Multiple sources report that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) held a hearing on August 14, 2026 regarding East Maui water licenses, with DLNR issuing a clarification after a doctored version of the official agenda circulated publicly. The actual agenda item seeks to authorize a public auction for a water license — not directly award one to agricultural landowner Mahi Pono — along with a separate county water license and related infrastructure agreement.
- DLNR issued a public statement warning that a modified BLNR agenda circulating online — marked ‘Edited for Brevity’ in red text — is not an official document and contains unauthorized additions
- The actual agenda Item D-7 asks BLNR to authorize a public auction for a water license for government surface waters in East Maui, not to directly award a 30-year license to Mahi Pono
- A separate water license for the County of Maui for domestic, municipal, and agricultural purposes was also on the agenda, along with an agreement for operation of the East Maui Irrigation System
- Mahi Pono, backed by a Canadian-based pension fund, purchased 41,000 acres including the East Maui Irrigation system from Alexander & Baldwin in December 2018 and received a one-year revocable permit in December 2025 to continue managing water diversions
- Mahi Pono had originally sought a 30-year license to withdraw up to 88 million gallons of water per day; the Environmental Court has since reduced its interim stream allocation to 31.5 million gallons per day (Maui News)
- The Sierra Club’s Maui Group director said the board has been advised it must conduct a contested case hearing reviewing evidence before deciding on a license allotment (Maui News)
- Opposition to private licensing of East Maui water came from Native Hawaiian taro farmers and environmentalists, while Hawaii’s state agricultural director expressed support for the proposal (Maui News)
- The state is opposing the County of Maui’s separate push to take over the East Maui Irrigation system and create a unified county water distribution system (Hawaii Free Press)
- Plans exist for East Maui residents to eventually assume management control through an East Maui Water Authority, enabled by a County Charter Amendment (Maui News)
- The public could watch the hearing via live stream at the J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku or on YouTube (Maui News)
Sources
- Hawaii Free Press: Maui Hysteria Machine: Activists Post Phony BLNR Agenda
- Maui News: Mahi Pono has water license hearing Friday
- Maui Now: DLNR clarifies proposed East Maui water licenses before Board of Land and Natural Resources
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