Actually that is not correct.  Pulama Lana’i is not going forward with a proposed desalination plant to extract fresh water from saltwater.  The Lanai Planning Commission imposed conditions on the desalination plant as part of the special use permit for its operations.
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The reason for the cancellation was that the plan advisory committee members were shocked when they first learned of the scale of development plans of Pulama Lana’i, the development company of Lanai landowner, billionaire Larry Ellison.
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Bottom line the de-sal plant was to support hotels, golf courses and McMansions.  There was no concern about the " freshwater aquifer".  The only concern was to support development.
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Better tell Dr. Chip !