Kona Science Cafe Welcomes Dr. Rick
Last September, Dr. Rick Bennett spoke to a virtual crowd about water quality in West Hawai'i and the microbial risks associated with ocean recreation. He explained how our government monitors water quality and the research Kona Coast Waterkeeper is conducting to identify sources of wastewater and nutrient pollution.
Our Waters Need our Help
Please help us further our mission for clean water on the Kona Coast. Your support enables us to meet our goals to improve the quality of our nearshore waters.
Why Did Bays Along the Kona Coast Turn Green in 2020?
Kona Coast Waterkeeper is working to investigate sources of nutrient pollution in Kailua Bay and along the Kona Coast.
We are already beginning to see the impacts of climate change. The dark green algal bloom pictured below took place in May 2020. Kailua Bay has experienced two additional algal blooms since then. In the summer of 2020, bays from Kawaihae to Keauhou bloomed as well. These blooms are likely an early indication of climate change impacts including record high tides that are eroding shorelines and sweeping new sources of phosphorus and nitrogen into our waters. In addition, summer storms washed land-based pollutants to the nearshore waters. This abundance of nutrients, met with warming waters, is causing algal blooms in West Hawai'i, along the West Coast of North America, and around the world.
Kailua Bay
Monitoring the Health of Our Bays
Searching for Wastewater Indicators
Sucralose
Optical Brighteners
Optical Brighteners
The artificial sweetener Sucralose (Splenda) is a very widely used sugar substitute. It is an ingredient in over 400 consumer products. As a chlorinated carbohydrate, it is not digestible and not metabolized by bacteria in the gut or environment. Sucralose survives a wide variety of wastewater treatment processes with very little and insignificant degradation from oxidation or UV irradiation.
Optical Brighteners
Optical Brighteners
Optical Brighteners
Optical Brighteners (OBs) are chemicals found in laundry detergent designed to “brighten” white clothes. Like Sucralose, OBs can be used to detect the presence of wastewater, specifically, greywater, in the ocean. Sites where both Sucralose and OBs are present in detectable concentrations strengthens the likelihood of possible wastewater leakage in the area.
Temperature
Solution-Oriented Monitoring
Solution-Oriented Monitoring
Using standard methods for water characteristics like temperature and salinity, much can be learned about nearshore and offshore waters. Low temperatures represent submarine groundwater discharge areas that are often rich with nutrients including fertilizers and wastewater.
Solution-Oriented Monitoring
Solution-Oriented Monitoring
Solution-Oriented Monitoring
Waterkeepers are working to identify areas where wastewater is entering the water so that we can work backwards to identify and address infrastructure issues such as cesspools, septic tanks, and leaking sewer pipes along the Kona Coast.
About Us
Kona Coast Waterkeeper is a member of Waterkeeper Alliance. Waterkeeper Alliance is a global movement to protect water resources, currently uniting more than 350 Waterkeeper Organizations and Affiliates in over 47 countries. Under the local leadership of Kona Coast Waterkeeper Dr. Rick Bennett, our collective mission is fishable, swimmable, drinkable and reusable waters. The organization is committed to finding solutions to reduce land-based pollutants and improve water quality.
Pilot Project to Improve Water Quality at Honokohau Harbor
We are in the early planning stages with community, business and government in an effort to bring the first native oyster restoration to Honokohau Harbor to help improve water quality. We can't wait!
Building Climate Resiliency: Restoring Trees to Bring the Rain
Kona Coast Waterkeeper is working with local watershed coordinators and private landowners to plant the native trees that will be critical to future rainfall in West Hawai'i.
Stop the Spread of Rapid 'Ōhi'a Death!
'Ōhi'a is the Foundation of the Forest
Hawai‘i’s rainforests have been heavily affected by Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). ROD is a fungal disease that is decimating populations of ʻŌhi‘a (Metrosideros polymorpha). ʻŌhi‘a is the foundational tree of the Hawaiian forest. It is so well adapted for Hawai‘i’s volcanic landscape that it can pull moisture from the air and transfer that water to the ground below to recharge the aquifer. On Hawaiʻi Island, hundreds of thousands of ʻŌhiʻa trees have already died across thousands of acres.
The Hawai’i Department of Agriculture has imposed a quarantine that prohibits movement of all ‘ōhi’a plants or plant parts, including flowers, leaves, seeds, stems, twigs, logs, and soil between islands except by permit.
Follow this process before entering and after leaving any new area. Always clean hands and tools between taking plant material from different trees. Wash vehicles before and after traveling off road, especially tires and undercarriage. It is critical to remove all soil. When possible, substitute other flowers for lehua in lei making. If you continue to gather, please pick only the first four inches of ‘ōhi‘a stem tips (includes flowers and liko).
ROD is expected to result in declines in aquifer recharge related to decreases in rainfall.
Take Action
Please keep these guidelines in mind:
Avoid areas confirmed to have Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death. Look for signage at trailheads. Always follow decontamination protocol: remove all soil from gear and shoes, then sanitize by spraying (saturate) using 70% rubbing alcohol.