Commission approves permits, funding agreements; Ouli Farms application withdrawn

The Commission on Water Resource Management met March 18, 2025, in Honolulu and took final action on several staff recommendations, approving multiple permits and a funding agreement and adopting an agricultural water plan. Commissioners also heard public comment on a large subdivision stream crossing (Ouli Farms) and the applicant withdrew that application rather than seek a vote.

Why it matters: The votes finalize permit conditions and funding that affect groundwater monitoring, municipal and private water infrastructure, and statewide agricultural water planning. Several approvals include special conditions intended to limit local impacts or require extra monitoring.

Key outcomes (motions and votes) - A1 — Approval of minutes (02/18/2025): Motion to approve the draft minutes passed. (Roll call recorded; motion approved.)

- B1 — Waikapu Country Town wells (pump installation permits): The commission approved issuance of pump installation permits for two existing Waikapu Country Town wells subject to staff’s standard conditions and special conditions. Notable added conditions included requiring a diver/pressure transducer in the non‑pumped well during the pump test, hourly water‑level readings 3 days before and after a constant rate pump test, submission of pump test results within 30 days, and explicit coordination of the pump test with Maui Department of Water Supply so the county can monitor conductivity and chlorides during tests. Motion passed (approved as amended).

- B2 — Kahawiki Stream channel alteration permit (Army Garrison Hawaii/Public Works): The commission approved a stream channel alteration permit for a soil‑nail/shotcrete stabilization system on Kahawiki Stream at Fort Shafter, subject to the staff conditions and delegation to the deputy to add any State Historic Preservation Division concurrence conditions when received. The motion carried on the floor with a recorded 4–1 vote.

- B3 — South Wilder Road (Kaumana Stream) culvert replacement (County of Hawaii): The commission approved the county’s request to replace twin 96‑inch corrugated metal culverts with two 8‑ft by 8‑ft precast box culverts and to rehabilitate the channel. The commission amended a Division of Aquatic Resources recommendation on the riprap detail: the condition was revised to direct the use of 8–12 inch rubble boulders rather than 3‑foot boulders (larger boulders could change hydraulics and increase scour). Motion passed with 5 votes.

- B4 — Ouli Farms subdivision — stream channel alteration permit (Wailaula Stream): After extensive public comment and sustained commissioner concern about segmentation, the absence of a comprehensive environmental assessment under HRS chapter 343, water supply uncertainties, and incomplete consultation with native Hawaiian stakeholders and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the applicant withdrew the stream channel alteration application for the bridge crossing. No permit was issued.

- B5 — Agricultural Water Use and Development Plan (2019 plan, revised 2021): The commission adopted the DOA’s revised Ag Water Use and Development Plan for incorporation into the Hawaii Water Plan, with conditions from commission staff (see separate coverage). Motion to adopt as amended passed 5–0.

- B6 — Joint funding agreement (JFA) with U.S. Geological Survey: The commission found the JFA for siting a deep monitor well in the Laniapolco (West Maui) aquifer area exempt from an environmental assessment under HRS chapter 343 rules cited in the staff analysis, authorized the chair to enter into the federal FY2025 JFA (total Phase 1 budget $180,000: Commission $75,000, Maui DWS $75,000, USGS $30,000), and delegated authority to the chair to modify the agreement provided there is no increase in the commission’s share. Motion passed 5–0.

What the approvals require of applicants and staff - Pump testing and monitoring: The Waikapu wells approval requires coordinated pump testing with continuous (hourly) transducer monitoring and submission of results so final pump capacities can be set by data. - Cultural and historic review: Stream‑alteration permits approved for Fort Shafter and the South Wilder Road project were conditioned on receipt of concurrence or comments from the State Historic Preservation Division and on implementing Division of Aquatic Resources guidance. - Engineering details: The Kaumana Stream approval included an engineered amendment to a DAR recommendation about riprap size, changed to smaller (8–12 inch) boulders to avoid adverse hydraulic impacts.

Public comment and context - Several items drew public comment or interagency concerns during the meeting. Ouli Farms generated the most extensive public testimony from residents, Hawaiian homestead representatives and Native Hawaiian organizations expressing concerns about water supply, cultural resources, and the absence of an environmental assessment; the applicant withdrew the application and will return with a fuller record. The Kahawiki and South Wilder projects prompted questions about SHPD concurrence, Army Corps 404/401 permitting, and construction season and BMPs.

Provenance (evidence spans) - Waikapu pump permits (topicintro): transcript timestamp 414.07–438.12 — Ryan Imata presentation of the pump permits and staff recommendations. - Waikapu pump permits (topfinish): transcript timestamp 1354.41–1366.375 — Motion moved and seconded; vote recorded. - Kahawiki stream SCAP (topicintro): transcript timestamp 1424.665–1470.2999 — Dean (Dino) Eno presentation of B2. - Kahawiki stream SCAP (topfinish): transcript timestamp 2748.745–2768.445 — Final vote recorded (4–1). - South Wilder culvert (topicintro): transcript timestamp 2978.925–3005.375 — staff presentation on B3. - South Wilder culvert (topfinish): transcript timestamp 3842.365–3862.109 — motion passed with amendment. - Ouli Farms (topicintro): transcript timestamp 4492.26–4574.295 — Dean Eno presentation, project description. - Ouli Farms (topfinish): transcript timestamp 9165.57–9199.17 — Applicant withdrew the application. - Ag Water Plan (topicintro): transcript timestamp 9256.55–9334.095 — Katie Roth presentation on B5 draft and staff conditions. - Ag Water Plan (topfinish): transcript timestamp 13975.575–13982.155 — Motion passed with amendments. - USGS JFA (topicintro): transcript timestamp 16298.13–16359.56 — Katie Roth presentation of B6 and funding shares. - USGS JFA (topfinish): transcript timestamp 18066.426–18078.86 — Motion passed 5–0.

Speakers (selected) - Dawn Chang — Chairperson, Commission on Water Resource Management (government) - Kira Kahane — First Deputy to the Water Commission (staff) - Evalani Ka'a — Commission secretary (staff) - Cindy Young — Deputy Attorney General (government) - Ryan Imata — Groundwater Regulation Branch (staff presenter, pump permits) - Dean (Dino) Eno — Head, Stream Protection and Management Branch (staff presenter) - Jeff Wilk — Attorney for Waikapu Country Town (applicant representative) - Albert Boyse — Manager, Waikapu Properties LLC (applicant) - Janice Fujimoto — Dept. of Agriculture (DOA) (presenter on Ag plan) - Katie Roth — Water Commission planning branch (staff presenter) - Stefan Zahniser, USGS — Pacific Islands Water Science Center (USGS) - Eva (Maui DWS) — Maui Department of Water Supply (interagency partner)

Salience and follow‑up - The commission directed staff to ensure pump tests and monitoring data guide final pump capacities for Waikapu and to coordinate with Maui DWS. The Ouli Farms withdrawal leaves unanswered questions about environmental review and regional water availability; the commission flagged the need for more holistic review before such stream‑alteration requests are resubmitted. The commission also reinforced conditions to ensure SHPD and DAR recommendations are incorporated for stream projects.

Searchable tags: Waikapu, Kahawiki Stream, Kaumana Stream, Ouli Farms, agricultural water plan, Laniapolco monitor well, Maui DWS, USGS, pump test, SHPD, stream channel alteration, culvert replacement