This is where we live.
The Hanalei Initiative is committed to improving the water quality in our rivers, streams, and bay. We understand the complex set of challenges and are working on solutions. Through potential Department of Health grant funding, county, and federal funding sources, as well as private capital, the Hanalei Initiative is exploring financing options for converting cesspools to more advanced wastewater treatment systems. Please fill out this survey to connect with the Hanalei Initiative and help determine your eligibility for funding and how best we can support you through this process.
Understanding the problem is the first step to solving it and based on scientific research we know that outdated home wastewater systems – cesspools – are a major contributor of pollutants to Hanalei’s natural water systems (Yamahara et al. 2020, Boehm et al. 2011, Knee et al. 2010). Using publicly available data and local expert inputs, we created this map to identify over 360 active cesspools from Hanalei to Hā‘ena and rank their relative risk to the environment and human health. These rankings are calculated by assessing factors that contribute to the level of impact including depth to groundwater, distance to the coastline, cesspool density, and others:
Since 2004, the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) has listed some combination of Hanalei Bay and the four streams that feed into it (Hanalei, Wai`oli, Waipa, and Waikoko) as impaired for Enterococcus (a fecal indicator) bacteria in their biennial reports, meaning that it exceeds measured levels that are considered safe for human recreation (> 35 colony forming units (CFU) / 100 ml). In their 2020 State of Hawaii Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report, HDOH listed the Hanalei Bay Landing site and all four of its streams and estuaries (where the streams meet the Bay) as impaired for Enterococcus (HDOH 2020).These are the waterways where we fish, surf, swim, walk, boat, and play. Clearly, our water quality is imperative to the well-being of our community.
Throughout Hawaii, cesspools have been the default option of wastewater management. Only recently at the state level has this been recognized to be a problem, resulting in Act 125 passed in 2017 which “Requires upgrade, conversion, or sewer connection of all cesspools in the State before 2050 unless exempted.” We at the Initiative hope to facilitate upgrades in our community not just to meet the state mandate but to improve the safety and quality of our waters. Many homeowners have already made the commitment to protect our waters by upgrading their cesspools to septic or more advanced systems. We estimate 155 homes to still be operating cesspools (out of a total of 392) in Hanalei alone, a main contributing factor to the elevated bacterial counts. In cesspools, wastewater is untreated, dispersing pathogens, bacteria and viruses, as well as nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous that are damaging Hawaii’s fragile ecosystem.
Cesspool
A cesspool is essentially a hole in the ground receiving untreated human waste and discharging it directly into the surrounding soil and groundwater without treatment.
Septic Tank System
A septic system provides the next higher level of treatment by separating solids in a tank and directing wastewater to a leach field where it filters through the soil. These systems rely on a thick layer of soil to filter the wastewater. Unfortunately, they are not effective in coastal areas such as Hanalei where the groundwater is close to the surface.
Aerobic Treatment Unit
Aerobic treatment units are the highest level of treatment available for individual households. They use oxygen to break down organic matter and often incorporate disinfection in the form of chlorine or UV light. Because they are closed systems that don’t use soil for filtration, they are effective in areas with high water tables such as Hanalei.
Liquid-Only Sewer
The Prelos (Pressurized Liquid Only Sewer) system made by Orenco has solved many of the issues with conventional sewer systems that make them unsuitable for places like Hanalei. Primary treatment occurs onsite, and the wastewater is pumped to a central treatment facility. With this system it is feasible to link households in Hanalei to the treatment facility in Princeville at relatively low cost for individual homeowners.
Through potential Department of Health grant funding, county, and federal funding sources, as well as private capital, the Hanalei Initiative is exploring financing options for converting cesspools to aerobic systems and/or liquid-only sewer, that treat water on site or at the facility in Princeville. Both options would prevent nutrients, pathogens, and other wastewater pollutants from reaching our streams and ocean. With organization and economy of scale we can convert all remaining cesspools in Hanalei to exceed current wastewater standards.
While improving the water quality in Hanalei is a lofty goal that is capital intensive, we firmly believe that this is a mission we can complete. We have reviewed the inventory of current wastewater systems, identified the priority homes, and are beginning to engage with property owners.
We are a small town with a big problem. But with the right funding combined with the years of research and direction from the resources we have at hand, we can create a significant positive change in our environment and ultimately, secure our irreplaceable natural resources for many generations to come.