East Maui Water Authority

In 2022 Maui voters approved the creation of the Maui County Community Water Authorities and the East Maui Regional Community Board. The voters expressed their concern that a foreign owned company, Mahi Pono, would control almost a billion gallons of water every year. There was also concern that water was unfairly being taken from local farmers and given to big Ag-business. The community wanted more community input into decision about how this precious resource was being gathered and allocated. This is the genesis of the community water authorities. This section is about the first regional board, that of East Maui.

The East Maui Regional Community Board water authority is concerned with the Nāhiku, Ke’anae, Honomanū, and Huelo license areas.

The Board has eleven members with at least two members from each license area. Members must have experience in water resource management and watershed restoration in the applicable watershed and reside in the applicable community plan area. The three remaining members are appointed by the council based on the following requirements: one member with experience in water resource management who is actively engaged in ranching, farming, aquaculture, or loko i‘a in the area where water service is provided; one member with experience in water resource management who resides full-time in the area where water service is provided; and one member who is a representative of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

Of these eleven members, seven are appointed by the council, and four are appointed by the mayor.

The Director of the Department of Finance, the Director of the Department of Water Supply, the Councilmember holding the residency area seat for the applicable watershed area (Hana), and the Chair of the council committee with jurisdiction over water issues (WASSP) are non-voting, ex-officio members of the East Maui Regional Community Board.

The website for the East Maui Regional Water Authority is https://www.mauicounty.gov/2741/East-Maui-Regional-Community-Board-Water

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