Honolulu Star Advertiser - Strategy and Funds need to address isles’ cesspool crisis
When the Kona-low storms hit, they exposed Hawaii’s unique and urgent wastewater crisis. Over 88,000 active cesspools across the islands discharge more than 53 million gallons of untreated wastewater daily into our groundwater, streams and nearshore waters, according to the Hawaii Department of Health’s Wastewater Branch. During heavy rains and flooding, the raw sewage in many cesspools rises, spreads and flows into our ocean, onto our farms, and into our neighborhoods. The University of Hawaii’s Water Resources Research Center revealed that more than 2 trillion gallons of water — enough to fill 3 million Olympic-sized swimming pools — inundated Hawaii in March. The accumulated rainfall over 14 days reached as high as 3,000% of normal historical levels for this time of year, culminating in a destructive “rain bomb” over Oahu. All islands were issued multiple “brown water advisories” in ISLAND VOICES Stuart Coleman is executive director of Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations (WAI). March and April due to high amounts of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and toxic chemicals. On March 21, a boil water notice was issued for residents of Waialua and Haleiwa. Meanwhile, thousands in those communities waded in floodwaters to clean up their devastated homes. These contaminated waters pose serious threats to public health and our coral reefs.
Flooding, water quality and cesspool conversion are deeply connected. “Green fee” funding offers a powerful opportunity to help communities transition away from cesspools. We urge state legislators to support the projects recommended by the Green Fee Advisory Committee, including pilot programs that improve sanitation while reusing treated wastewater to irrigate green belts — landscaped areas that can double as firebreaks and climate resilience tools.
At the same time, House Bill 1800 represents a critical piece of the solution, as the state’s primary budget bill that outlines how public funds are allocated together to accelerate progress toward the state’s legal mandate under Act 125 (2017), which requires all cesspools in Hawaii to be upgraded, converted or connected to sewer systems by across agencies and priorities. While it may not be specific to wastewater alone, it serves as the main vehicle through which the Legislature can direct significant, sustained investment toward infrastructure, environmental protection and climate resilience. In practical terms, what gets funded in HB 1800 determines what projects move forwFard — and which ones remain stalled.
Green fee revenues and HB 1800 appropriations can work Jan. 1, 2050. But reaching that goal will require more than funding alone — it will require strategic investment.
Resources should be directed first to high-risk flood zones, where cesspool failures pose the greatest threats to health and safety. At the same time, investments in watershed restoration and green infrastructure can help absorb and slow floodwaters before they overwhelm communities. Strengthening monitoring systems and emergency response capacity is also essential to reducing harm during disasters. Equally important is who implements these solutions. Local organizations have long been on the front lines — responding to floods, restoring watersheds, improving water quality and supporting cesspool conversion efforts, often with limited resources. They bring deep knowledge of their communities and have built trusted relationships that are critical for successful implementation.
For real progress, state investments through the green fee and HB 1800 must partner with these community-based networks, not bypass them. The recent flooding is a warning of what lies ahead as climate impacts intensify. Hawaii can continue reacting to crises — or invest now in proactive, community-driven solutions that reduce risk before disaster strikes. Green fee funding matters — but how we use it matters just as much.
Read here: https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/02/hawaii-homeowners-need-more-options-get-rid-cesspools-2050/