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This article from the Independent & Sovereign Nation State of Hawaii provides an overview of the ahupuaʻa system, a traditional land division method used in Hawaii. It highlights the historical and cultural significance of ahupuaʻa and details how these land divisions were managed and utilized by Native Hawaiians. The article also discusses the modern implications and efforts to preserve and revitalize this system within Hawaiian sovereignty and self-governance.

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Independent & Sovereign Nation State of Hawaii » The Official Nation of Hawai‘i Digital Platform

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Ahupuaʻa System » Independent & Sovereign Nation State of Hawaii

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Ahupuaʻa is a Hawaiian term for a large traditional socioeconomic, geologic, and climatic subdivision of land. Some oral history relates that ʻUmi-a-Līloa, son of the great High Chief Līloa, took control of the land and divided it into ahupuaʻa.[1] However, there is also a general belief that the natural organization of communities along stream systems is the foundation for

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This visual map contextualizes the geographic focus of my research on the Kawela region. It is a valuable reference for understanding the spatial relationships and geographic context of the Kawela Project area with the rest of Moloka`i. This figure illustrates the location and scope of the Kawela Project in presentations and reports to provide a clear visual context for discussions on land management, environmental features, and cultural significance within the region.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-island-of-Molokai-showing-the-location-of-the-Kawela-Project-area_fig1_274315300

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This article from The Molokai Dispatch explores the 500-year-old historical connection between the Kawela and Kīpū regions on Moloka’i. It provides insights into the cultural, social, and economic interactions between these areas in ancient Hawaii. The article highlights archaeological findings, oral histories, and traditional knowledge that reveal the Kawela-Kīpū connection's significance in trade, resource sharing, and cultural exchange. It underscores the importance of these historical ties in understanding the broader context of Hawaiian society and land use practices.

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By Marshall Weisler, Archaeologist

Stone adzes were vitally important to ancient Polynesians and every household had several sizes and shapes for a range of woodworking tasks. Not every rock is ideal for adze making so locations with fine-grained rock, known as quarries, were sought after from the earliest times. A small but important adze quarry is located three miles east of Kawela at Pu'u Pāpa'i. And rock from that quarry has an important story to tell.

First a little background. The Pu'u Pāpa'i quarry is unique in its "chemical signature" or its "rock DNA." Rocks from different islands, and sometimes different volcanoes or even separate lava flows, can have a unique chemical composition. When stone tools are found in ancient living sites and their chemistry is determined, this often lets archaeologists know where the artifacts originated; that is the quarry.

Last month, the Dispatch reported on one of the oldest archaeological sites in the Hawaiian Islands located at Kawela. We analyzed the chemical composition of two small broken stone artifacts from the oldest layer of that site, dating to about 800 years ago, and determined that they were from the Pu'u Pāpa'i quarry. And from another site at Kawela where wooden bowls were likely made for folks living within the ahupua'a 300 to 400 years ago, we chemically analyzed another stone tool. And finally, from a habitation site at Kīpū, about 10 miles mauka in a straight line from Kawela, we analyzed the chemistry of a stone artifact that was found in an imu dated to 500 years ago.

All these artifacts from these three archaeological sites were chemically identical to the Pu'u Pāpa'i adze quarry rock.

Because the artifacts are from dated archaeological sites we know when the Pu'u Pāpa'i adze quarry was used-in this case from about 800 years ago until about the late 1700s. This quarry is now the oldest, continuously used adze quarry in the Hawaiian Islands and tells us that when Polynesians first arrived on the shores of Molokai, they were quick to locate important resources that they needed for survival.

So what else does this study tell us? By identifying Pu'u Pāpa'i adze quarry rock in two sites at Kawela and one at Kīpū we can say that the people living at Kawela and Kīpū may have been 'ohana that were linked for many reasons, one of which was for the trade of upland (uka) and coastal (kai) resources.

These resources may have included fish, salt, and limu from the coast that were exchanged for olona fiber and other mauka plant products. This mauka-makai transfer of resources is a well-documented pattern described by Mary Kawena Pukui and E. S. Craighill Handy from talking with kupuna living at Ka'u, Hawaii Island in 1935.

Our Molokai study suggests that a system of trade between distant mauka and makai communities as detailed by Pukui and Handy nearly 100 years ago may be many centuries older. So, five small broken artifacts found in archaeological sites 300 to 800 years old had quite a story to tell us today. The details of this study were recently published in the Journal of Pacific Archaeology.

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Kawela-Kīpū Connection 500 Years Ago | The Molokai Dispatch

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Community Contributed By Marshall Weisler, Archaeologist Stone adzes were vitally important to ancient Polynesians and every household had several sizes and shapes for a range of woodworking tasks. Not every rock is ideal for adze making so locations with fine-grained rock, known as quarries, were sought after from the earliest times.

