WRRC 2024 Fall Seminar

November 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Mānoa Campus, Zoom Meeting

Community-Driven Science: Bridging History and Hydrology for Water Security in Haʻikū, Maui

by Dr. Chris Shuler and Lucienne de Naie

Haʻikū, Maui, located at the edge of one of the wettest regions in the United States, faces complex water resource challenges deeply rooted in the area’s history of plantation-era stream diversions and ongoing disputes over water allocations. Despite ample rainfall in East Maui, Upcountry residents frequently experience water restrictions, even during mild droughts, while South Maui’s tourist sectors remain unaffected. Discrepancies like these have fueled community concerns around water rights, availability, and fair allocation. This seminar will explore both the historical and current context of water resource issues in Haʻikū and East Maui. Longtime Huelo resident Lucienne de Naie will open the session, presenting historical and community perspectives on water rights, groundwater development, and stream diversions. The second half of the presentation, led by WRRC's Chris Shuler, will focus on Haʻikū’s ongoing, community-driven scientific studies. These studies aim to deepen awareness and discussion through neighborhood-scale investigation of groundwater availability, climate change impacts on water resources, and water quality in recreational streams and groundwater sources. This community-centric, science-backed approach offers new insights into sustainable water management, not only for East Maui, but for any and all of Hawaiʻi’s communities.

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