FRIENDS OF MAHA'ULEPU

1- WE FOUGHT TO CURB AND STOP THE POWER COMPANY'S PROPOSAL TO RAISE RESIDENTIAL CONSUMER RATES TO 18-19.5%. THIS WOULD HAVE HAD A DEVISTATING EFFECT ON CONSUMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT AS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE PROPOSED SIGNIFICANT RATE HIKE WAS TO RAISE FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO BUILD A NEW PUMP STORAGE FACILITY. WE OPPOSED THAT PLAN BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO TAKE A MINIMUM OF 400,000,000 GALLONS A YEAR FROM THE ALAKAI WATERSHED. WE HIRED ATTORNEYS TO MOUNT A FIGHT AGAINST THE PROPOSAL WHICH OUR POWER COMPANY HAD SUBMITTED TO OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL.2-WE HIRED ATTORNEYS AND SEVERAL MEMBERS FLEW TO HONOLULU TO ATTEND MULTIPLE HEARINGS BEFORE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DLNR) IN APRIL, OCTOBER AND DECEMBER 2023. WE OPPOSED DEVELOPERS USE OF HISTORIC STATE LAND TO PROVIDE INGRESS AND EGRESS IN PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR A HOTEL REBUILD, COCO PALMS AT WAILUA. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT WAILUA THREATENS ENDANGERED AND PROTECTED SEA BIRDS, IS ON A SITE BELOW SEA LEVEL AND REQUIRES PUMPING TIDE IMPACTED POOLS ON SITE OFF PROPERTY SEVERLY COMPROMISING WAILUA STREAM AND THE OCEAN AT WAILUA BEACH, WATERS OF THE US.3-WE HIRED ATTORNEYS TO ENFORCE A CONDITION OF DEVELOPMENT, REQUIRED BY THE COUNTY, AS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER DRAINAGE PLAN (MDP) BY THE BUILDING/DEVELOPER OF A 280 UNIT CONDOMINIUM PROJECT LESS THAN A MILE UPSTREAM FROM POIPU AND WAIOHAI BEACHES. THERE WERE FOUR HEARINGS ON THIS ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THE MATTER IS ON APPEAL. FOMS ACTION TO REQUIRE THE DEVELOPER AND THE COUNTY TO SECURE MDP WAS MOTIVATED BY A COMMITTMENT TO PROTECT SOUTH SHORE BEACHES AND AN IMPORTANT NATIONALLY REGISTERED HISTORIC ARCHEOLOGIC SITE, KANEOLOUMA, FROM THE ADVERSE EFFECTS CAUSED BY UNCONTROLLED STORM WATER RUN OFF.