Hawaii land board rejects East Maui water auction

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources has unanimously rejected a proposal to hold a public auction for a 30-year license to divert up to 88 million gallons of irrigation water per day from East Maui streams.

The decision follows hours of public testimony from residents, farmers, and officials. Opponents of the auction, including Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, argued for public control of water resources through the East Maui Water Authority, an entity established by a county charter amendment. Bissen emphasized the need for the community to have a meaningful voice in water stewardship to protect cultural practices and agriculture.

In a separate vote, the board authorized a court-ordered contested-case hearing regarding the existing revocable permits held by Mahi Pono and East Maui Irrigation Co. Mahi Pono, owned by a Canadian-based pension fund, acquired a full interest in the East Maui Irrigation system in 2025 after previously purchasing 41,000 acres of land from Alexander & Baldwin in 2018.