The Constitution of the State of Hawaii Article XI, § 7

The State has an obligation to protect, control and regulate the use of Hawaii's water resources for the benefit of its people.

The legislature shall provide for a water resources agency which, as provided by law, shall set overall water conservation, quality and use policies;  define beneficial and reasonable uses;  protect ground and surface water resources, watersheds and natural stream environments;  establish criteria for water use priorities while assuring appurtenant rights and existing correlative and riparian uses and establish procedures for regulating all uses of Hawaii's water resources.