Commission approves Waianae watershed project description and accepts petition to designate Waianae aquifer sector as groundwater management area

HONOLULU — On May 20 the Commission on Water Resource Management approved a project description for the City and County of Honolulu’s update to the Waianae Watershed Management Plan and, in a separate vote, accepted a petition from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply to begin the process of designating the Waianae Aquifer Sector as a groundwater management area.

Lede: Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Waianae watershed project description and to accept the Board of Water Supply’s designation petition; staff said accepting the petition begins the formal designation process, which will include a public hearing, scientific investigations as needed and further consultations before the commission makes a final designation decision.

Nut graf: The watershed‑planning action supports a multi‑year update of the island’s water use and development planning by taking a place‑based approach to supply, demand and watershed health in Waianae, while acceptance of the designation petition launches the statutory process that could result in regulatory controls tied to sustainable yields and stream‑groundwater connectivity in the Waianae area.

What commissioners approved - Project description (Waianae Watershed Management Plan update): Planning branch staff and the Board of Water Supply presented a multi‑phase scope to update the 2011 plan for the Waianae ahupua‘a. The scope proposes island‑ and watershed‑level data updates, demand forecasting (low/medium/high to 2045 with an “ultimate” horizon to 2100 for climate scenarios), stakeholder engagement (four community meetings and many stakeholder briefings), and policy, project and implementation recommendations including identification of “catalyst” projects for near‑term focus. Staff requested one text correction in the project description schedule timeline; commissioners approved the project description with the correction. - Petition to designate Waianae Aquifer Sector: The Honolulu Board of Water Supply submitted a petition asking the commission to designate the Waianae Aquifer Sector as a groundwater management area, citing declines in rainfall, water disputes, high withdrawals relative to sustainable yield and future demand pressures. After receiving comments from local officials and the mayor (the City Council member representing the district wrote in strong support), the chair recommended acceptance of the petition; the commission voted unanimously to accept the petition and begin the designation process.

Why it matters Designation would bring Waianae into the same statutory framework that already applies to other parts of Oahu. That framework gives the commission authority to set conditions on new well construction, pumpage and other water uses and to require studies and monitoring as part of permitting. Staff said acceptance of the petition does not itself change permits or allocations but triggers the public hearing and scientific analysis steps required by the Water Code.

Key discussion points and next steps - Planning and scope: the project description frames the watershed update as part of the county’s water use and development plan and emphasizes place‑based goals: protection and restoration of watershed health, protection of cultural practices, water‑quality improvements and strategies for meeting future water demand with conservation and alternative supplies. - Integration with designation: commissioners asked how the watershed planning and the designation process will fit together. Staff said the watershed update is intended to inform permitting and long‑range decision making; the accepted petition will start a separate statutory designation path that includes public hearings and technical investigations. Planning staff noted the 2009 Waianae plan and other local documents will be part of the record as analyses proceed. - Schedule and public engagement: the watershed update is planned to continue through 2027 with multiple community meetings and agency review steps; the designation process includes a public hearing in the affected area, technical studies as needed and additional consultations before any final designation vote.

Actions taken (motion outcomes) - Project description (Waianae Watershed Management Plan update): Motion to approve staff recommendation as amended (correction on page 5 schedule); motion passed unanimously (7–0). - Petition acceptance (Waianae Aquifer Sector designation): Motion to accept the Board of Water Supply petition and proceed with the groundwater management area designation process; motion passed unanimously (7–0).

Speakers and presenters - Katie Roth, Planning Branch Chief, Commission on Water Resource Management (DLNR) — presented project description details - Barry (consultant) and Jonathan LiKeke Scheuer (Kaho Wai Consulting) — provided project approach and schedule - Kira Kahahane, Deputy Director, CWRM — procedural lead on petition process - Councilmember Andrea Tupola (written comments presented) — expressed strong support

Authorities and legal context - Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 174C, Section 31 — County water use and development plan requirements - Hawaii Water Code designation procedures (statutory process for establishing groundwater management areas) — acceptance of a petition initiates public hearings, studies and consultations prior to final action by the commission

Clarifying details - Planning scope: formal watershed update includes research, watershed profile, demand/supply projections (low/medium/high to 2045; an “ultimate” horizon to 2100 for climate sensitivity), policy/project recommendations and implementation steps with catalyst projects. - Waianae hydrology and context: the coastal ahupua‘a has substantial conservation and agricultural land area; Board of Water Supply currently conveys a portion of water to Waianae from other aquifer systems (as discussed in questions); staff noted sustainable yields and transfers are subjects for the planning and designation processes.

Provenance (transcript evidence) - topicintro: {"block_id":"t-8902.55","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Aloha chair, commissioners, Katie Roth with the planning branch... Item b2 is approval of project description for the Waianae Watershed Management Plan update..."} - topfinish: {"block_id":"t-13480.16","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Motion has been moved and seconded to approve staff's recommendation on item b3. All in favor... Motion passes unanimously with 7 votes."}

Community relevance - Geographies: Waianae ahupua‘a; Oahu island planning context - Impact groups: residents of Waianae, agricultural users, Board of Water Supply customers, Native Hawaiian practitioners and kama‘aina with traditional customary interests

Meeting context - Engagement level: multiple presenters; several commissioners asked substantive questions about integration of planning and designation; community engagement phases planned - Implementation risk: low to medium — project description approval is a planning step; designation initiates a further process that may lead to regulatory requirements but does not immediately change permit conditions

Searchable tags:["Waianae","watershed plan","designation","groundwater management","Board of Water Supply"]

Salience - overall:0.78 - overall_justification: Combined watershed planning and initiation of a designation process are high‑priority local water policy actions with potential long‑term regulatory and allocation implications.