HONOLULU – A community effort to improve Waipi’o Valley river and stream flow could get funded by the state of Hawaii today.

During its Friday meeting, the Board of Land and Natural Resources will vote on approving a $142,500 grant-in-aid contract with the non-profit Friends of the Future for the “Ha ola O Waipi’o Valley Project To Develop Community Capacity To Maintain Rivers and Streams in Waipi’o” project.

The grant funds, authorized by Act 119 after the 2015 legislative session, will aid valley taro farmers in successfully maintaining their agricultural traditions, according to BLNR documetns.

The state says the work to be performed under this contract agreement includes the following:

a.) Conduct community efforts to implement the Waipi’o Valley Stream Maintenance Plan;

b.) Provide preventative flood control measures and stream bank stabilization of Valley rivers and streams;

c.) Remove accumulated gravel banks and associated vegetative growth, compounded since the 2006 earthquake, which pose a threat to life, property and livelihood; and

d.) Perform ongoing, regular river mouth, river and stream maintenance to prevent accumulations of gravel and vegetative growth in the future.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has the project would have no significant effect on the environment and that approval of the contract is categorically exempt from having to prepare an environmental assessment.

Waipi’o Valley view by Visionary Video