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This document comprehensively examines the Kawela region on Moloka'i, focusing on its historical land ownership, geological features, and water resources. It delves into the traditional Hawaiian land division system known as ahupua'a, offering insights into the socio-cultural and environmental significance of Kawela. The text outlines the area's geological formations, the origins and movement of its water systems, and how these elements have influenced human settlement and land use over time.

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This article from Earthjustice reports on the efforts of Moloka‘i residents and environmental advocates to restore stream flows that have been diverted by Moloka‘i Ranch. It highlights the legal and community actions taken to address the negative impacts of water diversion on local ecosystems and cultural practices. The article serves as a case study on the intersection of environmental justice, indigenous rights, and sustainable resource management, offering insights into the challenges and successes of grassroots environmental advocacy.

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Today, Earthjustice, on behalf of community group Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke, brought legal action before the state Commission on Water Resource Management to restore stream flows to Kawela, Kaunakakai, Manawainui, and Waikolu Streams on Molokaʻi. The streams, located in the central region of the island, have been historically diverted by Molokaʻi Properties Limited, dba Molokaʻi Ranch, to supply the lands it owns on the island's west side.

Although the Ranch shut down most of its operations over a decade ago and has abandoned many of its stream diversions, it has continued to drain water from Kawela and Waikolu Streams at amounts close to what it used during its heyday. Meanwhile, the Ranch's Singapore-based parent company has offered the Ranch up for sale. The citizen action initiated today demands the return of diverted flows to the streams, a halt to wasteful diversions by the Ranch, and compliance with procedures to formally abandon and remove the diversion dams.

"For over a hundred years, these waters had been diverted miles across the island for cattle and ag operations on Molokaʻi Ranch," said Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke member Walter Ritte. "Significant negative impacts to the ahupua'a include the aquifers, the streams and life in the streams, the many fishponds along the shore, limu grounds, fish stocks and the health of the reef. Molokaʻi Ranch has shut down most of its operations and has put the ranch up for sale and cannot justify the need for these diversions."

Moloka'i Nō Ka Heke member Walter Ritte and Earthjustice attorney Leināʻala Ley on a site visit to the dam diverting flows from Kawela Stream in Moloka'i.
Isaac Moriwake / Earthjustice

Kawela, Kaunakakai, and Manawainui Streams flow from the island's lush windward mountain range to the south shore, while Waikolu Stream flows from the mountains to the north shore. All of the streams supported extensive settlement in pre-contact times, and are still used by residents for cultural subsistence practices. These streams also feed the groundwater aquifers that are the island's source of drinking water and the south shore reef and fishpond ecosystems that are a key traditional food source for residents.

"Returning the water to Kawela ahupuaʻa will bring back life that it once had before," said Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke member and Kawela resident Lohiao Paoa. "It was known to provide for our people in the past, and it's a crucial part of Moloka'i's water future. Kawela Stream deserves respect."

The Molokaʻi community has been battling the Ranch over water rights for decades, resulting in landmark Hawaiʻi Supreme Court rulings that benefit all of Hawaiʻi and its people in affirming that water is a public trust and not private property. For example, in 2007, the Court made clear that it is private commercial water diverters like the Ranch - not the people who may be harmed - who bear the burden to prove a proposed water use will not harm the water resources and the rights of the public and Native Hawaiians.

The dry bed of Kawela Stream in Moloka'i after flows are diverted by Moloka'i Ranch.
Isaac Moriwake / Earthjustice

"Molokaʻi Ranch has been taking water from these streams for far too long with no accountability to the needs and rights of the ʻ āina and the people of the island," says Earthjustice attorney Mahesh Cleveland. "It's time to return these waters to their natural flow, and for the Ranch to remove or remediate its diversion dams. We are committed to helping the people of Molokaʻi safeguard their water resources and the ecosystems that depend on them, now and for the future."

The Historic Shift In Hawai'i To Restore Streams And Shed A Plantation Era Legacy

Hawaiʻi law, including the state constitution and Water Code, establishes that fresh water resources like flowing streams and rivers are a public trust, which the state is obligated to protect and restore. The Commission, by law, must adopt instream flow standards ("IFS") to protect instream public trust uses of water, including maintenance of fish and wildlife habitats, recreational uses, and Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights. The IFS sets the minimum amount of water that must flow in the river or stream.

As with many rivers and streams across the state, the existing IFS for Kawela, Kaunakakai, Manawainui, and Waikolu Streams simply rubber-stamped the level of diversions when the Ranch and other end users were in full swing, which neither reflects current conditions, nor adequately protects public uses of the streams and connected groundwater resources.

Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke's legal action seeks to establish fully protective IFSs for Kawela, Kaunakakai, Manawainui, and Waikolu Streams and end the Ranch's wasteful diversions. Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke also requests that the Commission order the Ranch to remove and remediate abandoned diversion works and allow the streams to flow freely. The petition parallels legal actions other community groups have taken across the state, including the Nā Wai ʻĒhā case on Maui, in which community groups received a favorable ruling from the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court in 2012, and the Waiāhole case on Oʻahu, in which the court issued a landmark opinion in 2000 strongly affirming public trust protections for water resources.

Resources

Charlie Reppun proudly displays a freshly harvested taro plant at his family farm in O'ahu's Waiāhole Valley. The Reppuns were one of the first families in Hawaiʻi to advocate for the return of water to the islands' streams.
Ray Wan / Earthjustice

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Citizens Demand Restoration of Moloka'i Stream Flows Diverted by Moloka'i Ranch

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Movement to restore native streams and end plantation era diversions in Hawai'i grows

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This article from Maui News covers the Maui County Council's endorsement of efforts to restore the flow of Kawela Stream. It details the council's recognition of the ecological and cultural significance of the stream, which has suffered from years of water diversion. The article highlights the council's support for community-led initiatives and emphasizes the importance of sustainable water management practices.

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The Maui County Council on Friday voiced its support for restoring flow to a Molokai stream that community members say could be in jeopardy due to a legal challenge by the landowner.

The council unanimously approved a resolution 9-0 to urge the state Commission on Water Resource Management to deny the request for a contested case by Molokai Properties Ltd. and to fully restore Kawela Stream.

On Oct. 18, the commission approved full restoration of Kawela Stream, which has been "almost exclusively diverted" to West Molokai by Molokai Properties for more than 100 years, the resolution said.

Molokai Properties has since requested a contested case hearing, which halts full restoration of the stream that would "significantly enhance" the hydrological, biological and social health of the Kawela Ahupua'a, the resolution said.

Molokai resident Josiah Ching expressed support for the resolution and the full restoration of the stream, saying "this is the worst shape I've seen the aina in almost 40 years that I have lived here."

He added that Molokai Properties is just trying to prolong the process and the company's mismanagement has "horribly degraded" the land and resources.

Malia Akutagawa, who is from Molokai and is an associate professor of law and Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said Kawela used to have flowing perennial streams and springs along with abundant wildlife such as 'o'opu (native freshwater fish) and hihiwai (freshwater snails). But now, the area is "turning into a desert."

She said the company shuttered the ranch in 2008 and let go the majority of their employees.

"The ranch has no need for the water other than make their property attractive enough to a prospective buyer," she added.

In 2017, more than 55,000 acres of Molokai Ranch land was listed for sale at $260 million.

Council Vice Chairwoman Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, who holds the Molokai residency seat, said it was important that the council pass the resolution, as the commission could take up the contested case matter as early as this month or in the next few months.

This is so the commission "will understand the position of this council in supporting the Molokai community and in fully restoring the stream and upholding its earlier decision," she added.

Council Member Tasha Kama questioned what could be done to "make and ensure" that Molokai Properties does "what they are supposed to do" in resorting the streams. She wanted to ensure enforcement.

Council Chairwoman Alice Lee said the matter is a state issue, and while Kama said she understood, she added that "our people live here" and that they are "looking to us" to help.

The resolution does not have the force or effect of law but is one way for the council to publicly take a stance on an issue.

Rawlins-Fernandez added that Molokai Properties is following the process in which they are allowed to request a contested case hearing. But, it is up to the commission to grant it or not.

If the commission does not grant it, then the commission's order of fully restoring Kawela Stream still stands.

She said she will continue working with the state and its officials on water matters and that council members should be present when the new governor nominates people who will oversee water issues and that they should testify on how they feel.

Another matter that garnered supportive testimony Friday was the tweaked version of the "aina kupuna" bill that passed a year ago as a way to help longtime local families from being taxed out of properties they have held for decades.

The measure allows qualifying owners to only pay the minimum property tax, which is currently $350 a year. On Friday, the council gave its approval on first reading for a change to the bill that would amend criteria to qualify for the lower tax.

Now to qualify, the property needs to have been assessed more than $10,000 in property taxes over the last 10 years.

The current threshold is more than $50,000 over the last 10 years.

In a separate matter, council members did not take action on second and final reading for a bill to establish a cultural overlay map and cultural sensitivity designations as well as other related review processes to preserve cultural resources and promote careful planning.

