East Maui streams center of debateThe Maui News, 25 May, 2008
By CHRIS HAMILTON, Staff Writer
Saturday morning near Twin Falls, waving signs and hands in search of community support for their efforts to get more water placed back into East Maui’s streams.
As many passing motorists honked their horns as didn’t.
The farmers, led by Lyn Scott and Troy McConnell of the grass-roots Honopou Stream Association, are readying for an upcoming staff report and then potential decision by the state Commission on Water Resource Management. Scott said the farmers want to keep this issue alive in the public’s eye.
The commission could force East Maui Irrigation Co., and its parent company, Alexander and Baldwin Inc., to release much of the nearly 234 million gallons of water the company collects each day in its 74-mile, 130-year-old system of ditches and tunnels.
“Does the ditch own the water?” asked protester James Sagawinit, 72, of Haiku. “Water belongs to everyone. Not a certain few. They didn’t make it. It comes from the heavens.”
As the farmers and fishermen argued that restoring the streams will bring back new life, EMI officials said...
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