Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 7, 1 Iulai 2010 — OHA COMMUNITY MEETING VISITS MAUI [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA COMMUNITY MEETING VISITS MAUI

The community spoke and OHA listened. More than 100 people attended a community meeting with OHA trustees on June 1 6 in Lahaina, Maui. The recent ruling in the Nā Wai 'Ehā eontested case hearing before the Water Commission was a prominenttopic. Taro farmers and others thanked OHA for its intervention in the case and asked OHA to file an appeal to the Commission's decision, whieh restored 1 2.5 millions of gallons of water per day to Waihe'e River and North and South Waiehu streams. Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. employees concerned abouttheir jobs asked OHA to take no action. 0ther issues voiced included kūpuna asking OHA to support the Pu'uhonua o Honokōhau; mahalo from the Klhei Youth Center to OHA for a grant; a request for OHA to assist the Hawaiian Alliance's efforts to prevent foreclosure on Native Hawaiians in crisis; and concerns about development on Maui, the protection of iwi kūpuna, sacred sites and kuleana owner rights. In July, 0HA's community meetings will visit Nānākuli on O'ahu on July 1 before heading to Hawai'i lsland on July 1 4 and 1 5. - Photo courtesy ofMelissa Beimes.