Reposted From Maui Sierra Club:
Healoha Carmichael, a Native Hawaiian gatherer, stands in Honomanu Stream in East Maui near her home. The stream is completely dry due to Alexander and Baldwin’s water diversions. Carmichael and her ‘ohana face significant hardship in gathering food to feed their ‘ohana because of the diversions.
Tell Your Senator To Ask Senator Jill Tokuda Not To Hear HB 2501!
HERE’S WHY:
HB 2501 DOES NOT ADDRESS THE INJUSTICE IN EAST MAUI
Thank you for supporting the restoration of East Maui streams. The fight to protect East Maui kalo farmers and families is just beginning. In the coming weeks, we are going to need your help to defeat HB 2501 because we are up against a multi-billion dollar corporation.
HB 2501 would allow, Alexander and Baldwin, a private corporation to continue de-watering the streams of East Maui despite having no use for this public water. HB 2501 is still working its way through Hawaii’s legislative process. We need your help to stop this bill.
On March 21, 2016, HB2501 was amended by the Senate Water, Land, and Agriculture Committee. The amendments appear to acknowledge the harm and injustice of the current diversions because they seek to shorten the time Alexander & Baldwin is allowed to take all the water from East Maui and appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources so that it can properly administer the law. While these amendments may make the bill less egregious, it is not enough to address the incredible harm long-suffered by residents and farmers who do not have access to sufficient water on a daily basis because A&B takes so much water from East Maui streams.
HB 2501 HARMS EAST MAUI KALO FARMERS AND FAMILIES
Before a corporation diverts water from a stream, it must prove its diversion will not cause harm to downstream users. A&B has never done this. A&B has used BLNR’s illegal “holdover” authorization to avoid ever having to prove that its diversions cause no harm. Manipulation of the process has allowed A&B to divert millions of gallons of water every day regardless of the consequences. This must stop.
KNOW THE FACTS. DEMAND THE TRUTH.
HB2501 is tailor-made for A&B. It is the only entity with a “holdover” revocable permit and it is the only entity with a pending water lease application before the BLNR.
HB 2501 would reward a multi-billion dollar corporation for improperly taking water from the public, even if the courts conclude that the water diversions are illegal. The bill attempts to interfere with the judicial process and short change East Maui kalo farmers.
Giving A&B three more years to complete a process that started 15 years ago is UNFAIR – particularly after they have admitted that they do not need as much water as they have been taking. And they have not used the time they already had wisely. Where is the EIS? Where are the stream measurements?
Temporary bills do not address the issue. They have a tendency to last a long time. Often the Legislature will repeal the provision to terminate a law at a later date.
There is no reason to continue this injustice any longer.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP.
The next step for the bill is the Senate Ways and Means Committee. East Maui residents and their supporters from across the Hawaiian Islands are currently working to convince the Chair of WAM to not hear HB2501.
You can help by contacting your own senator right now and asking him or her to ask Sen. Jill Tokuda to NOT HEAR HB2501 (phone numbers at the bottom).
CALL YOUR SENATOR TODAY!
LIST OF SENATORS
Baker, Rosalyn H.
Phone 808-586-6070
Fax 808-586-6071
E-Mail: senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 6 South and West Maui
Chun Oakland, Suzanne
Phone 808-586-6130
Fax 808-586-6131
E-Mail: senchunoakland@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 13 Liliha, Palama, Iwilei, Kalihi, Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Lower Tantalus, Downtown
Dela Cruz, Donovan M.
Phone 808-586-6090
Fax 808-586-6091
sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 22 Mililani Mauka, Waipi‘o Acres, Wheeler, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village, portion of Poamoho
English, J. Kalani
Phone 808-587-7225
Fax 808-587-7230
E-Mail: senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 7 Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Kaho‘olawe
Espero, Will
Phone 808-586-6360
Fax 808-586-6361
E-Mail: senespero@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 19 ‘Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ‘Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, portion of ‘Ewa Villages
Gabbard, Mike
Phone 808-586-6830
Fax 808-586-6679
E-Mail: engabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 20 Kapolei, Makakilo, and portions of ‘Ewa, Kalaeloa, and Waipahu
Galuteria, Brickwood
Phone 808-586-6740
Fax 808-586-6829
E-Mail: sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 12 Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, McCully, Mo‘ili‘ili
Green, Josh
Phone 808-586-9385
Fax 808-586-9391
E-Mail: sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 3 Kona, Ka‘u
Harimoto, Breene
Phone 808-586-6230
Fax 808-586-6231
E-Mail: senharimoto@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 16 Pearl City, Momilani, Pearlridge, ‘Aiea, Royal Summit, ‘Aiea Heights, Newtown, Waimalu, Halawa, Pearl Harbor
Ihara, Les Jr.
