WAI-20 Bill 176 (2025) BILL 176 (2025), AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES ON THE MAINTENANCE OF PI'IHOLO, OLINDA, AND ALA LUANA ROADS (WAI-20)
Aloha Councilmembers,
I am writing to oppose Bill 1. Bill 1 fundamentally weakens Maui’s “Show Me the Water” protections by requiring approval of subdivision construction plans even when long-term water availability has not been verified. The bill’s mandatory language removes meaningful discretion and invites speculative development in areas that may not have water at all.
While the bill claims developers proceed “at their own risk,” history shows that once infrastructure is built, the public bears the consequences, through diverted water, degraded ecosystems, and emergency decision-making. The current reliance on engineering reports verifying long-term, reliable supply is a critical safeguard. Bill 1 dismantles that safeguard.
Maui cannot afford to plan development first and ask where the water will come from later. I strongly oppose any loosening of the “Show Me the Water” ordinance and ask that you defer or decline to move forward with this effort to weaken water protections.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.
Cristina De Leon
Sustainability and Events Coordinator
Teran James Young Foundation
Office: (808) 866-0833
http://teranjy.org/
Aloha Councilmembers,
I am writing to oppose Bill 1. Bill 1 fundamentally weakens Maui’s “Show Me the Water” protections by requiring approval of subdivision construction plans even when long-term water availability has not been verified. The bill’s mandatory language removes meaningful discretion and invites speculative development in areas that may not have water at all.
While the bill claims developers proceed “at their own risk,” history shows that once infrastructure is built, the public bears the consequences, through diverted water, degraded ecosystems, and emergency decision-making. The current reliance on engineering reports verifying long-term, reliable supply is a critical safeguard. Bill 1 dismantles that safeguard.
Maui cannot afford to plan development first and ask where the water will come from later. I strongly oppose any loosening of the “Show Me the Water” ordinance and ask that you defer or decline to move forward with this effort to weaken water protections.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.
Cristina De Leon
Sustainability and Events Coordinator
Teran James Young Foundation
Office: (808) 866-0833
http://teranjy.org/