EDITORIAL
Water panel must have a balance of interests
The political history behind what is now known as the state Water Commission makes it clear that this panel has duties beyond simply parceling out water to whoever makes the strongest claim on its use.
The framers of the 1978 Constitutional Convention, where the Water Commission was set in motion, were deeply concerned about preserving water resources, protecting and enhancing natural stream environments and generally protecting and regulating water resources.
But it was clear that the drafters of the water resources amendment also recognized the economic value of water and its importance to both agricultural and other forms of development.
The Commission on Water Resources Management, which was not created until 1997, is supposed to balance these sometimes competing forces in a fair and equitable way.
Which brings us to the nomination of Alexander & Baldwin executive Meredith Ching to the current Water Board. A broad coalition of environmental groups and others are opposing Ching's nomination, arguing that she is in an irreconcilable conflict of interest since her employer is one of the largest users of water on Maui.
The fact that Ching is employed by a water user should not be a bar to her appointment. In fact, her company should have a vested interest in seeing that water supplies are available on a sustainable basis for a long time to come. That could make her a valuable member of the board.
But where the opponents of Ching's nomination have a point is on the overall balance of board members. There are two state officials, who presumably could be considered neutral, but all the others represent agricultural or union interests who arguably come from the "water using" community.
Ching's nomination is up for a committee vote today in the Senate. If she is confirmed, the vote should come with a strong commitment that the next several appointments to the board should be individuals well-grounded in water preservation, and environmental and traditional Hawaiian rights uses.
It was clear that the 1978 Constitutional Convention sought a balance between use and preservation. That balance must be reflected in the membership of the board that oversees water in our state.
