If you’re interested in stories about Maui water issues, the latest one from Honolulu Civil Beat’s Marina Starleaf Riker is a must-read. Riker’s comprehensive piece outlines the history and events surrounding island water and East Maui Irrigation (EMI), currently a joint venture between Canadian-owned Mahi Pono and Alexander & Baldwin. EMI’s single-minded pursuit of a 30-year water lease led to the Maui County Council’s recent vote to put a charter amendment about water on the November ballot. Voters will be asked if they want to establish a “water authority” that will give local government control over Maui’s water, a constitutionally guaranteed “public trust resource,” instead of leaving it in the hands of privately-owned companies.
Media blackout
What Riker’s story couldn’t report was Mahi Pono’s reaction to the charter amendment. The company wouldn’t comment, nor would A&B. Now, I understand why Mahi Pono never responds to me, a little website with a big mouth (and a history of pissing them off), but to refuse comment to Civil Beat, a paragon of Hawaii journalism? The water authority issue has dominated the news for the past month on Maui. Can’t Mahi Pono’s high-priced public relations firm in Honolulu come up with any kind of statement?
Mahi Pono is happy to shower news organizations with press releases about solar farms, scholarships, and potato giveaways, but turns truculent when it comes to water. The company refused several invitations to attend Maui Board of Water Supply meetings to discuss plans, and it consistently has rejected County Council overtures. The only time the company has been forthcoming is during court appearances and hearings, when it is legally obligated to say something.
Giving $$, not comments
Still, it’s not like the EMI partners haven’t been doing anything. Riker’s article mentioned donations given by company Chief Operating Officer Shan Tsutsui to Mayor Michael Victorino ($250) and to Maui County Council candidate Nohe U’u-Hodgins ($1,000). There are others. Tsutsui, who is also an executive in the Oahu-based office of the Strategies 360 lobbying firm, gave $4,000 to gubernatorial candidate Josh Green. Mahi Pono’s California-based overlord Ryon Paton also threw $4,000 into Green’s campaign coffers. When asked about those donations, a Green campaign spokeswoman said, “Josh has broad support from the agricultural community across the state because of his strong record of advocating for them.”
A&B, through its political action committee and various executives, has been a reliable donor to Mayor Michael Victorino ($4,000), as well as to Green ($7,000) and various other local politicians.
I was perplexed recently when I saw a $3,000 donation from the Honolulu-based Cades Schutte law firm to Makawao-Haiku-Paia council seat candidate U’u-Hodgins. Is it just coincidence that this firm represents A&B and EMI? Contributions from Cades Schutte partner Calvert Chipchase also have appeared in campaign donor lists of Victorino ($1,000), Green ($1,000), state Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran ($250), and Rep. Kyle Yamashita ($250).
Playing the long game
Green, if elected, will be in charge of appointing a new head of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) when current chair Suzanne Case’s term ends in December. Her replacement will oversee the ongoing process of granting EMI’s request for a 30-year water lease to divert water from East Maui streams. It’s an enormously complicated endeavor, the most difficult part being the new estimation of the diverted water’s worth. EMI has historically paid extremely low lease rates on water. The state’s problem is finding a water appraiser skilled enough to recalculate the water’s value.
Deadline coming
This appraisal has to be done pretty soon. As Riker’s story explains, a condition of the purchase agreement stipulates that A&B must help Mahi Pono obtain a new long-term water lease within 5 years or rebate up to $62 million. By my estimate, that due date will come early in 2024. In bureaucratic time, that’s right around the corner.
The whole water authority business could put a real crimp in those plans. If the government entity is established, and the county officially notifies the BLNR that it would like to obtain the long-term water lease, EMI could theoretically move to the back of the line. Currently, it’s the only one in line and I suspect it would like to stay that way.
If Mahi Pono/EMI has any interest in being a good neighbor and a responsible player in the ongoing water discussions, then the community needs to hear from them. Simply clamming up and giving money to politicians is a bad look, bad policy–and just bad manners.
Of course they’re not interested in being a good neighbor more than they are interested in making money. They’re a business and a great number of big money businesses are just that the money makers. That’s what was taught in business schools for the last 20 years, maximize shareholder value at any cost.
I participated in that lease renewal thing with the state starting in about 2020 or so and then I found out about the follow up late last year and the lease approval from the state was so embarrassingly funny it was hard to believe.
It was made clear that their approval did not guarantee the lease but the proposal by… I think I actually it was a and B on behalf of my hippo no because they have such a multi million dollar penalty if the lease doesn’t get renewed… That presentation would get a C grade if it were a high school project.
Since Maui county is governed as if it’s a business and caters to developers, then when it comes to something like this they should take an aggressive businesslike approach just the same way.
It makes you wonder why Hawaii politics is known for being riddled in dirty backroom deals, payoffs etc. U’u Hodges and all these candidates are beholden to the construction unions. Her father is carpenter union head-that explains a lot.
Residents need to do their homework before voting. So many are owned by the unions, Mahi Pono etc. Mahi Pono/,EMI needs to be stopped. All are pro development
Everybody on Maui better WAKE UP! Mahi “Poho” IS A CALIFORNIA OWNED COMPANY WITH CANADIAN INVESTORS. Am I the only person that is in APPALLED WITH THE MILES OF 18’ pipes going for as far as the eye can see across our island. THINK ABOUT IT FOLKS- the have replaced the 1/2” plastic tubes to water the cane fields with 18” pipes. THEY ARE STEALING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONTAMINATING THE LAND WITH A PLETHORA OF CHEMICALS TO GROW COFFEE, LIMES, and other products for tourists. NEWS FLASH- they ALSO OWN MAUI CATTLE COMPANY!!!!! THESE PROFITS ATE ALL GOING BACK TO CALIFORNIA AND CANADA!!! Yes, I am for Maui being self sufficient with their produce- why don’t we have a locally owned company- they were not even suppose to get water rights- no need to go to the Mauna to protest— open your eyes Maui!!
Everybody on Maui better WAKE UP! Mahi “Poho” IS A CANADIAN OWNED PUBLIC SECTOR PENSION INVESTMENT FUND WITH CALIFORNIA BASED MANAGERS. Am I the only person that is in APPALLED WITH THE MILES OF 18’ pipes going for as far as the eye can see across our island. THINK ABOUT IT FOLKS- the have replaced the 1/2” plastic tubes to water the cane fields with 18” pipes. THEY ARE STEALING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONTAMINATING THE LAND WITH A PLETHORA OF CHEMICALS TO GROW COFFEE, LIMES, and other products for tourists and have long term plans to export. They need to plant more produce for our local families- and there needs to be a plan on getting these lands back to be owned locally. NEWS FLASH- they ALSO OWN MAUI CATTLE COMPANY!!!!! THESE PROFITS ATE ALL GOING BACK TO CALIFORNIA AND CANADA!!! Yes, I am for Maui being self sufficient with their produce- why don’t we have a locally owned company- they were not even suppose to get water rights- no need to go to the Mauna to protest— open your eyes Maui!!