Opinion ID: 2581050
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: 1960 Testimonials

Text: The appellants further argue that the Water Commission erred by relying on the 1960 testimonials and disregarding the testimony of three aquatic biologists. [8] The Water Commission contends that the IIFS flow levels established under the half approach exceed the 1960s flows, where testimony established that presence of aquatic biota at a higher level than today. Because the Water Commission failed to make findings of each stream's flow during the 1960s, the Water Commission's conclusion was unsupported by the record's findings. It is well-settled that [a]n appellate court will not pass upon issues dependent upon credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence; this is the province of the trial judge. Amfac, Inc. v. Waikiki Beachcomber Inv. Co., 74 Haw. 85, 117, 839 P.2d 10, 28 (1992) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted) (brackets in original); see also State v. Eastman, 81 Hawai'i 131, 139, 913 P.2d 57, 65 (1996) (It is for the trial judge as fact-finder to assess the credibility of witnesses and to resolve all questions of fact.... As the trier of fact, the judge may draw all reasonable and legitimate inferences and deductions from the evidence, and the findings of the trial court will not be disturbed unless clearly erroneous.). Thus, it is the province of the Water Commission to assess the credibility of witnesses, and the Water Commission's findings will not be disturbed unless clearly erroneous. In the instant case, the Water Commission deemed credible the testimony that the flow in the 1960s was adequate to support the stream's ecosystem and native Hawaiian customs and practices. We do not regard this assessment as clearly erroneous. The Water Commission, however, failed to make findings of each stream's flow during the 1960s. Without such information, the Water Commission failed to support its conclusion that the current IIFS flow is more than the flow in the 1960s. We therefore remand this issue for further proceedings. If, on remand, the Water Commission is able to support its conclusion with findings quantifying the windward streams' flows during the 1960s, then the 1960s testimonials would be sufficient to set the IIFS at the levels established in the D & O II, inasmuch as: (1) more water would be added to the streams than that which adequately supported the streams' ecosystem in the 1960s, see D & O II at 104; (2) the increase in stream flow over the 1960s stream flow would be beneficial in light of the Water Commission's finding that increasing a stream's flow results in stream habitat improvement, see D & O II at 104; and (3) appurtenant rights, riparian uses, and existing uses would be accounted for by further increases in stream flow, see D & O II at 112. [9] The foregoing would then adequately establish that instream values would be protected to the extent practicable for interim purposes. We take this opportunity, however, to remind the Water Commission that seventeen years have passed since the Water Code was enacted requiring the Water Commission to set permanent instream flow standards by investigating the streams. HRS § 174C-71. In addition, four years have passed since this court held that the Commission shall, with utmost haste and purpose, work towards establishing permanent instream flow standards for windward streams. Waiãhole I, 94 Hawai'i at 156, 9 P.3d at 468. The fact that an IIFS is before this court evinces that this mandate has not yet been completed as of the Water Commission's D & O II.