Opinion ID: 2629221
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Interference with native Hawaiians' traditional and customary gathering rights

Text: The Commission discussed at length its conclusion that MR-Wai'ola's proposed water use would not abridge or deny traditional and customary gathering rights of native Hawaiians. In particular, the Commission reviewed its obligation to protect native Hawaiians' rights secured by article XII, section 7 of the Hawai`i Constitution and this court's decision in Public Access Shoreline Hawai`i (PASH) v. Hawai`i County Planning Commission, 79 Hawai`i 425, 903 P.2d 1246 (1995). The Commission considered the following three questions in determining whether the proposed water use interfered with native Hawaiian rights: (1) whether traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights were exercised in the project area; (2) the extent to which, if such rights were being exercised, they would be affected by the proposed action; and (3) the feasible measures, if any, that could be undertaken by the Commission to protect these rights. Based on the evidence adduced at the contested case hearing, the Commission determined that the Intervenors had sufficiently demonstrated that native Hawaiians were actually exercising traditional and customary practices on the shoreline and nearshore area makai [22] of the proposed well site in Kamiloloa. The Commission, however, concluded that no evidence was presented that the drilling of the well would affect the exercise of traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights and, therefore, that the decision to grant a water use permit for the proposed well was consistent with article XII, section 7 of the Hawai`i Constitution and the relevant case law. With respect to the protection of native Hawaiian rights under HRS § 174C-101, see supra note 4, the Commission similarly concluded that MR-Wai`ola's proposed water use would have a minimal impact, if any, on the limu, fish, and other marine species traditionally and customarily gathered and consumed by native Hawaiians. Although the Commission rejected the Intervenors' argument that the withdrawal of groundwater in the Kamiloloa aquifer would reduce the amount of groundwater discharge into the nearshore area makai of the project area, thereby adversely affecting the marine life traditionally and customarily gathered by native Hawaiians, the Commission nevertheless acknowledged its legal mandate to protect the reasonable exercise of traditional and customary native Hawaiian practices: Because the project may have an impact, albeit minimal, if any, on the traditional and customary native Hawaiian practices, the Commission imposes[,] as a condition of this permit[,] a well monitoring program as set forth in the decision and order. The well monitoring program will provide data to calibrate the ground-water models presented as to the possible effect of the well pumping on the reduction and resulting distribution of groundwater in the Kamiloloa Aquifer, which could possibly affect the marine life in question. Subject to the foregoing, the Commission concluded that MR-Wai'ola's proposed water use, as amended by its decision, would not abridge or deny traditional or customary Hawaiian rights, customs, practices, or appurtenant water rights, or any other rights referred to in or protected by Part IX of the state Water Code, the common law, or the Constitution of the State of Hawai`i.