Kamehameha floats
stream study plan

The landowner offers to conduct
research in lieu of paying a fine

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By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com

Kamehameha Schools has proposed to fund studies of streams on three islands in lieu of paying the state Water Commission a $453,000 fine for improper diversion of water from the Big Island's Lalakea Stream.

The water used to be used by Hamakua Sugar Co., which sold its land to Kamehameha Schools in 1994.

The school was unable to demonstrate to the Water Commission that a lessee's aquaculture project was a proper use of the water, triggering the proposed fine in February.

At a meeting yesterday, the commission preliminarily approved Kamehameha's proposal to gather new scientific information about Lalakea Stream, as well as Waipa Stream on Kauai and Punaluu Stream on Oahu.

Each of the studies will "acquire meaningful, relevant scientific data for the benefit of the commission, the communities and for Kamehameha Schools," said Neil Hannahs, director of Kamehameha Schools' land assets division.

"We think this is a step in the right direction," said Kapua Sproat, an attorney for EarthJustice, the law firm that represents Waipio Valley farmers who want the diverted Lalakea Ditch water returned to Lalakea Stream.

Sproat said the environmental law firm is supportive of the stream studies on Oahu and Kauai, but wants to make sure the work in Waipio Valley is not redundant with work that has already been done there.

Between now and the Dec. 19 Water Commission meeting, Kamehameha will meet with community members at each of the study sites and with scientists to specify what will be studied and how.

The basic plan is to study:

>> Lalakea Stream both before and after an estimated 1 million gallons a day of water now diverted to Lalakea Ditch are returned to the stream.

The study will cost $220,000 and take three years, with the Bishop Museum as a principal scientific partner.

>> The ecological effects of diverting some water for taro plots at Waipa Stream, near Hanalei.

The study will cost $160,000 and take two years, with Adam Asquith, Sea Grant Extension researcher, as a principal scientific partner.

>> The impact of changing stream flow at Punaluu, on Oahu's Windward side.

The study will cost $75,000, last a year and involve the U.S. Geological Survey's Steve Anthony.