DHHL says Waimea surface-water reservation is department's largest; Kokeʻe Ditch repairs funded

An agency official presenting for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands told attendees that DHHL holds a large surface-water reservation from the Waimea Surface Water Hydrologic Unit, calling it the largest reservation the department has received in Hawaii and the first of its kind for DHHL.

"It is actually our largest reservation to date anywhere in Hawaii, and it was the 1st instance of a reservation of water for the department," the presenter said, describing the reservation as critical to meeting potable water needs across DHHL hydrologic units.

The update included a map of Waimea lands (about 16,000 acres) and described the Kokeʻe Ditch irrigation system, currently operated and maintained by the Kekaha agricultural association under an Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) tenancy. The presenter said the recent legislative session allocated approximately $10,800,000 to ADC for repair of the Kokeʻe Ditch system and that a large portion will fund common infrastructure to convey water from the Puʻomoe Divide toward DHHL lands and the Puʻuopai Reservoir.

The presenter also noted the Puʻuopai Reservoir has declined substantially and cited evapotranspiration and seepage losses from the open-ditch system as contributing factors. DHHL framed the ADC-funded repairs as a chance to improve conveyance and long-term supply for homesteads but offered no completion timeline.