Instead, Kama asked for a public hearing on the bill. She was joined by Council Members Yuki Lei Sugimura and Lee in requesting the hearing.

The hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16, the same day of the next council meeting. Other matters not taken up during Friday's council meeting will be discussed at the Dec. 16 meeting, Lee said.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.

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county council voices support for restoration of kawela stream flow

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County council voices support for restoration of Kawela Stream flow

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The Maui County Council on Friday voiced its support for restoring flow to a Molokai stream that community members say could be in jeopardy due to a legal challenge by the landowner. The council unanimously approved a resolution 9-0 to urge the state Commission on Water Resource Management to deny the request for a contested [...]

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‌ This article from The Molokai Dispatch reports on the recent diversion of Kawela Stream, detailing the community's concerns and the diversion's environmental implications. It highlights the ongoing struggles local residents and environmental advocates face in their efforts to maintain natural stream flows. The article provides insights into the historical context of water diversion on Moloka‘i and its impact on ecosystems and cultural practices.

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Kawela Stream Diverted Again | The Molokai Dispatch

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Molokai No Ka Heke News Release On April 19, the state Commission on Water Resource Management approved a historic “median flow” level of stream restoration for Kawela Stream, and directed Molokai Ranch to fully restore Kawela Stream for a period of six months while the Ranch conducts an audit of its wasteful and inefficient mountain

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This webpage provides information about the Kawela Plantation Homeowners Association (KPHA), focusing on the community's efforts to manage water resources, maintain common grounds, and uphold regulations. It includes details on the association's bylaws, design rules, and policies related to historic and archaeological resources. The page emphasizes the importance of sustainable water management and community involvement in preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Kawela area. This source is useful for understanding the role of homeowner associations in local environmental and resource management initiatives.

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Welcome to KPHA!

Aloha & welcome to the Kawela Plantation Homeowners' Association (KPHA) website, designed to serve as our community information portal.

Here you'll find information about Kawela Plantation, the Board of Directors, our common grounds calendar, have access to forms and documents, our Bylaws, DC&R's, Design Rules, see upcoming events on our calendar, make a payment, and get updated news, alerts and more.

We invite you to take a look around our online home, and contact us with any questions or concerns.

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Association Information | Kawela Plantation Homeowners Association

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INSTREAM FLOW STANDARD ASSESSMENT REPORT

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INSTREAM FLOW STANDARD ASSESSMENT REPORT

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This report comprehensively evaluates the instream flow standards for the Kawela Hydrologic Unit on the island of Moloka`i. The report includes detailed analyses of hydrologic data, ecological requirements, and water use needs to establish appropriate flow standards that support environmental sustainability and human usage. It examines the current water resources conditions in Kawela, identifies key issues affecting water availability and quality, and proposes recommendations for maintaining balanced water management practices. The detailed hydrologic data and analysis provides a scientific basis for studying the impact of water flow on local ecosystems and community water needs.

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This report explains the potential impacts of the Kawela 4-Lot Subdivision Project on the local environment and community. The detailed analysis of land use and water resources provide insights into the challenges and considerations of balancing development with environmental conservation. The proposed mitigation measures are valuable for studying best practices in minimizing the environmental footprint of development projects. The report includes detailed analyses of the proposed subdivision's potential environmental and socio-economic impacts on the Kawela area. It addresses aspects such as land use, water resources, ecological sensitivity, and cultural significance. The document also outlines mitigation measures to minimize adverse effects and ensure compliance with relevant environmental regulations and standards.

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This watershed-based plan, prepared by The Nature Conservancy of Hawai’i and the East Moloka’i Watershed Partnership for the State of Hawai’i Department of Health, outlines alternative strategies for managing the Kawela Watershed on Moloka’i. The document details various measures aimed at improving water quality, enhancing native habitats, and promoting sustainable land use practices within the watershed. It includes assessing current conditions, identifying key issues and threats, and recommending actions to address these challenges. The plan emphasizes community involvement, ecological restoration, and integrating traditional Hawaiian knowledge into modern conservation efforts.

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This article discusses the efforts and initiatives aimed at restoring Kawela Stream on the island of Moloka'i. It highlights the stream's historical significance, the challenges it faces due to environmental degradation and water diversion, and the collaborative efforts of local communities, government agencies, and environmental organizations to restore its natural flow and ecosystem. The restoration project aims to revive native habitats, improve water quality, and support cultural practices tied to the stream.

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Kawela Stream originates in the East Molokaʻi mountains and flows south, its forked valley reaching the shore about 5 miles east of Kaunakakai. Kawela ahupua'a stretches from Kakahaiʻa in the east, formerly an inland fishpond, to One Aliʻi Beach Park.

