{"id":213067,"date":"2025-04-02T08:00:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T18:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=213067"},"modified":"2025-04-01T14:52:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T00:52:07","slug":"grants-support-ala-wai-water-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/02\/grants-support-ala-wai-water-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"New grants support Ala Wai water quality improvements"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Stormwater runoff in the Waik\u012bk\u012b watershed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Six grants totaling $200,000 (between $10,000-$50,000 per award) for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI<\/abbr>) projects in the Ala Wai watershed were awarded by the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> Sea Grant College Program<\/a> (Hawaiʻi<\/span> Sea Grant). These projects are part of the Ola Waik\u012bk\u012b<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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Aerial view of Ala Wai Canal and Waik\u012bk\u012b (Photo credit: Roy Estorpe)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

GSI<\/abbr> 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.<\/p>\n

“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 Hawaiʻi<\/span> Sea Grant Director and Principal Investigator Darren T. Lerner. “The Ola Waik\u012bk\u012b 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<\/abbr> that can eventually be scaled up into regional projects that support meaningful and impactful benefits to the environment and community.”<\/p>\n

Ola Waik\u012bk\u012b is funded by Congressionally directed spending led by U.S. Sen<\/abbr>. Brian Schatz. The project team includes Lerner and co-investigators Melanie Lander, community planning and design extension agent, and Dolan Eversole, coastal processes specialist.<\/p>\n

Community-driven projects making an impact<\/h2>\n
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View of Waik\u012bk\u012b with Diamond Head in the distance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An expert panel convened by Hawaiʻi<\/span> Sea Grant identified six community-led projects to demonstrate the power of local action in urban environmental restoration and stormwater management.<\/p>\n