The TRI-ISLE RC&D PROJECT:
KAHAKULOA STREAM INTAKE PROJECT

 Through the years the Kahakuloa stream has eroded, leaving the water level below the intake to the village of Kahakuloa's water supply and to the irrigation channel which carries water to small taro fields.   This vertical degradation also left the stream banks susceptible to erosion.   In a single event during 1998, ten feet of streambank was lost.   Fords, for vehicle crossing, through the stream were almost impassable because of the erosion.   Project improvements include a loose rock dam to raise the water level up to the village water supply and irrigation channel's intake, rock riprap to stabalize the streambanks, smoothing the fords through the stream, rebuilding two swinging bridges for foot traffic when the fords are under water, and cleaning and rebuilding the irrigation channels.

 

 The water Intake Structure which is at one end of the loose rock dam is shown to the right.   All of the labor for this project was done by local villagers which stretched the funds such that all of the improvements described above could be completed.   The fords allow the farmers better access to markets for their taro crops.   The swinging bridges improve safety because the villagers can now walk home when rains swell the stream.   In the past the villagers would risk driving their vehicles through the stream when it was not safe because there was no other way home.

Jo-Ann Ridao, managing director of Lokahi Pacific, has said "what I see that has been accomplished by this project is, it has instilled a great deal of pride in the people that have worked on this project.   By doing this they realize that they are going to have to continue this upkeep and maintenance of the awai (water) system for it to continue flowing and working."

Moses Kauhaahaa, taro farmer, observes that "there's a lot of difference from when we never had this dam in, and what we have today.   We have a lot of water coming down to our property now.   Especially me, I'm on the end of the line.   Everybody is happy now, we got water."

Technical assistance was provided by USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service on the design.   The state legislature provided funding of $300,000.   Lokahi Pacific worked with the County of Maui, Department of Public Works and Waste Management, Michael T. Munekiyo Consulting, Inc. and Kahakuloa Association in the installation of the diversion for the south side of the valley.

The Village of Kahakuloa

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