Lohiao Paoa, 30, was raised in Kawela, in the house that was once the only building along a now-crowded stretch of highway. On his paternal grandmother's side, Lohiao is a Kamakana, a family with long-standing ties to Kawela.

After leaving for college, Paoa knew when he moved home that it was for life. "When I went away to school - yes, I was taught the value of education, of maybe going away to get that knowledge - but in my mind, I never did put down the fact that if you stayed home, it's a different type of knowledge, and I always envied that about my friends who stayed."

In 2018, Paoa joined the Aloha ʻĀina Fellows program, to learn more about Molokaʻi's natural resources and how to protect them for future generations. His then newborn son was often with him at classes, a constant reminder for Paoa of why he was there, but he didn't know yet how he could make a difference.

Kawela ahupuaʻa is a hydrological wonder. Outflow from the watershed is naturally absorbed below ground about two-thirds of the way to the ocean, emerging near sea level as springs and wetlands. The low density of older layers of rock means that the stream can flow visibly only when the rock underneath is saturated, which depends on the consistent flow of water from the watershed down through the drier plains.

But hidden from view, Kawela's hydrological health had steadily eroded since the early 1900s. To irrigate arid West Molokaʻi, plantation-era landowners dammed Kawela and other streams deep in the Kamakou Forest Reserve. Most days, the Kawela Dam took every drop of water out of the stream - for over a century.

And it shows.

Kakahaiʻa was once a bountiful spring-fed inland fishpond. In the late 1800s, Chinese farmers used Kakahaiʻa for rice paddies. The damming of Kawela happened around 1910. By the 1970s, the pond was mostly gone, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated Kakahaiʻa as a National Wildlife Refuge, attempting to secure habitat for rare wetland birds.

Today, Kakahaiʻa is a dust bowl, overtaken by invasive plants and animals. There is rarely any wetland wildlife in the refuge because there is no water in the wetland.

Such wetlands were a key component of Kawela's historic momona, but with little or no water coming down the mountain, other than sediment-laden floods, Kawela's waters have faded away.

This slow death has been visible to those who know Kawela well.

Teave Heen was born in Kawela in 1980 and grew up a short walk from Kawela Stream. "We spent choke time at the river when it was running. It ran more often back then, clear and deep where you could swim maybe a few times a month. Now it's a couple times a year, if anything."

Because surface and groundwater are innately linked, the reduction in stream recharge can also contribute to rising salinity levels in wells.

Uncle Timmy Leong, 73, moved to Kawela in 1990. What drew him to water issues was the purity of Kawela's well water.

"When we first moved out here to Kawela, the water was so sweet that while we were building our house, we would fill up containers and take it back to town for drinking."

But over the years, Leong noticed increases in reported salinity levels for some of Kawela's wells.

"That was what made me decide to do something, because it was the best water I had ever tasted, and to see the salinity going up was very, very concerning."

In 2018, Heen was taking Hawaiian Studies classes at UH Mānoa. "We studied our ahupuaʻa, the rains, the winds. And the sense of kuleana sank in. My thoughts always went back to the water. Why does it not flow as often? I wanted to know, and I wanted to do something about it. So I started doing research, and I was actually praying about it, like, how do I do this?"

Then in 2019, Heen got a call from a friend who said there was a hui forming up to attempt to restore Kawela Stream. "In that moment, it wasn't even a question, it was like, 'Yes! Mahalo Ke Akua!' Finding out people were working on this was literally an answer to my prayers."

Having recently completed the Aloha ʻĀina fellowship, Paoa was also ready to jump in. "It was a no-brainer. This was our chance to put our kuleana into action."

"It's a double-edged sword," Leong said about joining the hui. "It takes a lot of effort and time to participate, but it is truly necessary work. If you don't step up and speak, the consequences for the ʻāina can be drastic."

Heen, Paoa, and Leong joined forces with others to form a group they called Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke (which translates roughly as "Molokaʻi mo' bettah"), to reflect their island pride. In July 2019, Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke, represented by nonprofit law firm Earthjustice, formally requested the Hawaiʻi Commission on Water Resource Management (Water Commission) to establish protective flow standards for Kawela and the other mountain streams and to prevent the diverter from draining Kawela beyond reasonable needs.

For over two years, Water Commission staff collected additional data, and made several visits to Kawela to measure stream flow, observe aquatic life, and exchange knowledge with stakeholders. Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke members participated in these huakaʻi, joined by staff from ʻĀina Momona, a nonprofit that manages Keawanui fishpond and farm in Kaʻamola ahupuaʻa, a few miles east of Kawela.

