1st Meeting of Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) Since Maui Wildfires
On September 19, 2023, the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) held its first meeting following Maui’s wildfires, the governor’s temporary suspension of the water code, and the controversial “redeployment” of CWRM’s Deputy Director Kaleo Manuel following an August 8, 2023 request by West Maui Land Co. to divert water from streams to fill the company’s reservoirs to fight the wildfires, which he did not immediately grant. NHLC submitted testimony and attended the meeting. The meeting drew a large contingent of Maui residents in-person and online who passionately shared their concerns over the course of more than 10 hours. ...
Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Oral Argument on Mauna Kea
Today is the first day of Native American Heritage Month, and NHLC was at the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court arguing that the government’s constitutional duty to protect Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices applies in the promulgation of administrative rules, an issue that’s been raised in one of our cases related to Mauna Kea. In Hawaiʻi the State "shall" protect Hawaiian traditional and customary practices. NHLC stands with the lāhui and cultural practitioners to defend this fundamental right. Watch the Supreme Court Oral Argument: https://youtu.be/K50LnT2kwFk Read the Star Advertiser (11/2/22) article here: Hawaiʻi’s high court hears arguments tied to Mauna Kea ...
NHLC Requests Additional NSF Scoping Hearings
After observing that many individuals and communities were unable to provide comment during the NSF’s limited scoping hearings regarding its environmental study on whether to fund the TMT project, NHLC has formally requested additional hearings should NSF continue to consider funding TMT over community objections. Read more here: Mauna Kea FAQ
FAQs Regarding National Science Foundation’s TMT Consultation Process
Read more here: Mauna Kea FAQ
Press Release: Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Concludes State Violated Water Leasing Law in East Maui
Read the press release from the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC) regarding a Hawai’i Supreme Court decision issued today involving water rights in East Maui. NHLC represented the hui of East Maui community members that brought this case. Read the press release here: Press Release - Supreme Court Decision re Carmichael Case Read the Supreme Court’s opinion here: 2022-03-03-Opinion-of-the-Court-by-Wilson-J.pdf More information about East Maui Water Rights: https://www.nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org/mauiwater
Public Testimony of NHLC in Support of CCH Resolution 22-34
As part of a hui of organizations that provide direct-delivery and support services to the Native Hawaiian community, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation strongly SUPPORTS CCH Resolution 22-34, because together they represent a significant step towards furthering the normalization of ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, the native language of these islands and a co-official language of the State of Hawaiʻi. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Supports CCH Resolution 22-34 Read CCH Resolution 22-34 here: https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=13132
Public Testimony of NHLC in Support of CCH Bill 11
As part of a hui of organizations that provide direct-delivery and support services to the Native Hawaiian community, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation strongly SUPPORTS CCH Bill 11, because together they represent a significant step towards furthering the normalization of ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, the native language of these islands and a co-official language of the State of Hawaiʻi. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Supports CCH Bill 11 Read CCH Bill 11 here: https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=13206
Public Testimony of NHLC in Opposition of HB2164
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation OPPOSES HB2164, which would authorize the direct negotiation of up to 55-year water licenses without sufficient protections for the rights of the public as well as the public trust resource itself. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Opposes HB2164 Read HB2164 here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2022/bills/HB2164_.htm
Public Testimony of Hui of Native Hawaiian Organizations, including NHLC, in Support of Bill 48 and Resolution 21-276 Regarding Kapūkakī (Red Hill) Water Crises
Public Testimony of Hui of Native Hawaiian Organizations, including NHLC, in Support of Bill 48 and Resolution 21-276 Regarding Kapūkakī (Red Hill) Water Crises
