Action Alert: Protect West Kauaʻi Waters from Pollutants
We need your help to protect the waters of West Kauaʻi! Take action by May 12th, 2025 to protect public health and the local environment from the discharge of excessive pollutants into the ocean. Urge the Department of Health to require stricter protections.
Please submit written testimony to the DOH Clean Water Branch by May 12th at 4:30pm and show up for the upcoming public hearing on May 12th to testify in person.
What is Happening?
The State of Hawaiʻi Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) & County of Kauaʻi (COK) are requesting a pollutant discharge permit (NPDES permit). For decades, the ADC and the County have discharged polluted water from the Mānā Plain Drainage Ditch System into the ocean from outfalls spanning the entire West Kauaʻi shoreline (from Kīkīaola Harbor to Barking Sands).
The 7 outfalls are: Kīkīaola Harbor Drain (operated by the County) and Cox Drain,
First Ditch, Second Ditch, Dry Ditch, Kawai‘ele Outfall/Kinikini Ditch, and Nohili
Drain (all operated by ADC)
The State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) will hold a public hearing in Kekaha, Kauaʻi regarding the proposed revised NPDES permit (Public Hearing Permit) for the ADC and the COK.
View the permit documents here:
Submit Public Comments:
The public comment period on the NPDES permit is open from Friday, April 11, 2025 – Monday, May 12, 2025. Comments are due by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025. Email your comments to the Department of Health, Clean Water Branch at: cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov
Public Hearing Information:
Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Kekaha Agriculture Association Building
7189-D Kaumualii Highway
Kekaha, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Why is it Important?
The outfalls can potentially endanger public health and the local environment because they are adjacent to recreational areas where residents fish, surf, dive, swim and engage in cultural gathering practices.
The Mānā ADC lands are home to the largest footprint of agrochemical fields in Hawaiʻi. Self-reporting from the chemical companies occupying the Mānā ADC lands has shown the most frequent application of restricted use pesticides (RUPs) in all of Hawaiʻi, along with the greatest combination RUPs applied anywhere in Hawaiʻi.
All of the RUPs reported used by agrochemical tenants (2019-2021) on the adjacent ADC ag lands are toxic to aquatic species.
Approximately half of the RUPs reported used by agrochemical tenants (2019-2021) on the adjacent ADC ag lands are ground water contaminants.
Genetically engineered seeds are coated with neonicotinoid (neonic) insecticides which are known to harm aquatic invertebrates (e.g. corals, sponges, sea urchins, starfish, crabs, lobsters, and a variety of mollusks like snails, clams, and octopuses). The plant/crop uptakes and expresses the pesticide, in essence the plant is the pesticide. Run-off from neonic infused plant matter can run-off into adjacent waterways. Most neonics are long lived and can persist in the environment for months to years after an application.
General use pesticides such as glyphosate-based herbicides, such as Round Up can also be toxic to aquatic species.
Pesticide run-off from agrochemical tenants combines with pollutants from the shrimp farm, livestock operations, the Kekaha landfill, the Waimea wastewater treatment plant, the military base (PMRF) and various industrial operations, including the gravel and asphalt plant before discharging into the ocean.
Studies show that the discharged waters contain pesticides, petroleum products, diesel, sediment, nutrients, and bacteria that are harmful to human health and the environment.
Impacts include harm to reef health, algae blooms, and public health. Massive fish kills have been reported in and around Kinikini ditch.
Take Action! Attend the Public Hearing & Submit Written Comments
Public Hearing Information:
Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Kekaha Agriculture Association Building
7189-D Kaumualii Highway
Kekaha, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Submit Public Comments:
Email your comments to the Department of Health, Clean Water Branch at: cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025
View the permit documents here:
Talking Points:
Include your name, address (city/state), and email address in your comments
Explain how you use the ocean waters from Kīkīaola Harbor to Barking Sands (e.g., for surfing, fishing, swimming) and how pollution from the ditches has affected your use and enjoyment of these waters.
Describe any pollution you have witnessed in the area
Urge DOH to require ADC and the County to minimize the amount of polluted water it discharges
Urge DOH to require ADC and the County to clean up the polluted ditch waters before discharging them into the ocean by constructing wetlands and applying UV filtration and erosion control measures
Urge DOH to require testing for harmful contaminants (such as pesticides, petroleum products, and vibrio bacteria) that have been confirmed to be present in the discharged waters and are reported to be used in adjacent ADC fields.
Demand that DOH impose clear protocols to prevent further fish kills at Kinikini Ditch.
Mahalo for taking action!
The HAPA Team
