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Maui County and Kamehameha Schools announced Friday a proposed agreement that would transfer Kamehameha Schools' option to acquire the Launiupoko Irrigation Company system in West Maui to the county.
The proposal is part of the county’s efforts to bring water resources under public stewardship. According to a news release, the agreement remains subject to approval by the Maui County Council and applicable regulatory agencies.
Kamehameha Schools acquired approximately 3,885 acres in Mākila, Waineʻe Ma Uka and Kahoma in West Maui in September 2025. The acquisition included an opportunity to acquire the Launiupoko Irrigation Company system.
Under the proposed agreement, Kamehameha Schools would retain stewardship of the Kauaʻula surface water system, which is part of the Launiupoko system, so it can continue service to kuleana landowners and support the long-term restoration of the area.
The agreement would also provide water source credits for future needs on Kamehameha Schools' land in Kuia.
In March, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced the county is shifting toward public stewardship of water management by negotiating with key partners to acquire water system assets in West Maui.
"Acquiring water for public trust is a generational investment in Maui Nui's future," Bissen said in the release. "The water choices we make today will impact recovery, housing, traditional and cultural practices, emergency response and agriculture. By bringing these water systems into the public trust, we are protecting one of our most essential resources and ensuring decisions about water are driven by our community."
Kamehameha Schools CEO Jack Wong said the partnership would help connect water stewardship with infrastructure needed for Lahaina’s recovery.
"Caring for wai is essential for healthy ʻāina, communities and cultural practices," he said. "This partnership with the County of Maui connects our shared kuleana with the infrastructure needed for lasting recovery."
Keʻeaumoku Kapu, a kuleana landowner and the executive director of Nā ʻAikāne o Maui, expressed his hope that kuleana landowners would have a role in future water management decisions.
"Hopefully, we can get a lot of our kuleanas involved in water management because we've always been taking care of the water resources," Kapu said. "Now is the time we gotta draw everyone's ideas together and go forward together, united."
The county said coordinating multiple water sources would help address future housing, public safety, watershed restoration and other community needs in West Maui.
The announcement did not provide financial terms for the proposed agreement.