Defeating Water Theft Bills

Every so often, “water theft” bills are introduced at the legislature, which seeks to undermine long-fought stream flow restoration wins in the courts. In 2016 corporate diverters were successful. However, when that bill was due to sunset in 2019, HAPA linked arms with streamflow restoration advocates from across Hawaiʻi to prevent Alexander and Baldwin's and others' extractive interests from circumventing the law. We continue to watchdog for future attempts to exploit our wai (water) for corporate gain.