During a recent government meeting, significant concerns regarding water access for Hawaiian homesteaders were raised, highlighting ongoing struggles faced by families reliant on ranching in West Hawaii. Hokulei Lindsey, a representative of a family with a long history of advocating for water rights, detailed the challenges her family has encountered in securing water for their cattle ranches at Honokaiya. Despite having leases dating back to the 1990s and 2017, Lindsey reported that her family has never been provided with water, a situation that has persisted for generations.

Lindsey expressed frustration over bureaucratic hurdles, specifically the refusal of the West Hawaii representative from the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) to sign necessary forms for federal assistance programs, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA). This refusal is tied to pending claims related to her deceased uncle's interests in the leases, which Lindsey argues is an unnecessary delay in accessing vital resources.

The meeting also touched on the heightened risk of fire in the area due to dry conditions, exacerbated by the lack of water. Lindsey emphasized the danger posed to both livestock and the community, stating that her family is unable to assist in firefighting efforts due to their own water shortages. The deputy attorney general present at the meeting acknowledged the ongoing litigation affecting water issues but refrained from providing specific comments, citing the complexity of the situation.

In addition to Lindsey's testimony, other residents voiced their concerns about water access and the inequities faced by Hawaiian homesteaders compared to wealthier neighboring developments. Jojo Tanimoto, a resident of Kauaihi Homestead, highlighted the loss of a well that previously served the community and called for assistance in accessing water from new developments, which seem to prioritize affluent areas over local needs.

The meeting underscored a broader issue of water scarcity affecting multiple communities in Hawaii, with officials acknowledging the need for a collective approach to address these challenges. The discussions revealed a pressing need for improved communication and action from the DHHL to facilitate access to water resources, particularly as climate change continues to impact water availability across the state.