West Oʻahu community water quality monitoring program

Kuleana Coral Restoration proposes a free, community-based water quality monitoring and rapid response program serving coastal communities, organizations, and businesses from ʻEwa to Mākaha. West Oʻahu has a high concentration of industrial, military, wastewater, energy, and transportation infrastructure, creating potential risks to nearshore water quality and marine ecosystems. Current water quality testing and public reporting can be delayed, leaving residents, fishers, cultural practitioners, and ocean users unaware of potential contamination until after exposure may have occurred. With marine biologists and scientific expertise, Kuleana Coral Restoration is positioned to conduct comprehensive water quality assessments across multiple categories, including physical, chemical, and biological indicators, utilizing rapid field screening and specialized laboratory testing as needed. The initiative would provide accessible testing, timely preliminary results, ongoing monitoring near critical infrastructure, and transparent public reporting, so that Hawaiʻi can strengthen coastal stewardship, identify potential threats earlier, and better protect the health of communities and coral reef ecosystems.