VICTORY!

A TRUE LOEA HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE WATER COMMISSION!

On April 23rd, 2025 the Hawai‘i State Senate voted unanimously to confirm HANNAH KIHALANI SPRINGERʻS appointment to the loea seat on the Commission on Water Resource Management.

After a year-long controversial process by Governor Josh Green, it was imperative that this seat, which is reserved for an expert in Native Hawaiian water management, be seated by someone educated in this invaluable indigenous perspective.

MAHALO TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED THEIR VOICE TO THIS FIGHT

WHY WE MADE THIS FILM:

Hawai‘i Revised Statutes sec. 174C-7(b) requires by law that ONE of the seven members on the Water Commission “have substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian water resource management techniques and in traditional Hawaiian riparian usage such as those preserved by section 174C-101.” This seat is known as the Loea Seat.

Soon after the Lahaina Fires of August 2023, Amanda (our director) learned that the Loea Seat on the Water Commission was vacant and soon to be filled. With Hawaiʻi’s water, land and people in focus like never before, she and her team created Hawaiʻi Water Code Film as a cinematic educational tool & call to action.

TIMELINE OF VACANT LOEA SEAT APPOINTMENT PROCESS:

FEBRUARY 2024: Governor Green receives list of 4 candidates, which include two qualified LOEA: Hannah Springer, Lori Buchanan. Governor stalls and makes no selection..

SUMMER 2024: Hawai’i Water Code Film is released, while public concern grows over illegitimacy of controversial candidate, Kimo Falconer, coffee farmer with ties to luxury land development in West Maui. Governor stalls and makes no selection..

SEPTEMBER 2024: 2 of the 4 candidates remove their names from the nomination. One is Kimo Falconer. Governor stalls making selection.

OCTOBER 2024: Without due process, Governor re-starts the entire appointment process and hand-picks KIMO FALCONER to help choose new list of candidates. (see video below)

OCTOBER 29, 2024: Governor selects Hinano Rodrigues, another candidate (like Kimo Falconer) in partnership with a corporate West Maui land developer (Peter Martin of West Maui Land Co.). (see video below)

MARCH 14, 2025: Deadline for Governor to present his loea candidate to Senate is March 28th. Mounting pressure from community and water advocates, leads to Hinano Rodrigues withdrawing his nomination.

MARCH 26, 2025: Governor appoints HANNAH KIHALANI SPRINGER as his new nominee for the loea seat.

APRIL 23, 2025: Hawaiʻi State Senate unanimously votes to confirm HANNAH KIHALANI SPRINGER to the loea seat on the Commission on Water Resource Management.

MINI FILMS (2 MINS)