Money Control Place
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Stocks
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Stocks
  • Investing

Money Control Place

Politics

Maui company says request for water to fight wildfire delayed several hours while state consulted with farmers

by August 19, 2023
August 19, 2023
Maui company says request for water to fight wildfire delayed several hours while state consulted with farmers

A Hawaiian company says that its efforts to divert water to fight a devastating wildfire last week were delayed for hours while a government agency, led by a man who has pushed for ‘water equity,’ consulted with local farmers. 

The West Maui Land Company, which manages several agricultural and residential subdivisions along with water jurisdictions, says that it requested water the day of the catastrophic wildfire in Maui from the Commission On Water Resource Management but was initially denied for several hours.

The company alleges the reason for that delay was that the commission had to clear the move with local farmers. By the time the request was granted, several hours later, the company says it was too late. 

‘We followed the process. The process failed us,’ Glenn Tremble, an executive with West Maui Land Co., told Hawaii Public Radio in an emailed statement. 

In an Aug. 10 letter to CWRM deputy director M. Kaleo Manuel, the company said, ‘No one is happy there was water in the streams while our homes, our businesses, our lands, and our lives were reduced to ash.’ 

Manuel has been quoted as calling for more ‘water equity’ on the island in the past. While no allegation has been made by the company or the government that ‘water equity’ was connected to the delay, many have criticized Manuel over his comments that resurfaced on social media.

‘My motto has always been: let water connect us, not divide us,’ Manuel says in the clip. ‘We can share it, but it requires true conversations about equity.’

‘Evolving from a land use focus, over the past 10 years, Kaleo has focused on bringing planning and indigenous knowledge to the fields of water advocacy and management in Hawai‘i,’ the state’s website says about Manuel. 

In a press release, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources announced that Manuel has since been reassigned. 

‘DLNR is re-deploying First Deputy of the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM), Kaleo Manuel, to a different DLNR division,’ the press release said. ‘The purpose of this deployment is to permit CWRM and the Department to focus on the necessary work to assist the people of Maui recover from the devastation of wildfires.’

‘This deployment does not suggest that First Deputy Manuel did anything wrong. DLNR encourages the media and the public to avoid making judgments until all the facts are known.’

At least 110 people were killed in the August 8 wildfire in Lahaina, Maui and that death toll is expected to rise which has led to finger pointing at what went wrong including why fire crews ran out of water and found countless dry hydrants. 

‘One thing that people need to understand especially those from far away is that there’s been a great deal of water conflict on Maui for many years,’ Hawaii Governor Josh Green said in a press conference. ‘It’s important that we’re honest about this. People have been fighting against the release of water to fight fires. I’ll leave that to you to explore.’

‘We have a difficult time on Maui and other rural areas getting enough water for houses, for our people, for any response,’ Green said. ‘But it’s important we start being honest. There are currently people still fighting in our state giving us water access to fight and prepare for fires even as more storms arise.’

The Department of Land and Natural Resources declined to comment. 

‘I’d like to see this broader issue discussed at another time,’ Tremble told Fox News Digital on Friday afternoon. 

‘Right now isn’t the time for him to point fingers.’

Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Top 10 Copper-producing Companies (Updated 2023)
next post
Texas Democratic county official announces switch to the GOP, cites border policies: ‘An unprecedented crisis’

Related Posts

Maui company says request for water to fight...

August 19, 2023

Biden admin vows to hold Chinese hackers responsible...

July 17, 2023

House Speaker Johnson to push Israel aid this...

April 15, 2024

Andrew Yang warns US ‘not doing enough’ to...

February 1, 2024

GOP Sen. Ted Budd demands State Department roll...

October 24, 2023

Kevin McCarthy reflects on history during tour of...

July 5, 2023

Haley allies admit she has ‘steeper road ahead’...

January 25, 2024

Head of online campaign to identify antisemitism says...

November 12, 2023

Trump aims to trounce Biden’s record $26 million...

March 30, 2024

Ramaswamy unveils ‘No to Neocons’ pledge his appointees...

November 8, 2023

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Latest

    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right Now

    • 1911 Gold Temporarily Suspends Operations at True North Complex due to Bissett Evacuation Order

    • Ontario Backs Down on Key Bill 5 Provisions, Echoes BC’s Mining Debate

    • Appeals Court Grants Trump Temporary Reprieve on Tariffs, “TACO” Taunts Gain Steam

    Categories

    • Business (1,223)
    • Investing (2,503)
    • Politics (3,699)
    • Stocks (1,614)
    • Uncategorized (20)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: MoneyControlPlace.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 moneycontrolplace.com | All Rights Reserved