A change in date and time for the Waimea Community Association’s monthly meeting will occur for November’s meeting.
Usually, the town meetings occur on the first Thursday of the month, however for the month of November, the meeting will be rescheduled for the second Thursday, Nov. 13.
The date change is to accommodate schedules so that a facilitated panel discussion can take place regarding the National Parks Service petition to the Hawai’i State Commission on Water Resource Management regarding the Keauhou aquifer.
Although the Keauhou aquifer is not directly connected to the Waimea region, the petition could have significant impact on all of West Hawai’i.
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The WCA Board will have NPS’ Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park Superintendent Tammy Duchesne as a panel member to discuss the first-ever for Hawai’i Island petition to designate an aquifer as a water management area.
According to Duchesne, NPS “filed a petition in September 2013 because our mission requires us to act, and acting now offers everyone the best opportunity to balance water protection with water use for future economic growth.”
The State Water Resource Management Commission is expected to make a determination on the petition this December.
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Speaking out against the petition at the Thursday meeting will be Riley Smith, president of Lanihau Properties. Smith will discuss hydrology studies conducted by the late Steve Bowles, as well as the County Department of Water Supply, which concludes there is no evidence that existing pumping of water from the aquifer has adversely affected the resource.
Along with other North Kona landowners, Smith believes a water management designation will have significant adverse economic and social consequences for everyone who lives and works, or depends on Kona for goods, service, healthcare, education and air transportation.
Attendees of the meeting will be given time to present written questions.
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Also on the agenda for the Town Meeting will be briefing on County Council business by Coucil Members Margaret Wille, District 9 and Valarie Poindexter, District 1. An update on the 2015 Waimea Ocean Film Festival is also on the agenda.
November’s meeting location will at the Waimea School Cafeteria
The WCA suggests that attendees bring food pantry donations. Cash or checks are encouraged but non-perishable food items are also welcome.
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