New Ruling In Maui Water Case Still Doesn't Resolve Old Dispute

A complicated disagreement over water rights in East Maui that has stretched over the last two decades will take even longer to resolve.

It has pitted some Native Hawaiians and environmental groups against a major Hawaii company, and prompted the Hawaii Legislature to intervene directly in 2016.

Hawaii’s Intermediate Court of Appeals on Tuesday sent back to the state’s 1st Circuit Court the case of Carmichael vs. BLNR and Alexander & Baldwin.

The case focuses on four month-to-month water rights permits the state Department of Land and Natural Resources granted to A&B in July 2000. BLNR has repeatedly renewed the permits over the past two decades, and the plaintiffs alleged that in doing so BLNR had violated the law concerning temporary permits. The plaintiffs also said state law required an environmental review of the water diversion system.

Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/06/new-court-ruling-in-maui-water-case-still-doesnt-resolve-long-standing-dispute/