Phone 808-586-6250
Fax 808-586-6251
E-Mail: senihara@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 10 Kaimuki, Kapahulu, Palolo, Maunalani Heights, St. Louis Heights, Mo‘ili‘ili, Ala Wai
Inouye, Lorraine
Phone 808-586-7335
Fax 808-586-7339
E-Mail: seninouye@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 4 Hilo, Hamakua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, Kona
Kahele, Kaiali’i
Phone 808-586-6760
Fax 808-586-6689
E-Mail: senkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 1 Hilo
Keith-Agaran, Gilbert S.C.
Phone 808-586-7344
Fax 808-586-7348
E-Mail: senkeithagaran@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 5 Wailuku, Waihe‘e, Kahului
Kidani, Michelle N.
Phone 808-586-7100
Fax 808-586-7109
E-Mail: senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 18 Mililani Town, portion of Waipi‘o Gentry, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia
Kim, Donna Mercado
Phone 808-587-7200
Fax 808-587-7205
E-Mail: senkim@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 14 Kapalama, ‘Alewa, Kalihi Valley, Ft. Shafter, Moanalua Gardens & Valley, portions of Halawa and ‘Aiea
Kouchi, Ronald D.
Phone 808-586-6030
Fax 808-586-6031
E-Mail: senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 8 Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau
Nishihara, Clarence K.
Phone 808-586-6970
Fax 808-586-6879
E-Mail: sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 17 Waipahu, Crestview, Manana, Pearl City, Pacific Palisades
Riviere, Gil
Phone 808-586-7330
Fax 808-586-7334
E-Mail: senriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 23 Kane‘ohe , Ka‘a‘awa, Hau‘ula, La‘ie, Kahuku, Waialua, Hale‘iwa, Wahiawa, Schofield Barracks, Kunia
Ruderman, Russell E.
Phone 808-586-6890
Fax 808-586-6899
E-Mail: senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 2 Puna, Ka‘u
Shimabukuro, Maile S.L.
Phone 808-586-7793
Fax 808-586-7797
E-Mail: senshimabukuro@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 21 Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko ‘Olina, Nanakuli, Ma‘ili, Wai‘anae, Makaha, Makua
Slom, Sam
Phone 808-586-8420
Fax 808-586-8426
E-Mail: senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 9 Hawai‘i Kai, Kuli‘ou‘ou, Niu, ‘Aina Haina, Wai‘alae-Kahala, Diamond Head
Taniguchi, Brian T.
Phone 808-586-6460
Fax 808-586-6461
E-Mail: sentaniguchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 11 Manoa, Makiki, Punchbowl, Papakolea
Thielen, Laura H.
Phone 808-587-8388
Fax 808-587-7240
E-Mail: senthielen@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 25 Kailua, Lanikai, Enchanted Lake, Keolu Hills, Maunawili, Waimanalo, Hawai‘i Kai, Portlock
Tokuda, Jill N.
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 207
Phone 808-587-7215
Fax 808-587-7220
E-Mail: sentokuda@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 24 Kane‘ohe, Kane‘ohe MCAB, Kailua, He‘eia, ‘Ahuimanu
Wakai, Glenn
Phone 808-586-8585
Fax 808-586-8588
E-Mail: senwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov
District 15 Kalihi, Mapunapuna, Airport, Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Foster Village, Hickam, Pearl Harbor
If you aren’t sure who your Senator is, then go the to Hawai‘i Capitol website:http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/findleg.aspx… <http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/findleg.aspx…> )