Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost Sometimes the right path is not the easiest. - Grandmother Willow

1. Hawaii's Embattled Ag Agency Finally Moves Wahiawa Center Forward
By Stewart Yerton, Honolulu Civil Beat, September 20, 2021
<https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/09/hawaiis-embattled-ag-agency-finally-moves-wahiawa-center-forward/>
After visiting the value-added center, Dela Cruz's entourage moved across town to Lake Wilson,
one of Hawaii's largest reservoirs and the main irrigation source for Oahu's thriving pineapple
fields. The group was joined by Kyle Barber, manager of agriculture for Dole Food Co. Hawaii,
which owns a dam and spillway that controls the lake.
Barber said the system has enough water for Dole to use 8 million gallons with plenty left over
for other farmers, which now use about 8 million gallons per day. The system once provided
water for the entire Waialua sugar operation, he said, and can provide 40 million gallons per day.
Dela Cruz said he is working on a deal under which Dole would donate the dam and
irrigation system to the state, on the condition that Dole can use up to 8 million gallons a
day.
Kahele said there's federal money available under a dam safety program to pay for an
estimated $20 million in needed upgrades to the dam and spillway.
Note Supplied
COMMISION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Article XI, Section 7, of the State Constitution mandated the Legislature to provide for a water
resource agency to set overall water conservation, quality, and use policies; define beneficial and
reasonable uses; protect ground and surface water resources, watersheds, and natural stream
environments; establish criteria for water use priorities while assuring appurtenant rights and
existing correlative and riparian uses; and establish procedures for regulating all uses of Hawaii's
water resources. This parallels Hawaii's public land doctrine which proclaimed all land controlled
by the State, along with water, shoreline, ocean, and other natural resources, to become protected
entities held for the long-term benefit for all of Hawaii's people. The instruments of this policy,
along with the mandate of the State Constitution, led the Legislature in 1987 to enact the State
Water Code, chapter 174C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which authorized the Commission on
Water Resource Management (Commission) to have exclusive jurisdiction and final
authority in all matters relating to implementation and administration of the State Water
Code. [Emphasis Supplied]
Guide to Goverment In Hawaii (13th
Edition)
Legislative Reference Bureau, State Capitol, Honolulu, Hawaii
<https://www.oahumpo.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/gdgovhi.pdf>

2. STATE OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
ENGINEERING DIVISION, DAM SAFETY
DAM INVENTORY SYSTEM – WAHIAWA DAM
<https://dams.hawaii.gov/DamInformation.aspx?id=544d3655-872d-42a2-a6cb-bf8668bb49b3>
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
a. National Dam ID: HI00017
b. State Dam ID: OA-0017
c. Dam Name: WAHIAWA DAM
d. Other Name(s): LAKE WILSON; WILSON RESERVOIR
e. Longitude/Latitude (dec): -158.049151 /21.497655
f. County/Island: Honolulu/Oahu
g. Type of Dam: Earthen
h. Purpose:
i. Completed / Last Modified: 1906 /
j. Nearest Town/City: WAIALUA 7 miles
k. Water Body Type: State Regulated Dam
l. Dam Height: 88.0 ft
m. Dam Length: 660.0 ft
n. Drainage Area: 16.7 sq. miles / 10688 acres
o. Primary Spillway Type: Channel
p. Maximum Storage: 9200.0 acre-ft / 2997.8 MG
2. OWNER INFORMATION
a. Name of Owner(s): Dole Food Company Hawaii, Sustainable Hawaii, Inc.
b. TMK(s): 7-1-012:014, 7-3-013:003, 7-3-012:002, 7-3-007:001
3. HAZARD POTENTIAL CLASSIFICATION
a. Hazard Classification: High [Emphasis Supplied]
b. Emergency Action Plan: Yes
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS
2019 Hawaii Infrastructure Report Card
2019 Report Card GPA: D+
DAMS – GRADE: D
<https://infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/hawaii/>
The State of Hawaii regulates 132 dams across the state. The majority of these dams were
constructed as part of irrigation systems during the rise of the sugar cane industry and many are
nearly 100 years old.

3. Due to old age, these dams have deteriorated over time and present risks to downstream, now
developed, communities. Of the 132 state regulated dams, 123 (93%) are classified as high-
hazard potential (HHP) meaning a dam failure could result in significant loss of life or property
and three are classified as Significant Hazard Potential (SHP), meaning dam failure could
result in significant loss of property. State law requires all HHP dams to have an
Emergency Action Plan (EAP) which outlines contact information and operations to
maximize the safety of downstream residents in the event of a dam failure or dam
emergency. 100% of state regulated HHP dams have an EAP, which is above the national
average of 77%. [Emphasis Supplied]
All SHP dams have EAPs as well. As the majority of the dams are privately owned, increased
funding is needed to support engineering investigations, repairs and maintenance necessary to
help Hawaii's dams meet current safety standards and minimize the risk to downstream
communities and the general public.
____________________________________________________________
LEGAL AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO BE INCURRED
BY STATE OF HAWAII TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE WAHIAWA DAM
DAM & LEVEE SAFETY, ENGINEERING, MAINETENANCE
United States Society on Dams
<https://www.ussdams.org/dam-levee-education/overview/dam-levee-safety/>
Hawaii Revised Statutes – 179D (Dams and Reservoirs)
<https://dlnreng.hawaii.gov/dam/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/08/HRS_CHAP179D.pdf>
Hawaii Administrative Rules 190.1 – Water and Land Development: Dams and Reservoirs
<https://dlnreng.hawaii.gov/dam/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/03/HAR-190-1-Dam-Safety-Rules.pdf>
Federal Guidelines
<https://dlnreng.hawaii.gov/dam/training/references/>