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Mahi Pono tells OHA it complies with interim streamflow rules and cites lower water use than sugar era
Summary
Mahi Pono presented irrigation and compliance data — saying it diverted an average 32.3 MGD from East Maui in 2026 (34.1 MGD applied to crops), has removed or modified 79 diversions, and contends interim flow standards and license conditions protect stream flows and Native Hawaiian practices.
Grant Nakama, senior vice president for Mahi Pono, told the board that the company has submitted required permit applications and is working to restore streamflows while operating a diversified agricultural enterprise. “The average amount of water that we diverted from East Maui in 2026 is 32.3 MGD,” Nakama said, adding that Mahi Pono applies about 34.1 MGD to crops while county municipal use is approximately 2.1 MGD.
Nakama emphasized compliance steps: removal or modification of diversions (79 completed, 51 pending), permit submittals and voluntary short‑term measures such as leaving gates open to restore streamflow. He argued the interim flow standards prioritize instream and municipal uses ahead of agricultural diversion under current orders and that the state retains authority to condition or terminate licenses for noncompliance. Trustees pressed on operating costs, ownership of ditch segments and whether county control would be preferable; Nakama replied that some ditch segments are privately held and that Mahi Pono has decades of operational experience.
