Commission Looking for Public Input on Water Resource Protection Plan

The Weeping Wall at the base of the Blue Hole. Photo by Léo Azambuja

The Commission on Water Resource Management is holding open hearings across the state to solicit input on its update to the statewide Water Resource Protection Plan, according to a news release from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The purpose of the WRRP is to establish policies and identify actions needed to ensure the long-term protection and sustainability of Hawai‘i’s precious and limited ground and surface water resources.

CWRM staff will hold seven hearings statewide starting Feb. 5, so people on each island can participate. The first hearing will be in Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i. All hearings start at 6 p.m. at the locations and dates below. For more information, visit https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/cwrm/planning/hiwaterplan/wrpp/

Feb. 5 (Tuesday) — Lihue Civic Center, Meeting Rooms 2A and 2B, 4444 Rice Street, Lihue, Kaua‘i

Feb. 7 (Thursday) — Pomaikai Elementary School Cafeteria, 4650 S Kamehameha Ave, Kahului, Maui

Feb. 12 (Tuesday) — Kaunakakai School Cafeteria, 30 Ailoa Street, Kaunakakai, Molokai

Feb. 14 (Thursday) — Lāna‘i Senior Center, 309 7th Street, Lāna‘i City, Lāna‘i

Feb. 19 (Tuesday) — Kalanimoku Building, Board Room, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, O‘ahu

Feb. 26 (Tuesday) — Kealakehe High School, 74-5000 Puohulihuli St., Kailua-Kona, Big Island

Feb. 28 (Thurs.) — Hilo High School Cafeteria, 556 Waianuenue Ave, Hilo, Big Island

Everyone interested is urged to review the WRPP prior to attending a hearing so that they can submit comments, orally or in writing.  CWRM will continue to accept written testimony until March 29, 2019.

Testimony should be mailed to the Commission on Water Resource Management, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, PO Box 621, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96809, or emailed to dlnr.cwrm@hawaii.gov, or faxed to 808-587-0219.

If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact CWRM at 808-587-0214 or dlnr.cwm@hawaii.gov as soon as possible, preferably three days in advance of the hearing you wish to attend. If a response is received after this time, the commission will try to obtain the auxiliary aid/service or accommodation, but cannot guarantee the request will be fulfilled.