The Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau sponsored an excellent video about the work of Sierra Club Maui Group and how visitors to Maui can be part of protecting and restoring Maui’s cultural and natural history.
HONOLULU (HI Now) – Sierra Club Maui hike leaders and volunteers help care for ancient Hawaiian archaeological sites in South Maui.
Watch the video:
Rob Weltman and Ann Wallace walked the developed South Maui coast from North Kihei at the Maui Canoe Club to the square parking lot at Kanehena, both to enjoy the views and to see where coastal access is blocked. It is about 20 miles of white sandy beaches interspersed with scenic lava flows creating a series of small coves and long beaches.
Much of the South Maui coast is public access: state or county land. There are some spots that are impassable along the shoreline and a detour is required on a nearby road. Each section is full of interesting features and adventures.
Here are maps of the route, and photos taken along the way. Blocked access is indicated as orange lines.
Note: some sections described here may be less accessible at times due to tide or weather conditions.
All photos courtesy of Ann Wallace.
We need much more affordable housing, but building in the Pu‘uone of Wai‘ale on iwi kupuna is NOT a good plan for affordable housing. It would be important for this county plan to include that information and that conclusion. Please attend, learn and speak at a meeting near you:
To:
Maui County Board of Water Supply 8-17-20
Chair Shay Chan Hodges
From:
Jeffrey Parker
Director
Coalition To Protect East Maui Water Resources
P.O. Box 170
Haiku, HI 96708
808 572-8569
Subject: Water Use and Development Plan
August 20, 2020 Public Meeting
Dear Chair Hodges and Members,
As Director of the Coalition To Protect East Maui Water Resources – one of the “Consent Decree Parties”, I am writing to express our concern that the BWS may not be aware of all conditions of the Consent Decree and our settlement with the County. Specifically how the CD relates to the portion of the WUDP dealing with the proposed Haiku well field (now said to be in the “Koolau Aquifer Sector”) Those conditions, which we all agreed to, are not fully satisfied in the current version of the WUDP. We believe that BWS should recommend that the WUDP not be accepted until all pertinent conditions of the Consent Decree are satisfied.
From the Consent Decree: 4.2 Before any new project is planned by the County of Maui to develop groundwater in the agreed- upon portion of the East Maui Region, the County will undertake a Cost/Benefit Study of the surface and groundwater resources available in the Central Maui Region, Upcountry Maui Region and East Maui Region and conduct a rigorous Cost/Benefit analysis, including the evaluation of economic and environmental factors, of developing and transmitting these water resources. This Study shall address planning for stream restoration in the agreed-upon portion of the East Maui Region.
None of the 3 studies mentioned in Chapter 14 of the WUDP comply with the agreements in the Consent Decree. None of the 3 compare all the geographical regions listed in the CD. Likewise, none of them look at environmental impacts. The Draft WUDP does not indicate that 16 Haiku deep wells will be part of any comprehensive study.
We think there has been ample time for the County to begin studying and developing a stream restoration program for streams in the Haiku aquifer area. None of these streams was part of the East Maui Water commission decision that is often referred to in the Draft WUDP. These are cherished Haiku streams like East and West Kuiaha, Awalau and others. There is no reason for the DWS to postpone this important effort until the “Koolau Well Plan” is far along, and drilling of the wells is ready to commence. A valid WUDP will detail the progress being made by the County on a stream restoration program.
To my knowledge, ongoing study of pumping of the two Hamakuapoko Wells did not happen. The language of the CD is clear: this data must be used in “deciding whether to begin planning any further project”. In our view, there has been plenty of time for the County to gather this data for use in a new WUDP. Monitoring data from these is not included in the WUDP, that we could find.
South Maui to “meet planned growth”. Yet the residents of Haiku have never been consulted. No public meetings have been held with Haiku residents during the preparation this WUDP. A public meeting zoom conference should be held, through the auspices of the Haiku Community Association, or other local organization. Additionally, to my knowledge the Consent Decree Parties also have not been consulted.
Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.
Aloha
Jeffrey Parker
In April/May 2020 we are required to keep a distance from people outside of our own household to slow the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 and to allow our health and other services to take care of those who need help. Sierra Club has therefor canceled all organized outings until further notice. But we are still allowed to venture out on our own or with members of our own household for exercise such as walking, running, hiking, swimming and surfing. No need to stay cooped up at home all day. Just keep at least six feet between yourself and anyone you meet. This is the fourth of several posts on good places to go hiking/walking without a guide.
The Makawao Forest Reserve hosts one of the more popular trails on Maui. It is easy to get to Upcountry, and a very pleasant destination for those seeking refuge from sun and heat near the coast because it is all shady. The Makawao Forest Reserve is an example of successful reforestation using non-native trees – mostly tropical ash, eucalyptus and cook pine. In today’s world the choice might have been native Hawaiian trees, but many of the benefits of reforestation have been accomplished. You will see indigenous ti plants and you may see indigenous maile and halapepe on your hike.
The Kahakapao Loop is just under five miles round-trip. It is well-marked and easy to follow as you can see in the pictures, with a gentle elevation gain of 1,165 feet. If the parking is full (at the end of Kahakapao Road), there is another parking lot accessible from the first parking lot, with a sign for horse trailers. The trail is shared with bike riders heading up-hill (they have dedicated trails for going down-hill). Here is a map:
Unfortunately there are many invasive plant species in the forest, including banana poka, strawberry guava and himalayan ginger. While they may be pretty to look at, they choke out native plants.
