Exploratory Well Proposed in West Maui

Proposed site of West Maui Exploratory Well 2, northwest view of proposed project site. Photo courtesy Hawaii Department of Health and Munekiyo & Hiraga.

By Wendy Osher

The Maui County Department of Water Supply filed a draft environmental assessment for a 1.44 million gallon per day exploratory well in West Maui.

According to the draft document, the purpose of the well is to find a potential new groundwater source, and add reliability to the West Maui Service area during times of reduced water availability.

The proposed well would draw water from the Honolua Aquifer from a site located mauka of the Honoapiʻilani Highway and below West Maui Mountains, between the Kahana Stream and Kahanaiki Gulch.

The site is on private land owned by Maui Land & Pineapple Company, located east of the state’s West Maui Kapalua Airport. The land is currently classified as agricultural, and would be accessed from a former pineapple field road.

Proposed site of West Maui Exploratory Well 2, west view of existing road near proposed project site. Photo courtesy Hawaii Department of Health and Munekiyo & Hiraga.

According to the assessment, “as the proposed exploratory well site is located at the upper limits of abandoned pineapple fields, it is expected that this water is not adversely influenced by agricultural operations.”

Water officials say the well could potentially become a permanent production well if quality tests determine the source meets drinking water standards.

The document notes that the Department of Water Supply owns eight active wells and two water treatment facilities in the West Maui Region.

A 30-day public comment period on the draft document ends on March 25, 2014.

Comments should be sent to:

• Maui Department of Water Supply, c/o David Taylor, 200 South High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793.
• Munekiyo & Hiraga, Inc., c/o Cheryl Okuma, 305 South High Street, Ste 104, Wailuku, HI 96793.