Red Hill Revisited: A Call to Protect Hawaii’s Vital Water Resources

The serenity of Hawaii’s islands often masks the pressing environmental challenges that loom beneath its lush landscapes. In a recent episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, renowned for its insightful discussions with water sector leaders, Piers Clark, welcomed back Ernie Lau, the Chief Engineer and Managing Director at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. Six months ago, Ernie informed the audience about the Red Hill spill disaster, and now he returns to shed light on both the progress and ongoing challenges faced in Honolulu.

A Leader’s Legacy

Introducing Ernie Lau is synonymous with introducing a stalwart in public service with over 47 years dedicated to maintaining and protecting public utilities. As a civil engineer by training, his stewardship at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply speaks volumes about dedication in safeguarding Hawaii’s precious water resources against external threats.

Understanding the Red Hill Disaster

The conversation takes a deeper dive into the Red Hill fuel storage facility, which the US Navy built back in World War II. With mammoth tanks towering 250 feet and a capacity of 12.5 million gallons each, these tanks hover perilously close to Hawaii’s sole source drinking water aquifer, about 100 feet above it. The facility, shrouded in secrecy until 1995, has continually threatened the island’s water supply, as illustrated by two significant spills. The 2021 spill exposed families to contaminated water, a situation echoing the Flint, Michigan water crisis.

A Path to Rectification

In response to this disastrous situation, the Navy took the dramatic step of defueling the facility, removing 114 million gallons of fuel. However, as Ernie recounts, the true challenge lies ahead in locating and cleaning up any past spills throughout the facility’s 80-year history. There’s an alarming possibility of up to 2 million gallons of fuel remaining undisclosed, with more information likely concealed in undetected records.

The AFFF Incident: A Twist in the Crisis

The Red Hill disaster took another twist in November 2022, when Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) containing PFAS was spilled at the site. This “forever chemical” has since been flagged in multiple places around the facility, adding another layer of complexity to the environmental remediation efforts already underway.

Economic and Cultural Implications

The financial burden of addressing these infractions is immense and equitably borne by US taxpayers, hovering around an estimated $2 billion. The deeper, often less noted impact, is on the cultural heritage of Hawaii. Freshwater, or “wai” in Hawaiian, equates to wealth and abundance, essential to the Kānaka Maoli, the Native Hawaiian people, linking the issue intimately to the state’s ethos.

Epilogue: Preparations for Tomorrow

As guardians of Hawaii’s aquifers, the efforts of Ernie Lau and other diligent officers serve as stark reminders to learn from history and remain vigilant. The advice to future generations centers around enduring lessons from the Red Hill saga and the urgency of protecting water like the invaluable resource it is. The Exec Exchange series ends on a poignant note, encouraging listeners and future custodians of the Earth to maintain courage and perseverance in protecting vital resources that transcend generations. As Piers concludes, the stewardship of Hawaii’s precious water resources anchors on transparency, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding public trust resources.

Conclusion

Hawaii sits as an idyllic paradise watched by many around the globe, yet faced with its share of environmental challenges. The Red Hill narrative underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in safeguarding the natural resources that define the islands’ cultural and ecological identity. Protecting these invaluable assets is not just a matter of modern policy but a timeless commitment handed down through generations.