Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 30 minutes ago
The Dole Food Co. has known for nearly five decades that the Wahiawā Dam could flood in heavy rainfall, putting 2,500 lives at risk.
Even before the last Kona low, however, the state repeatedly warned the international company about safety issues.
But Dole has not made the significant improvements to the dam’s spillway required by the state to bring its more than century-old reservoir into compliance with modern safety standards.
The state land board voted 6-1 Friday, March 27 to move forward with the acquisition of the Wahiawā Reservoir from Dole Food Co., the first step in a multi-pronged deal that will put the cost of repairing the Wahiawā Dam on the backs of taxpayers.
Dole has claimed in recent years that it cannot afford to pay the more than $20 million it would cost to bring the dam into compliance with modern safety standards even as its parent company averaged $120 million in annual net income over the last three years and made payments to shareholders.
Once the transaction to acquire the dam and reservoir is complete, liability for the dam will transfer to the state.
And as Dole offloads its liability, the price tag to repair the dam and take control of the reservoir is likely to triple to $67 million after Gov. Josh Green sent a letter to lawmakers this week asking for additional funding for repairs and environmental testing.
The Dole Food Co. has known for nearly five decades that the Wahiawā Dam could flood in heavy rainfall, putting 2,500 lives at risk.
Even before the last Kona low, however, the state repeatedly warned the international company about safety issues.
But Dole has not made the significant improvements to the dam’s spillway required by the state to bring its more than century-old reservoir into compliance with modern safety standards.
The state land board voted 6-1 Friday, March 27 to move forward with the acquisition of the Wahiawā Reservoir from Dole Food Co., the first step in a multi-pronged deal that will put the cost of repairing the Wahiawā Dam on the backs of taxpayers.
Dole has claimed in recent years that it cannot afford to pay the more than $20 million it would cost to bring the dam into compliance with modern safety standards even as its parent company averaged $120 million in annual net income over the last three years and made payments to shareholders.
Once the transaction to acquire the dam and reservoir is complete, liability for the dam will transfer to the state.
And as Dole offloads its liability, the price tag to repair the dam and take control of the reservoir is likely to triple to $67 million after Gov. Josh Green sent a letter to lawmakers this week asking for additional funding for repairs and environmental testing.
