WAILUK — Water will flow from the mountains to the ocean in Maui’s Iao Stream for the first time in more than a century next week.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says Wailuku Water Co. on Monday will begin releasing 10 million gallons of water in the stream each day under a settlement agreement.
Wailuku Water is an offshoot of former sugar plantation Wailuku Sugar Co., which like many plantations diverted water from streams to irrigate fields.
Wailuku Water takes water once diverted for Wailuku Sugar and sells it to housing subdivisions, Maui County, cattle ranchers, golf courses and others.
The agreement requires Wailuku Water to release water to the stream to meet new minimum flows.
The state water commission plans to monitor how the flows affect aquatic live.