KEALAKEHE, Hawaii – The State Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) held a meeting at the West Hawaii Civic Center on Monday. Once again, agenda items were primarily related to the U.S National Park Service’s petition to designate the Keauhou Aquifer System Area as a Ground Water Management Area, which the County of Hawaii opposes. In the video above, CWRM Commissioner Jonathan Starr calls the county’s projected water demand in the Water Use and Development Plan Update a “farce”… prompting a reaction from those in attendance.

ABOVE: Bo Kahui, representing La’i’Ōpua 2020, testifies on the first agenda item and reiterates his opposition to the designation of a Ground Water Management Area.

ABOVE: Janice Palma-Glennie with the Surfrider Foundation’s Kona Kai Ea Chapter, spoke in favor of a designation.

THE AGENDA

links point to state documents

A. ACTION ITEMS

1. Approval of Phase 1 and Request for Extension of Time to Submit Proposed Scope of Work for Phase 2 of the Hawaii County Water Use and Development Plan Update Preliminary Order HA-WMA 2013-1 C.2, C.4, & C.6 and Feb 18, 2015 Amendments and Request to Separate Keauhou and Waimea Aquifer System Area Reports.

2. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Request for Reservation of 3.398 Million Gallons per Day of Water from the Keauhou Aquifer System Area, Kona, Hawaii

3. Public Testimony and Argument on the Petition for Declaratory Relief filed by the Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (NPS) Regarding the Petition for Declaratory Orders on the Applicability of Hawaii Revised Statues § 174C-3 &174C-41 to the Basal, One or more Ahupua‘a, or Some Combination of these Smaller Areas within the Hydrologic Unit of the Keauhou Aquifer System Area, Kona, Hawaii.

The Commission may go into Executive Session pursuant to Section 92-5(a)(4),Hawaii Revised Statutes, to consult with the board’s attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the board’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities.

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES

1. Status and Update of Deadlines and Items Required in the December 29, 2014 Preliminary Order HA-WMA 2013-1 (PO) regarding the U.S National Park Service’s Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (NPS) Petition to Designate the Keauhou Aquifer System Area, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (State Aquifer Code 80901) as a Ground Water Management Area:

a. NPS Information on Quantity of Water Needed for Natural & Cultural Resources, Specific Traditional and Customary Practices, and Management of Such Practices Within Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park – PO C.3 LinkPart1 / LinkPart2 / LinkPart3

b. Update on Discussions between County of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service’s Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (NPS) Regarding Alternative Paths of Action other than Designation – PO C.5