Hawaii’s 88,000 cesspools are one of the biggest threats to water quality across the state, discharging 53 mgd sewage into coastal waters. In recent years, Surfrider has played a key role in successfully urging the state government to finally move away from relying on these antiquated and ineffective systems for managing household wastewater. A state-level Cesspool Task Force has been established to develop a workable plan for getting all Hawaii residents off of cesspools by 2050, under Act 125 (2017). This includes identifying priority areas for conversion and recommendations for new treatment options. While this work is ongoing, Surfrider has been supporting new legislation every year to further the state’s progress towards meeting the 2050 goal.

Hawai‘i can save cesspool owners and governments money by adopting cost-effective wastewater solutions without compromising water quality. Solving Hawaiʻi’s wastewater problem will require innovation. This bill establishes a technical advisory group to assist the Department of Health in a review of the Department's administrative rules and practices regarding wastewater systems and cesspools and in the development of proposed changes to make cesspool conversions more affordable. 

Bill Status:

• Passed House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection (1/29)

• Passed House Committee on Finance with amendments (3/2)
  
  
• Passed Senate Committees AEN/HHS with amendments (3/23)

Healthy reefs function as critical natural infrastructure - improving water quality, supporting biodiversity, sustaining cultural and subsistence practices, and reducing coastal erosion and storm impacts. Herbivorous reef fish play a key role in maintaining reef health and resilience. The commercial aquarium trade directly undermines these ecosystem functions by removing essential reef species for ornamental use.

Decades of extraction have reduced reef fish populations and degraded reef ecosystem health that Hawaiʻi communities rely on. This is a public trust issue - Hawaiʻi’s reef ecosystems must be managed for the benefit of present and future generations, not depleted for private commercial gain. This is especially critical as reef ecosystems face increasing stress from climate change and land-based pollution.

HB2101 represents an important step toward protecting reef health, water quality, and long-term coastal resilience. We support this measure and urge the Legislature to consider expanding these protections statewide.

Bill Status:

• Passed House EEP/WAL  with amendments (2/18)

• Passed House Committee on Finance (3/2)

• Passed Senate WLA/HWN with amendments (3/24)
• Passed Senate CPN/JDC (4/2)

This bill authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to temporarily close portions of Oʻahu’s Marine Life Conservation Districts and regulate commercial activity when necessary. By reducing concentrated human impacts, these measures support healthier and more resilient nearshore ecosystems.

Bill Status

• Passed Senate Committee on Water and Land with amendments (2/18)

• Passed Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection unamended (3/4) 

Surfrider O'ahu Chapter along with Save Ala Wai Surf Parking organized community members to oppose and block this effort and SB 364 was deferred on February 3rd, 2025 in the Committee on Water and Land. Companion HB 210 was never scheduled a hearing.

LINK TO CAMPAIGN VICTORY PAGE

SB 534 and HB 605 are part of an Office of Hawaiian Affairs proposal for Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority to approve residential development in the Kakaʻako Makai area. If approved, it would allow other parcel owners to build similar 400 foot towers along Ala Moana Blvd. In 2006, lawmakers banned residential development on lands makai of Ala Moana Boulevard. This bill would lift that restriction. 

This area has complex environmental concerns- history as garbage incinerator and dump site, labeled a “contaminated brownfield” by EPA. Disruption from construction of such areas, especially for structural supports for 400ft towers, will likely result in seepage of these contaminants into surrounding recreational waters (e.g. Kewalo Basin, Ala Moana Beach Park, Sand Island, etc.) and impact marine life (consumable) and protected species (e.g. green sea turtles, monk seals, dolphins, etc.) that frequent the coastal area. 

Current Status:

• DEFFERED on 2/28 in Senate Ways and Means and Judiciary Committees.
  
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Although Waste-to-Energy Facilities are framed as a step toward a 100% renewable energy future, the reality of these facilities is that they’re harmful to the environment and threaten the cleanliness of our air and water. This bill proposes a public-private partnership that would help fund the construction of multiple trash incinerator facilities across our islands. These facilities produce harmful toxic ash as a byproduct of burning trash for energy, which risks the contamination of our groundwater and our oceans. 

Current Status:

• Was not scheduled final hearing in Senate and the bill has died.