Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-29
KAPAA WATER
RlGHTSFlGHT
TO BE AIRED
Conference Expected to Be
Called Jan. ! at Which Var.
ious Factions Will Be Heard,
After Which Bids Will Be
Called

n LII persons interested IN Kappa
- Kauai, water rights-a sore poin!
~ for years between various factions
on that island-are to be given the
opportunity to be heard together and
separately at a conference to be held
with the governor at the capitol, &C,
cording to word reaching the Star
Bulletin today. 1t is believed this
conference will be called about Janu
airy /.
According to word from Kauai the
Wailua leases, which are held by the
Lihue interests and which expire on
October /, are becoming, along with
the question Of how cane lands In ka'
paa district will be given water, d
matter of much interest and discus
sion on Kauai. Several plans have al
ready been advanced.
Hans Isenberg. president OF Lihuer
and Col. q. S. Spalding OF Kealia have
both discussed with the homesteaders
the matter of getting water onto ka-
paa, according to the story, which is
all the more interesting because o:
the rivalry that is known to have eX'
listed for years between the two men,
1t is said that the homesteaders
were asked their opinions on the ques'
ton Of water, what price they would
be willing to pay, and so on.
In addition to this comes the story
that the homesteaders themselves
or a group. of them-want to put up
their own water company to furnish
Kappa with moisture. This is said to
be proposed by individuals who have
made good money during the last year
or so from Kappa cane.
But 1t is the government that owns
these water rights which will expire
from lease on October !, and it is be-
lieved the government will ultimately
determine what trend matters shall
take. This Is the purpose of the con-
ference.
At a meeting the various factions
will probably be heard, terms will be
discussed, maximum charges fixed for
use Of water and the whole thing
afterward definitely announced in
plans and specifications.
After this bids will be received, il
is understood. All parties concerned
plantations, homesteaders, separate
water companies-will be allowed t.
bid If they so desire. II no bids are
made it seems possible that the gov
eminent may take up q scheme Of its
own. In that case provision would
have to be made by the coming legis
lature for financing the project.
1t is also understood that whoever
may be successful in the bid for the
water project, the system must ulti
mately revert to the government.
There are about 10000 acres in the
entire Wailua lease, the annual rentai
for this being $1,000 year. The con
tract was signed on October l, 1887
OF the $4,000 acres, however, only
about 1000 are said to be available
for cultivation. The other is forest
reserve. There are 5000 acres of cane
land on the side Of the river next tc
Lihue district and about 1000 on the
Kappa side now under cultivation OF
available for cane or pineapples. Lihue
plantation, which has the majority OF
the leased land. Will be given a year
by law to get cane from it after the
Please expires.
! The general plan is to bring water
from the Wailua river to- furnish
Kappa, so as to make the district safe
for cane in time Of drought.