"Traditional science is our foundation here, but we also work with researchers and our staff to connect the dots with Western sciences," said Momi Afelin, 23, ʻĀina Momona's director of Research and Community Engagement. "We appreciated the commission hydrologist taking the time to discuss his work with us, to better understand these issues from both perspectives."

Last February, the Water Commission announced a public informational meeting, with a decision slated for March, which was then deferred to a third meeting in April. Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke and ʻĀina Momona sprang into action and showed up in full force, three months in a row.

Having first educated themselves, the "AM Crew" went door-to-door in Kawela, informing the community about Kawela's water issues, collecting petition signatures in support of restoration, and inviting people to an online community meeting to learn more. Hui members from their teens to their 70s prepared and delivered informed, thoughtful, and moving oral testimony at all three commission meetings.

Between the February and March meetings, new information came to light, showing the diverter taking about nine times the amount of water needed to meet West Molokaʻi's needs. At that point, the hui came together and made an important decision.

"What was amazing to me was we all walked in with the same manaʻo," said Leong. "We all knew at that point we had to pursue full restoration for Kawela. There was just no justification for the level of wastefulness." The hui knew that Kawela was where their efforts could have the most beneficial impact.

They also knew it was about how they presented their case. "It would be easy for them [the commissioners] to look at a guy from Kawela and say, 'oh, he's just angry,' and honestly it would be easy for us to be angry about the situation," said Paoa. "But we didn't go in there snapping. We went in with facts. We went in with kuleana. And we went in with appreciation for what we knew the commission could do."

"The same way we inherited these problems, we inherited the kuleana to do something about it," said Afelin. "Showing that young people care and are making the effort to get informed and take action seemed to move the commissioners."

On April 19, the Water Commission approved the highest stream flow standard ever adopted without a lawsuit, and went even further, requiring the return of all water to Kawela for at least six months while the diverter conducts a water system audit. On May 11, hui members visited the Kawela Dam with commission staff to witness the temporary restoration. In October, the commission expects to revisit the issue and consider making it permanent.

For many hui members, advocating to a government agency was a new experience. "This was my first time doing this," said Heen. "Then to see it unfold...we changed things. We changed the whole course of it by coming in and saying this is what we want as a community based on what's actually happening."

Asked about her hopes for Kawela's future, Heen knows this is just the beginning of the healing Kawela needs. "It could take a long time to fill up this cup. But that's what we want. We want this to create the opportunity for life to come back to Kawela."

Paoa would like to see Kawela's springs and fishponds restored. "We want to be able to produce things for the community. Maybe first it's education, but then it's food. It's not about trying to go back in time, it's about going forward. You could be using modern tools or technology, but the main thing is the cultural values. Culture is always the key."

"Two of our hui had babies this spring, right in the middle of it all," said Afelin. "These kids were born into this, at this turning point. I hope that in their future, it's normal for them to see Kakahaiʻa or the river full of water more often."

Leong sometimes wonders. "You know, we seem to be on the right track, but it brings up questions like, will these kids ever know the true sweetness of the water? The coolness of the fresh running stream? Will Kawela come back? My uncle told me when I was young, 'the land will be only as good as the people.'" He pauses, raw emotion written across his face. "So the real question is...what kind of people are we?"

And Molokaʻi's new generation has an answer.

"He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka: the land is the chief and we are its servants," says hui member Leihiwahiwa Ritte, 19, of Hoʻolehua. "It's our kuleana to mālama this ʻāina so that she can continue to mālama us. Through these efforts we are learning to perpetuate what our kūpuna have been saying for generations. We know the work is just getting started, and we are ready to ʻauamo our kuleana."
Mahesh Cleveland, born in Honokalā, East Maui, and tracing his Maoli heritage to Nāhiku and Hāna, is an attorney with the Honolulu office of nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice. Mahesh, together with Leinā'ala Ley and veteran water lawyer Isaac Moriwake, has represented Molokaʻi Nō Ka Heke since 2019. Mahesh believes that community engagement and kānaka co-management of natural resources is the key to a sustainable future for Hawaiʻi.

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Restoring Molokaʻi's Kawela Stream - Ka Wai Ola

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Kawela Stream originates in the East Moloka'i mountains and flows south, its forked valley reaching the shore about 5 miles east of Kaunakakai.

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This article explains the broader context and significance of the State’s order to restore water flow in West Moloka'i streams. The historical background and detailed descriptions of the ecological and cultural impacts provides valuable insights into the challenges and benefits of such restoration efforts. The discussion on stakeholder collaboration and community involvement offer case studies for effective advocacy and implementation of environmental policies. This information contributes to research on sustainable water management, the role of community engagement in conservation efforts, and the revival of traditional cultural practices connected to natural resources.

