Upcountry Water Management Among Key Topics at Kula Community Association Meeting

Water diversion in East Maui, Hana. Maui Now photo.

The Kula Community Association hosts its next community meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kula Community Center.

The evening event features speakers who will discuss topics of wide community interest to both the Upcountry area and the entire County of Maui.

One of the most important issues facing Maui generally, and Upcountry Maui in particular, is what will be happening to the large amounts of water previously delivered to HC&S sugar fields from East Maui.

The State’s Department of Land and Natural Resources will soon be auctioning off their four East Maui watershed lease areas.

Ian Hirokawa from the Department of Land and Natural Resources will describe the state’s intentions with regard to the upcoming auction including: How the auction will be conducted; and what conditions will be imposed on the auction bid winner for those waters.

Meeting organizers say the factors will greatly affect agricultural operations in Central Maui as well as Upcountry’s domestic and agricultural water supply.

Michael Williams, Kula Community Association board member, will summarize the recommendations made by a County Water Board committee regarding potential alternative models for the ownership and management of the East Maui water system.

The group will also discuss Hawaiian Electric’s desires to increase renewable energy on Maui.  This has prompted AEP Company to propose more windmills near the existing wind farm on ʻUlupalakua Ranch land. Richard Chandler will describe the proposal to build seven new 500 foot wind turbines capable of producing 34 megawatts of electricity.

Also on hand will be Maui Alzheimer’s Association’s Christine Spencer, who will describe Alzheimer’s disease early signs.

Finally, attendees will hear the big effort to get people counted in the 2020 census.

For more information: 283-4376