Hirono Announces $1.5 Million in Federal Funding for Molokai Infrastructure Improvements

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) will receive $1.59 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding to improve water infrastructure of the Hoolehua Water System on Molokai.

“More than 2,000 Molokai residents depend on the Hoolehua Water System for reliable water service,” Senator Hirono said. “This USDA funding will support DHHL’s ongoing efforts to modernize the Hoolehua Water System. I will continue to work with federal stakeholders to ensure that all Hawaii residents, including those living on Hawaiian Home Lands, have access to safe drinking water.”

“The USDA funds will help us to modernize this historic water system that serves our first two homesteads of Hoolehua and Kalamaula, created almost 100 years ago under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920,” Jobie M.K. Masagatani, Chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission said. “And, the federal funds will help ensure continuous water delivery to serve more generations of our beneficiaries on the island of Molokai.”

The USDA award will assist DHHL in implementing a robust plan to improve the transmission and reliability of the Hoolehua Water System. Additionally, the funding will be used to increase the sustainability of the water system and lessen the number of unexpected losses of water service, as well as reduce the system’s annual energy costs through increases in the water storage capacity and improvements to water safety, security, and water pressure. 

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