Sherry Bracken reports on recent site visits to Kona conducted by the State Commission on Water Resource Management. Video of the event was recorded by the Hawaii DLNR and posted online. This story samples from those extensive recordings (link below).

ABOUT

Today on Oahu, the State Commission on Water Resource Management meets on the possible designation for a Water Management Area in Kona. The Water Commission will receive briefings and presentations by the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply and County Planning Department on the Keauhou Aquifer System Area application. The county agencies are opposing the designation at this point in time.

The briefing is part of the Commission’s preliminary scientific investigation – part of its duty to analyze a National Park petition to designate a groundwater water management area for Kona. The commission has been doing a lot of investigating in Kona over the last few months. The above DLNR video was taken during a September 17 site visit to the NELHA Anchialine Ponds. The same day commissioners stopped by Kohanaiki Shores, as well as the site managed by the petitioners: Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park.

On October 9, commissioners stopped by another section of the national park. Site visits on that day were limited, however, due to the occurrence of another event in Kona… the underpants run preceding the Ironman World Championship. That day, the group did make it over to an important County Department of Water Supply’s facility in Kona, before hearing presentations made at the West Hawaii Civic Center.

A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 10 at the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kealakehe. At that time, the Commission may choose to decide whether to proceed to the next stage of the designation process and hold a full public hearing.

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION

Hawaii DLNR on VIMEO (archives contain numerous site visit videos)