Olinda-Kula Soil & Water Conservation District
The Olinda-Kula SWCD held their first official meeting on March 13, 1948, becoming the first ever Soil & Water Conservation District in Hawai‘i. Since then, the hard work of our farming community has not only conserved natural resources in Kula, but has inspired the conservation movement throughout our state.
Olinda-Kula SWCD directors (L-R):
Garret Hew, Paul Otani & Alan Nago
(missing: Neil Nakamura)
Meeting Information
Agriculture producers interested in becoming a Cooperator should attend a SWCD meeting. Olinda-Kula SWCD generally meets at the NRCS Wailuku Field Office on Imi Kala Street. Call our office at (808) 244-3100 for meeting date and time.
Please fill out all application materials 
prior to the meeting.
Conservation Planning
Olinda-Kula SWCD collaborates with our Cooperators to implement conservation plans to support sustainable land use in our community. We are a non-regulatory and voluntary organization, whose Directors and Cooperators include many Upcountry Maui farmers. Each conservation plan is designed to meet the producer's business goals and resource concerns. All agricultural producers are welcome to apply for Cooperator status.
Olinda-Kula SWCD assists agriculture producers around Haikū, Olinda, Kula and near Haleakalā. Our conservation planning efforts are made possible With the help of the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Maui County and a number of other agencies.
Permitting & Exemptions
Owning a district-approved conservation plan offers access to a number of benefits, including an exemption from the county grading, grubbing and stockpiling ordinances.
Click here for permitting information.
Public Outreach Activities
Olinda-Kula SWCD frequently participates in a number of community outreach projects. Many of our projects focus on bringing attention to conservation and agriculture issues to a broader audience, including school-aged children. Click on a thumbnail above to read about our recent outreach events.
Learn more about the Maui SWCDs, our accomplishments and our activities by reading our 2007 Annual Report. 
Special Projects
Upcountry Maui Water Distribution System
(click for a larger map)
Olinda-Kula SWCD is sponsoring a multi-phase irrigation watermain project, which will provide agricultural water to Upcountry Maui farmers. The mainline originates at the Olinda Water Treatment Plant and will carry water to an estimated 473 acres of Upcountry cropland, from Kahakapao Reservoir to Kēōkea. The system will supply an average of 1.0 million gallons daily (mgd), 3.0 mgd at most, through 9.4 miles of main distribution pipeline and 20.4 miles of lateral distribution pipelines.
Refer to the map at the right and click on the thumbnails below for details about the Upcountry Maui Water Distribution System.
