MAUI, HI, May 12, 2008. Residents of East Maui, East Maui Taro farmers along with other Stream Restoration groups and concerned people are planning a non-violent day of Protest and Rally in Protest of Alexander and Baldwin's (A&B), and East Maui Irrigation Companies (EMI), 100 plus years of water theft from the streams of East Maui.

The protest and rally are a response to EMI's complete diversion of the water in East Maui's Streams.

Due to these diversions of water from East Maui streams, entire streams from Haiku to Hana have been robbed of Maui's most important necessity, water. Downstream residents, and Taro Farmers who have practiced Taro Farming for generation after generation for hundreds if not thousands of years, have been robbed, and denied the lawfully deeded water which allows their Taro to grow. These farmers deeded ancestral rights to their water have been trampled by complete dewatering of streams in East Maui.

East Maui Irrigation's outdated open ditch systems include 74 miles of ditches and tunnels. The ditch system built in 1870's takes water out of virtually every stream from Haiku to Nahiku, collecting more than 450 million gallons per day, leaving dry barren waterfalls and stream beds.

On average 126 billion gallons of this water per year is used by the Hawaiian Cane and Sugar Companies(HCS) plantation.The smallest portion of this diversion goes to the Maui County Department of Water Supply, with about 3 billion gallons for upcountry farmers and residents.

Join us in protest of these violations against the rights of Kanaka Maoli on Maui. Musical Instruments, drums, horns, and good vibes welcome. Email honopoustreamsyahoo.com for more information about this event.

MAHALO
Honopou Stream Association