On Wednesday, Gina Young was sworn in as the first director of the East Maui Regional Water Authority, according to a news release.  

What You Need To Know

  • In Nov. 2022, Maui County residents voted in favor of a charter amendment allowing the government to create regional entities tasked with managing the island's water resources

  • The East Maui Regional Water Authority is the first one to be established

  • The East Maui Regional Community Board, which runs the water authority, unanimously selected Young as regional director

  • The board will investigate, acquire, manage and control water collection and delivery systems in the Nāhiku, Keanae, Honomanū and Huelo areas

In Nov. 2022, Maui County residents voted in favor of a charter amendment that allowed the government to create regional entities tasked with managing the island's water resources, with the goal of giving communities more control over Maui’s waters. The East Maui version is the first one to be established. 

The East Maui Regional Community Board unanimously selected Young to head the new water authority, and the Maui County Council approved her appointment on Oct. 25. 

Young was the executive assistant to Councilmember Shane Sinenci when she crafted the charter amendment that would eventually create the board. 

The board, which oversees the water authority, will investigate, acquire, manage and control water collection and delivery systems in the Nāhiku, Keanae, Honomanū and Huelo areas. The regional director will focus on the water lease negotiations. 

Debates about water rights in East Maui have been ongoing. A legacy leftover from former sugar plantations diverted billions of gallons of water, starting in the late 1800s, which continues to be used by other agricultural ventures, like Mahi Pono. 

“Director Young has a unique knowledge of East Maui watershed areas and established relationships with those already working to protect its resources,” said Maui Mayor Richard Bissen in a statement. “We share in the goal of working together collaboratively to manage our precious water resources.”

Her work experience includes being a senior planner in the County Department of Planning. She was Planning Department Employee of the Year in 2012 and was team leader of the Division Team of the Year in 2013.

She also served as president, vice president and secretary for the Kula Community Association. She was vice chair of the Hawaii Health System Corporation Maui Region Board of Directors.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Santa Barbara, a master's degree in public administration from The George Washington University, and a certified financial planning degree from the College of Financial Planning in conjunction with The George Washington University.

“Water — wai — should be revered, not commodified, not wasted,” Young said, during the swearing-in. “Wai brings life to everything. Our watersheds are sacred spaces and they should be treated as such.”

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii.

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