February 28, 2002
Contributed by CEO Message
While large dollar amounts make for good headlines, what wasn't so prominent in some of the coverage of the Commission's action was the agreement on the part of all parties that KS could "pay" the fine in the form of studies and data gathering that are essential to our on-going land management. Prior to the Commission hearing on Wednesday, the Trustees had approved a CEO recommendation to provide the Commission with stream and watershed studies relating to the area; relocating a KS aquaculture lessee who had been using water from the ditch to another KS property; abandoning the 102-year-old ditch itself, and restoring the flow of water from Lalakea Stream to Hakalaoa Falls and Hi'ilawe Falls at the back of Waipi'o Valley. Combined, these activities will be construed as fulfilling KS' obligation to the Commission. "The Commission recognized our good faith efforts to comply with their requirements, and they responded favorably by allowing KS non-monetary alternatives to the fine," said Land Assets Division Director Neil Hannahs. "This outcome is much more about opportunity than punishment for everyone involved. We learn more about our resources -- which we hope will create learning opportunities for Hawaiian students throughout the KS system; our lessee gets a larger farm closer to his home; a long-standing community issue is resolved positively, and streams that feed historic Hakalaoa and Hi'ilawe falls, as well as Waipi'o Valley, are restored." Kamehameha's strategic implementation plan provided strong guidance for our actions in this instance. Cultural and educational considerations were weighed equally with economic scenarios, and Kamehameha's actions will reflect a balance of these factors that is essential to prudent stewardship. It is gratifying that even the complainant in this matter, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, viewed our actions as worthy of praise. "Kamehameha Schools should be commended for looking at the cultural and environmental benefits of restoring these streams," said Marjorie Ziegler, an Earthjustice analyst. "They are not looking at the dollar as the bottom line."
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
