MANA

East Maui taro farmers have faced longstanding difficulties due to abuses from East Maui Irrigation, a subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin. Last year, after decades in court, farmers won a small victory. The Board of Land and Natural Resources agreed to monitor the in-stream water flow, to make sure that kalo production had sufficient water. However, after more than 12 months, the state BLNR has yet to appoint a person to do this job. In the meantime, farmers are struggling and the lo’i are still dry.

MANA is calling on Laura Thielen, the chair of the BLNR to allow the water to flow in East Maui, and to hire a stream monitor for East Maui to make sure that there is sufficient water for kalo production.