REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO ACQUIRE ALL WEST MAUI WATER SYSTEMS THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN AND TO HOLD THEM IN TRUST FOR THE PUBLIC, WITH MANAGEMENT UNDER THE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM, PURSUANT TO THE PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE.

This Senate Resolution requests Maui County to use eminent domain to acquire all privately owned water systems in West Maui, then manage them as public resources under county control. It aims to address water scarcity from drought, climate change, and private overuse (affecting 80% of resources), while prioritizing environmental health, Native Hawaiian cultural practices, and community access for residents and agriculture. The resolution specifies water allocation should follow public trust principles, with management guided by environmental protection and community needs. As a non-binding request, it does not create new law but urges the county to act on this recommendation.