New grants support Ala Wai water quality improvements

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

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Six grants totaling $200,000 (between $10,000-$50,000 per award) for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects in the Ala Wai watershed were awarded by the University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai'i Sea Grant). These projects are part of the Ola Waikīkī project, a transformative effort aimed at improving the health of the Ala Wai Canal by improving water quality, enhancing ecosystem resilience and engaging communities in sustainable solutions.

GSI is a collection of design strategies that mimic nature to manage and treat stormwater and encourages water to infiltrate into the ground, minimizing and slowing the flow of runoff and removing contaminants. It encompasses a variety of nature-based solutions designed to restore natural hydrological processes. They range from native rain gardens and tree planting to floating treatment wetlands, all of which help to filter pollutants, slow runoff and replenish groundwater.

"The pollution of the Ala Wai Canal and the watersheds that feed into it have long been an issue rising to more prominence with the increased frequency of storms, and highlighting the urgent need to develop immediate solutions and strategies for the sustainable long-term management of the watershed," said Hawai'i Sea Grant Director and Principal Investigator Darren T. Lerner. "The Ola Waikīkī effort and associated community-led projects incorporate community input and support real-world pilot projects that residents can see and experience. These projects provide an opportunity to demonstrate small-scale application of GSI that can eventually be scaled up into regional projects that support meaningful and impactful benefits to the environment and community."

Ola Waikīkī is funded by Congressionally directed spending led by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. The project team includes Lerner and co-investigators Melanie Lander, community planning and design extension agent, and Dolan Eversole, coastal processes specialist.

Community-driven projects making an impact

An expert panel convened by Hawai'i Sea Grant identified six community-led projects to demonstrate the power of local action in urban environmental restoration and stormwater management.

• Aliʻiolani Elementary School Cafeteria Rain Garden (Hawai'i Green Growth UN Local2030 Hub)-This project will install a rain garden designed to capture approximately 80,000 gallons of rainwater annually, serving as an educational tool for students and the broader Pālolo community.
• Increasing Urban Tree Canopy at Jarrett Middle School (The Outdoor Circle)-Shade trees will be planted to mitigate flooding impacts in Pālolo Valley, reduce stormwater runoff, and create an on-campus arboretum to educate students about native tree species and environmental sustainability.
• M&M (Maintaining & Monitoring) the Kaimukī Rain Garden (Trees for Honolulu's Future)-Enhancing an existing rain garden on 11th Avenue, this project will explore the effectiveness of various groundcover plants and engage volunteers in hands-on sustainability practices.
• Pālolo Hongwanji Sustainable Community Hub (Trees for Honolulu's Future)-A suite of green stormwater infrastructure solutions, including rain barrels and rain gardens, will be implemented to intercept and treat stormwater before it reaches Pālolo Stream and the Ala Wai Canal.
• Pu'uhonua: Distributed, Scalable Phytoremediation (Grow Good Hawai'i and 'Iolani School)-Floating wetlands featuring Native Hawaiian plants will be deployed in the Ala Wai Canal to improve water quality, enhance biodiversity and explore cost-effective ecological restoration methods.
• Restoring Roots at Puʻu o Kaimukī Mini Park (808 Cleanups)-Erosion control and native biodiversity restoration will be prioritized to reduce runoff, promote traditional ecological knowledge and engage volunteers in creating a more resilient urban ecosystem.

By leveraging community knowledge, hands-on participation, and strong partnerships, these initiatives are a first step toward long-term water quality improvement and urban resilience in Honolulu.

Visit the website for more information on these projects or to get involved.

The University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program is part of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's prestigious School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. It supports an innovative program of research, education, and extension services directed to increasing sustainability of coastal and marine resources and resilience of coastal communities of the state, region, and nation. Science serving Hawai'i and the Pacific since 1968.

For more information, visit: https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/news-and-events/in-the-news/