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KAUNAKAKAI, Molokai - Residents of central Molokai are celebrating a decision last week by the state's water commission to restore historic flows to five streams whose water was diverted for cattle ranching on the island's west side.

"Happiness" is how Walter Ritte described his reaction to the Commission on Water Resource Management's decision Tuesday to return water to East Kawela, East Kawela Tributary, West Kawela, Lualohe, and Waikolu streams. For over a century, water in those streams was diverted to Molokai Ranch, often leaving them dry, to the detriment of fish, birds, seaweed, plants and other downstream resources.

While welcome, Tuesday's decision isn't a panacea, according to Ritte, a member of Molokai No Ka Heke, a community group that has pressed the commission to curb water diversions on the island. Although heartened by the panel's action, several Molokai residents told Civil Beat that much work lies ahead to repair the land, wetlands and aquifer after so many years of being parched.

"It feels good. It's justice for our aina. It makes me want to cry. It's like having a loved one who is on her deathbed. Her blood was taken away and the doctor comes in and says how much blood you want returned and you say, 'All of it. We want her to live,'" said Teave Heen, also a member of Molokai No Ka Heke.

After last week's decision to approve "interim instream flow standards" for the streams, water will now flow downstream either fully or partially, a news release from the commission said.

The fifth stream, East Kawela, will see its water return in a phased approach, according to the commission, after Molokai Properties researches how much water is being wasted through reservoir evaporation and whether reusing wastewater is possible for meeting some of the company's needs.

The commission gave the Singaporean firm 180 days to propose plans to fully restore East Kawela stream.

Mahesh Cleveland, an attorney for Earthjustice, said he would like community members to witness the moment when Molokai Properties opens the valve that will allow water to return to the East Kawela ahupuaa, or watershed. Cleveland's organization, on behalf of Molokai No Ka Heke, brought a formal request before the water commission in 2019 urging it to do something to return water to streams in the Kawela watershed.

The commission's decision was unprecedented because the members chose to act in the community's best interest without being forced to through litigation, Cleveland said.

"It shows the power of community advocacy," he said, noting that Molokai residents provided the commission with more than 100 pieces of written testimony and hours of oral testimony over the course of months, including a video shown at last week's meeting.

"I want to acknowledge the young people here attending these meetings and advocating for full stream restoration and a healthier community. We have an opportunity to restore life to an area and this is moving us toward true equity," Commissioner Aurora Kagawa-Viviani said in the commission's news release.

Ritte plans to keep a watchful eye on whether Molokai Properties follows through on the commission's decision.

"We've been in water wars for the past 40 years," Ritte said. "The problem is that you have a foreign company from Singapore that owns one third of our island. The only purpose they have in mind is to make a profit. Their vision of the future of Molokai is in conflict with our vision of Molokai."

Commission staff found that Molokai Ranch has diverted nine times the amount of water it actually needed, according to Earthjustice's news release.

When streams dry up, the lack of water can affect cultural practices such as gathering limu or seaweed, harvesting fish in nearshore waters, gathering medicinal plants or operating fishponds. It can also affect aquatic species by altering their habitat.

The lack of water has affected Kakaha'ia, formerly home to an inland fishpond and a national wildlife refuge since 1976, according to Earthjustice. By diverting water to Molokai Ranch, available habitat for protected waterbirds has shrunk. But with the commission's decision to restore water, the refuge and nearby wetlands should be revitalized, the group said.

Water needs to be returned to the streams not just for the health of the fish and limu but for the health of the people who live the subsistence lifestyle and the overall health of the aina itself, said Heen.

During last week's commission meeting, Cal Chipchase, an attorney for Molokai Properties, said the six-month window to evaluate the system's loss of water through evaporation is appropriate. In response to an inquiry from Civil Beat on Monday, Chipchase said Molokai Properties looks forward to the continued opportunity "to achieve a balanced outcome."

Watch the commission meeting here.

Civil Beat's coverage of Maui County is supported in part by grants from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation and the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation.

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State Orders Water To Flow Once Again In Five Molokai Streams

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Residents praised a decision last week by the state water board, but say much work remains to be done to restore ecosystems.

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RESTORING STREAM FLOWS TO FIVE MOLOKA`I STREAMS AFTER A CENTURY

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RESTORING STREAM FLOWS TO FIVE MOLOKA`I STREAMS AFTER A CENTURY

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This press release from Hawaii.gov announces the restoration of stream flows to five streams on Moloka’i for the first time in over a century. The restoration project aims to re-establish natural water flows disrupted by historical diversions for agriculture and other uses. The release highlights the environmental, cultural, and community benefits of restoring these stream flows, including improved ecosystems, enhanced water quality, and the revival of traditional cultural practices connected to the streams. It also discusses the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, and environmental organizations, in achieving this milestone.

