Protecting and Preserving Maui Nui’s Environment & Important Cultural Sites for Over 40 Years

State Hears Aquarium Collection Lawsuit

by Robert Wintner  (Opinions expressed are the authors)
(Note: Above photo copyrighted and courtesy of Robert Wintner)

The Honolulu District Court yesterday heard closing summaries a case against the State of Hawaii for issuing aquarium collecting permits without assessing Environmental impact—or impact to the Hawaiian culture.

The public trust law firm Earthjustice, representing a cross section of plaintiffs against the State, had no burden to establish harm but presented overwhelming evidence of harm to Hawaii reefs from massive aquarium extraction.

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Wailea 670 Not Living Up to Conditions

When the Wailea 670 (Honua’ula) development was granted a zoning change from agricultural 30 conditions were imposed as Maui County law.  Sierra Club observes that not all these conditions are being met and has filed a lawsuit challenging the Wailea 670 EIS.

Additionally, the Sierra Club has submitted testimony to the County Council for the annual review of Wailea 670 (Honua’ula) condition compliance pointing out the conditions that the developer is violating.  This is the testimony:

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Sierra Club Files Challenge to Wailea 670 EIS

Rare native wiliwili forest occupies planned development location, Wailea 670.

The Sierra Club and Maui Unite have filed a legal challenge the Maui Planning Commission’s approval of a final environmental impact statement for the Honua’ula project in South Maui.

Old growth native wiliwili forest plants need 130-acre preserve to survive. Wailea 670 EIS says 40-acres is all that is needed. Does the EIS follow the law? 

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Henry Curtis: HELCO Ignores Residential PV

By Henry Curtis 05/15/2013
A year ago the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) opened a regulatory proceeding on Integrated Resource Planning (IRP). The HECO Companies (HECO, MECO, and HELCO) were given a year to develop short-term Action Plans and evaluate how utility actions would be impacted by different long-term possible future scenarios. The PUC created a 68-member Advisory Group, to be overseen by an Independent Entity (IE), to help the utilities create these Action Plans.

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Community Solar Summit

Due to high demand, the Maui Solar Summit has changed locations from the college to the Castle Theater at the MACC. The hours are extended from 11:00am-1:30pm. A sandwich lunch by the Maui Culinary Academy will be available in the courtyard at 11:00am subsidized by the county for only $5. The blessing will start promptly at 11:30am. Please arrive early to get your seat.

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Water on Maui

East Maui Water Development East Maui Water for South Maui Growth? East Maui Water: Myths & Facts View the Dept. of Water Supply Map Maui County Board of Water Supply Website USGS Iao & Waihe’e Aquifer Status USGS: Effects of Agricultural Land-Use Changes and Rainfall on  GroundWater Recharge in Central and West Maui, Hawai‘i, 1926–2004 USGS: Ground-Water Availability in the Wailuku Area, Maui, Hawai’i 2008 USGS: Groundwater Availability in the Lahaina District, West Maui, Hawai’i USGS: Groundwater Availability … Read more