Wading barefoot, Wendt weeds his taro patches, the lo‘i kalo that fed his grandparents as babies. But when he sees cracked banks and brown leaves, his mind turns to Alexander & Baldwin, who own East Maui Irrigation and Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company. He fears for his grandchildren. 

“The water is the taro’s water,” Wendt said. “It’s not the county’s water, it’s not even my water.”  Seven years ago, Wendt and a number of his East Maui neighbors filed a petition through the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, asking the state Commission on Water Resource Management to release diverted stream water. This June, the taro farmers are still awaiting their answer. 

Stretching back to 1876, A&B has redirected the flow of East Maui streams. An intricate 74-mile ditch system of tunnels, pipes, flumes and syphons continues to extend the surface water to their Central Maui sugarcane fields. As the water has been channeled for lifetimes, young farmers have not seen the potential of the natural streams. “I was never mad,” said 34-year-old Steven Ho‘okano, also living in Wailua-nui Valley. “Somebody had to tell me the truth. I knew we never had no water. Uncle told me why no more water. Now I mad.” 

Ho‘okano has sat at Wendt’s table, infuriated by numbers. Wendt has told the young farmer EMI diverts 60 billion gallons of water a year from 100 East Maui streams. He has blamed EMI for moving an average of 160 million gallons per day, even escalating as high as 450 million gallons during days in the rainy season. And in his strong-veined voice, Wendt has said EMI carries the water away from 33,000 acres of crown lands, lands native Hawaiians have never directly surrendered.  “These lands should be used to support Hawaiian culture, rather than used as a resource, taken by a private entity without regard for these rights,” said Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation Litigation Director Alan Murakami. “What are we doing here? Depriving Hawaiians, who have suffered for decades, of water they need to sustain their culture.” 

Lack of water stops Ho‘okano from farming the taro patch where his father sweated, the same soil that dirtied his grandfather’s hands. His mother and his aunties grew up planting taro. Their taro paid for three homes. Now Ho‘okano asks, “Where my water?” 

“We believe there is enough water for both taro and sugar,” EMI Manager Garret Hew emailed in a written statement. “The EMI system - and the amount of water it is able to divert - has not been significantly changed since 1923. However, the amount of taro cultivated in traditional taro growing areas has dramatically decreased since 1923. It is unclear why these areas may be receiving less water than before.” 

Ho‘okano physically labored to preserve his family’s taro patch. Two years with no weed-eater, no sickle, he farmed with his hands. One season with no water, he watched his taro dry and disappear. He watched his mother cry.  “You ask the thief the question, they try to preach a lie,” Ho‘okano said. “Through the news, they say whatever they like the people to know. A lie.” 

In his email, Hew credited HC&S with employing some 800 residents and contributing $100 million or more, to the Maui economy annually. Ho‘okano can smell money, but he feels no economic benefit. He feels the consequence.  “We planting taro in some horrific conditions,” said Ho‘okano, who farms his uncle’s land as diversions starve his own. “I’ve had big taro, small taro, rotten and diseased taro. They all die from lack of water. I don’t want to quit, but I gotten into the red so much. Crop loss, year after year. No profit. Food, I provide a little, but ... I cannot sustain my family without water.” 

Besides irrigating 35,000 acres of sugarcane fields, EMI diversions provide the Maui County Department of Water Supply with water to serve Upcountry Maui. Petitioning for the release of stream water, Murakami has heard taro farmers accused of trying to deprive the general public of water. 

“You know, a very small fraction, eight million gallons, of the total amount taken is processed into drinking water for upcountry Maui,” said Murakami, who believes EMI operates the largest diversion of water by any private entity in the country.

“But HC&S stands resolute, any amount taken from them, their 160 million gallons a day, will collapse the sugar company.” 
Though the Hawaiian islands no longer herald sugar as king, petitioners are still affected by the political influences the crop controlled. Wendt sees stolen water and stolen land. He sees young men with the ability to farm, but he does not see them farming. He sees them in jail. Sadly, he feels his observations all stem from the same root