Hawaiian Homes Commission defers action after contentious beneficiary consultation on Waihuli wells

Chair Carla Watson called a public meeting of the Hawaiian Homes Commission on Oct. 20, 2025, to review a beneficiary consultation report on a proposed development of three wells and a transmission system in Upcountry Maui. Planning staff presented the draft memorandum of agreement and technical studies; public commenters and beneficiary leaders urged a fuller consultation and more detail before any final action.

The planning office said the project is intended to create a new DHHL-controlled water source to unlock advanced water credits for multiple DHHL projects across Maui. Acting Planning Program Manager Lily Makai'la described the consultation outcome to the commission: “During this beneficiary consultation, the vast majority expressed significant opposition to the proposed Waihuli Water Agreement,” and many asked the department to “defer, revise, or completely restart” the process.

Why it matters: DHHL leaders and staff said new water is the single biggest constraint to moving dozens of encumbered housing and agricultural projects into construction. Project manager Elijah Davidson told the commission the three proposed wells have an estimated operating capacity of 1,728,000 gallons per day and that “DHHL will receive all of the 1,728,000 gallons per day” for its development needs; staff also said the draft arrangement with the county would create advanced water credits equal to roughly 39.5% of the department’s immediate development needs. Beneficiaries said they could not support a deal announced and partly negotiated before the public had time to review details—particularly after the department awarded a roughly $2.48 million contract for pre‑development work (surveying and due diligence) on July 30, 2025, which several speakers said had not been disclosed to the community before that work began.

What supporters said: County Department of Water Supply representative Eva Blumenstein said the county “supports development of homesteads” and that, if DHHL develops source capacity and the county operates and maintains distribution, DWS can supply water to DHHL projects. DHHL presenters emphasized that the proposed system would allow DHHL to dedicate finished infrastructure to the county while receiving advanced water credits to serve DHHL projects earlier than they could…