Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

WAIMEA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
PROPOSED LAND DISPOSITION
OF
HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS FOR A HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT IN THE WAIMEA DISTRICT, ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI

Public Notice is hereby given that the Hawaiian Homes Commission will conduct two (2) public hearings, pursuant to Chapter 171-95.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in Lihue, on the Island of Kauai in order to provide information on a proposed hydroelectric project and to hear comments on the proposed project. The public hearings have been scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, July 12, 2017
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon 
Kauai State Office Building
Conference Rooms A & B
3060 Eiwa Street, Lihue, HI 96766

and

Wednesday, July 12, 2017
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
King Kaumualii Elementary School Cafeteria
4380 Hanamaulu Road, Lihue, HI  96766

WAIMEA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

Q:         How much of our Trust lands would be used for the proposed hydroelectric project?

Waimea lands include approximately 15,000 acres or 72% of the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust on Kaua‘i. The proposed hydroelectric project would use a small fraction of the Waimea lands. The approximate size and location of that use is shown on the attached map.

Q:         Why would the department use a portion of our Waimea Hawaiian  Home Lands Trust for a hydroelectric project instead of  awarding farming and ranching homesteads to HHCA beneficiaries on the waiting list?

The DHHL Waimea lands are largely dry, steep, and inaccessible. Less than one third of the parcel was once used for sugar cultivation, and those are much of the same lands that could be used for future homesteading – IF water and access is provided. Allowing the development of a hydroelectric project on a small portion of the Waimea Trust lands is a way to have another party develop water, roads and electric infrastructure so that the lands can be used for homestead development.

Q:         How will a hydroelectric project benefit DHHL and its beneficiaries?

The main benefit is that the proposed hydroelectric project will bring water to West Kaua‘i Trust lands. The water will service existing pastoral lots and allow the future development of new homestead lots. The proposed project will shift the cost of developing and maintaining key infrastructure (roads, electricity and water) from DHHL to the energy developer. This will open the lands for beneficiary use and the development of new homestead lots.

Q:         Is this project consistent with DHHL Plans for the region?

Yes, the proposed project is consistent with DHHL’s West Kaua‘i Regional Plan which was developed with Waimea, Kekaha, and Hanapēpē homestead beneficiaries through an extensive regional planning process. The proposed hydroelectric project is consistent with, and helps to implement, two Priority Projects: 1) the development of an agricultural and water plan; and 2) the development of renewable energy projects that are compatible with agriculture.