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Snake River's blue waters stand out against green landscape with Teton Mountain Range ascending in the background. Grand Tetons National Park, Teton County, Wyoming. (Edwin Remsberg / Getty Images)
Update December 7, 2023

Snake River Salmon Are in Crisis — But a Turning Point May Be Near

As time runs out for Pacific Northwest salmon, the Biden administration is signaling important steps to restore native fish populations and honor treaty obligations.

Creek at Iao Valley State Park, Maui, Hawaii. (aimintang / iStock)
From the Experts August 28, 2023

How Maui’s Wildfire Sparked a Disaster Capitalist Power Grab for Hawaiʻi’s Public Water

The battle over fresh water resources on the Hawaiian Islands is as old as the colonialist mindset that fuels it.

In the News: The Guardian August 17, 2023

Why was there no water to fight the fire in Maui?

An opinion piece by Naomi Klein and Kapuaʻala Sproat. Naomi Klein is the professor of climate justice and co-director of the Centre for Climate Justice at the University of British Columbia. Kapuaʻala Sproat is a Professor of Law at Ka Huli Ao Native Hawaiian Law Center & the Environmental Law Program. She also co-directs the…

Press Release January 9, 2023

West Kauaʻi Residents Call for Environmental Impact Statement on Major New Hydro Project

Community calls foul on lack of public hearing on island’s hugest project of the century proposed by KIUC and AES

Press Release April 20, 2022

State Water Commission Restores Moloka‘i’s Kawela Stream

Community-led movement leads to groundbreaking Commission decision

In the News: The Garden Island December 20, 2021

BLNR renews KIUC permit despite local opposition

Leina‘ala Ley, Attorney, Mid-Pacific Office, Earthjustice: “KIUC admits it has not used water from the two diversions for the past two and a half years, and will not be able to use water for the foreseeable future because it has not repaired the siphon and it does not have plans, currently, to contract for those…

In the News: Honolulu Star Advertiser June 30, 2021

Battle might not be pau over Maui stream water

Isaac Moriwake, Managing Attorney, Mid-Pacific Office, Earthjustice: “This is a model for 21st-century water management for all of Hawaii. We owe it to the community who carried the burden for this, and to future generations, to get it right.”

In the News: Hawaii News Now June 29, 2021

In historic decision, commission fundamentally changes water distribution system in West Maui

Isaac Moriwake, Managing Attorney, Mid-Pacific Office, Earthjustice: “There’s no question that this is a historic move forward, in terms of shifting from the old plantation paradigm of draining rivers and streams dry to now recognizing the need to protect flowing rivers and streams.”

Local citizens jumped into the Wailuku River (`Īao Stream) to celebrate the return of stream flows in 2014.
(Photo courtesy of Oha)
Press Release June 29, 2021

Hawai‘i Water Commission Issues Historic Decision on Maui's “Four Great Waters”

Community groups flag concerns on further corrections and improvements needed

document June 28, 2021

Hawai‘i Water Commission Issues Historic Decision on Maui's "Four Great Waters"

Hawai‘i Water Commission 2021 Decision on Maui’s “Four Great Waters”

document July 1, 2019

Petition to Amend Interim Instream Flow Standards for Molokaʻi Mountain Streams

Moloka‘i Nō Ka Heke, through its counsel Earthjustice, petitions the Commission on Water Resource Management to amend upward and establish numeric interim instream flow standards for Kawela,
Kaunakakai, Manawainui, and Waikolu Streams and their tributaries on Moloka‘i.

The South Shore of Moloka'i, with Kawela Valley on the left.  Moloka‘i Ranch covers 55,575 acres, roughly one-third of the island. The Ranch’s plantation-era stream diversions in Central Moloka’i take water from native streams to the island’s dry west end. The Ranch is currently up for sale by Singapore-based GL Limited for $260 million.
(Eric Tessmer / CC by 3.0)
Press Release July 1, 2019

Citizens Demand Restoration of Moloka‘i Stream Flows Diverted by Moloka‘i Ranch

Movement to restore native streams and end plantation era diversions in Hawai‘i grows

Earthjustice managing attorney Isaac Moriwake stands on his O‘ahu rooftop, which has been retrofitted with solar panels. In 2016, Hawai‘i’s Public Utilities Commission rejected the $4.3 billion sale of the state’s main utility company to out-of-state profiteers.
(Matt Mallams for Earthjustice)
Article March 19, 2019

New Head of Earthjustice’s Hawai‘i Office Takes on Environmental Challenges

Isaac Moriwake spoke with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser about climate change, water rights, and how you can lose the battle but win the war

video December 10, 2018

Earthjustice: 30 Years in Hawaiʻi

In 2018, we celebrated, alongside clients and partners, three decades of fighting to defend what makes Hawaiʻi special.

document August 31, 2018

Petition Requesting a Contested Case Hearing Before the Commission on Water Resource Management

Submitted by Kauaʻi community group Hui Hoʻopulapula Nā Wai o Puna. The two streams in dispute — Waiʻaleʻale and Waikoko Streams — flow directly from Mount Waiʻaleʻale, a place of paramount sacredness in Hawaiian culture, but have been diverted for almost 100 years by plantations and are now diverted by KIUC to run two small plantation-era hydro plants.

Mount Waiʻaleʻale is a place of paramount sacredness in Hawaiian culture.(Maxim Kabb / Getty Images)
Press Release August 22, 2018

Historic Restoration of Wai‘ale‘ale Water on Kauaʻi Heads to Litigation

Kauaʻi utility pulls plug on state water commission’s discussions to increase stream flows

feature June 28, 2017

Island Revival: Water Returns to Hawai'i's People

As Big Sugar plantations release their grip on the islands, local and Native Hawaiian communities are reclaiming their water rights and restoring their deep-rooted ties to the land.

The Waimea canyon and river in Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi(Martin M303/Shutterstock)
Article May 5, 2017

Waimea Water Deal Is a ‘Win-Win-Win’ for Hawai‘i

For the first time in more than 100 years, the Waimea River will flow from mountain to sea—thanks to successful mediation, not years of litigation.