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For Immediate News Release: April 20, 2022
STREAM FLOWS TO BE RESTORED TO FIVE MOLOKA'I STREAMS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A CENTURY
To view the April 19th, 2022 CWRM meeting please click on the photo or view at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEOKnuEIQS4

(Honolulu) - After receiving more than one-hundred pieces of written testimony and hours of oral testimony at its monthly meeting yesterday, the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) approved the establishment of five interim instream flow standards (IIFS) for the Island of Moloka'i. These first IIFS for Moloka'i will return water back to East Kawela, East Kawela Tributary, West Kawela, Lualohe, and Waikolu Streams. For more than a century these streams were almost fully diverted and often dry. Now stream flows are either fully or partially restored.

"I want to acknowledge the young people here attending these meetings and advocating for stream restoration and a healthier community. We have an opportunity to restore life to an area and this is moving us towards true equity," said Commissioner Dr. Aurora Kagawa-Viviani.

The Commission established a median flow IIFS (Q50) and committed to a goal of full stream restoration of East Kawela Stream, taking a phased approach to gather sufficient information to evaluate ways to accomplish that goal.

"I first worked on forested watershed protection at Kamakou Preserve mauka of Kawela Stream in 1987, so it's very moving now to finally take action to restore this water to Kawela Stream," said Commission Chair Suzanne Case.

The phased approach includes follow-up from Molokai Properties, which owns and operates the Mountain Water System. It is tasked with investigating water system loss, including reservoir evaporation, and to analyze if wastewater reuse is a potential alternative water source to meet its non-potable needs. "We are in a new paradigm of water resource management and stewardship that requires water systems to be as efficient as possible. We expect that from water operators and diverters," said Commissioner Neil Hannahs.

The Mountain Water System consists of seven diversions on various streams in the Kawela, Kaunakakai, and Waikolu hydrologic units and includes 50 million gallons in reservoir storage. The Commission will revisit additional modifications to diversions and the IIFS in 180 days while working with all the stakeholders in this process.

"In that time, we will have identified the solutions that improve the efficiency of the system for the island overall and that's what is really going to make it work for everybody," Commissioner Paul Meyer stated who introduced the motion to approve the IIFS.

CWRM expects these restored stream flows will have dramatic benefits for groundwater recharge and nearshore ecosystems, as well as restoring coastal spring flows critical for Limu growth.

"These decisions are intended to protect the outstanding cultural and ecological values recognized in the Kawela and Waikolu hydrologic units while balancing public trust uses of water," said Dr. Ayron Strauch, Hydrologist with the Commission's Stream Protection and Management Branch.

Groundwater recharge will support coastal springs, wetlands, and nearshore ecosystems. These resources support subsistence gathering and fishing of Native Hawaiians and the Moloka'i community. This includes Moloka'i Nō Ka Heke, a community group, which submitted a petition to amend the IIFS for the streams in 2019.

"We're not acting out of greed or ignorance. Rather, we who know this 'āina, who care for this community, are coming together and acting out of love for our Moloka'i. While our initial request was to abandon the seven intakes, we are compromising our position and asking for IIFSs for four streams in order to see our island reforested. We know climate change impacts are coming and that we need to act now to protect the resiliency of our island and of our community," said Momi Afelin of Moloka'i Nō Ka Heke.

"In balancing protection of our water resources and ensuring reasonable and beneficial uses, I am grateful to the community, Molokai Properties, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for working collaboratively to find that balance," said Deputy Director of CWRM Kaleo Manuel.

The Commission also approved a surface water reservation for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands of 6.0914 million gallons per day from the Waikolu Surface Water Hydrologic Unit.

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(All images/video courtesy: DLNR)

More information:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/cwrm/newsevents/meetings/

HD video - April 19, 2022 CWRM meeting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEOKnuEIQS4
Photographs - Moloka'i Streams:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fbmd5pg706ivw6g/AADvty887mgSw0DFTsc8icBqa?dl=0 Media contact:
AJ McWhorter
Communications Specialist
Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources
[email protected]
808-587-0396 (Communications Office)

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04/20/22-STREAM FLOWS TO BE RESTORED TO FIVE MOLOKA'I STREAMS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A CENTURY

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(Honolulu) - After receiving more than one-hundred pieces of written testimony and hours of oral testimony at its monthly meeting yesterday, the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) approved the establishment of five interim instream flow standards (IIFS) for the Island of Moloka'i.