Petition for Ground Water Management Area Designation, Keauhou Aquifer System Area, North Kona, Hawaii

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Park View of Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.
Keauhou Aquifer System Well Map This map depicts the wells surrounding the Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park in the Keauhou Aquifer System Area (Click here to view the well maps).

 

Date
Action
Nov. 8 & 9, 2018

The Commission hosted an Invitational Adaptive Management Symposium in partnership with UH ‘Ike Wai and ‘Ohana Members from the ahupua‘a on which the Park is situated and in Cooperation with Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park to explore the best available science about groundwater dependent ecosystems in Kona and the Park. 

Feb. 14, 2017

The Commission held its February meeting in Kailua-Kona and took action to deny the petition. Instead, the Commission directed staff to further investigate the science of coastal leakage impacts for consideration in setting or adjusting sustainable yields in the upcoming Water Resource Protection Plan along with 8 additional alternative action items.

  • Commission Meeting Agenda
  • Submittal B1: Acceptance of County of Hawaii Water Use and Development Plan Update Phase 2, Keauhou Aquifer System Area
  • Submittal B2: U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Chairperson Recommendation on Petition for Ground Water Management Area Designation, Keauhou Aquifer System Area, North Kona, Hawaii
  • Commission Meeting Minutes
Nov. 15, 2016

The Commission was briefed on the Keauhou Aquifer System Area – Phase 2 Final Draft Report.

May 19, 2016

The Commission will hear various briefing updates.

  • Commission Meeting Agenda
  • Briefing B1: National Park Service Response for Specific Information on the Quantity of Water Needed to Support Natural and Cultural Resources in Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
  • Briefing B2: National Park Service Response to Request for Information on Traditional and Customary Practices
  • Briefing B3: Overview of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Water Use in the Kona District, Moku O Keawe (Hawaii Island)
  • Briefing B4: Status Report and Preliminary Findings – County of Hawaii, Water Use and Development Plan Update for the Keauhou Aquifer System Area
  • Commission Meeting Minutes
Jan. 28, 2016

The project description for Phase 2 of the Water Use and Development Plan Update for the Keauhou Aquifer System Area will be going to the Commission for approval. Phase 2 will focus on identifying source strategies to meet the ground water demands identified in Phase 1.

Aug. 17, 2015

The Commission preliminarily approved Phase 1 of the Water Use and Development Plan for the Keauhou Aquifer System Area subject to the completion of Phase 2, deferred public hearings for formal adoption of Phase 1 pending acceptance of Phase 2, approved a 3-month extension for the scope of work for Phase 2, and separated the Water Use and Development Plans for Keauhou and Waimea Aquifer System Areas. The Commission also approved a reservation of 3.398 mgd for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) buildout needs within Keauhou. Lastly, the Commission took public testimony on the National Park Service petition for declaratory order then denied the ruling to allow areas smaller than hydrologic units as defined in the Water Resource Protection Plan to be designated.

May 29, 2015

The National Park Service submitted a report in response to the Commission’s Preliminary Order May 30, 2015 deadline requesting specific information on:

  1. The quantity of groundwater needed to support 1) natural resources and 2) cultural resources of Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.
  2. Specific traditional and customary practices that are exercised in Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.
  3. How NPS manages traditional and customary practices in the Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.
May 20, 2015

The Commission discussed the status of various items requested in the Commission’s Preliminary Order (PO) issued on Dec 29, 2014. Agenda items specific to Keauhou and available are linked in the attached Agenda.

  • Commission Meeting Agenda
  • Briefing C2a: A Status of Deadlines and Items Required
    in the December 29, 2014 Preliminary Order HA-WMA 2013-1 (PO) regarding the National Park Services’ (NPS) Petition to Designate the Keauhou Aquifer System Area, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii(State Aquifer Code 80901)as a Ground Water Management Area
Mar. 25, 2015

The National Park Service (NPS) submitted a written petition for Declaratory Orders in response to the Commission’s request that NPS and the County explore and negotiate alternative paths of action, other than ground water designation of the Keauhou Aquifer System Area.

Feb. 18, 2015 The Commission granted conditional approval of the County of Hawaii’s project description for updating the water use and development plans for the Keauhou and Waimea Aquifer System Areas.

Dec. 29, 2014 The Commission issued a Preliminary Order (HA-WMA 2013-1) on the Petition to Designate Keauhou Aquifer System Area, Kona, Hawaii (State Aquifer Code 80901) as a Ground Water Management Area.

Dec. 10, 2014

Petition for Ground Water Management Area Designation, Keauhou Aquifer System Area, North Kona, Hawaii
West Hawaii Civic Center
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
9:00am to 4:30 pm

Presentation Materials:

Video:

Nov. 19, 2014

The Commission continued the Oct. 9 field investigation and site visit in Honolulu by allowing the County more time to complete their presentations as part of the evaluation of the Keauhou Aquifer System Area in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The Commission received a briefing and presentations by the County of Hawaii Department of Water Supply and County of Hawaii Planning Department on the application of “authorized planned use” in the Keauhou Aquifer System Area, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Video:

Oct. 9, 2014 The Commission conducted a field investigation and site visit to evaluate the Keauhou Aquifer System Area in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Presentation Materials:

Videos:

Sep. 17, 2014 The Commission conducted a field investigation and site visit to evaluate the Keauhou Aquifer System Area in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Presentation Materials:

Videos:

Aug. 20, 2014

Staff requested to authorize the Commission to conduct a site visit to view anchialine ponds at the Kohanaiki Shores Development and Limited Meeting with representatives of Kohanaiki Shores, LLC in the Keauhou Aquifer System Area, North Kona, Hawaii.

Jul. 2, 2014 Staff presented at the Kona Round Table Meeting.

Mar. 19, 2014

The Commission heard a Report on Keauhou (North Kona) site inspection with Hawaii County Council, February 18, 2014 by Commissioner Kamana Beamer (Item D1).

Jan. 22, 2014

The Commission heard an announcement on Presentations to Hawaii County Water Board, Department of Water Supply (November 26, 2013) and Hawaii County Council (February 4, 2014) regarding National Park Service petition to designate Keauhou Aquifer System.

Oct. 16, 2013 Staff recommended to and the Commission approved that the review period for the Petition be extended through December 2014 to a) allow for important and ongoing studies to be completed; and b) provide time for full consultation with affected parties to take place.

Sep. 13, 2013 The National Park Service (NPS) submitted a written petition to designate the Kaeuhou Aquifer System Area as a Ground Water Management Area.

Mar. 28, 2012 The Commission authorized the Chairperson to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey to evaluate the degree of connection between the high-level and coastal ground water systems in the Kona area, Hawaii.