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One Water Honolulu for a Climate Ready O’ahu

One Water is a systems-thinking approach to managing all water—whether it’s rain, stormwater, drinking water, or wastewater—as a single resource. For Honolulu, this means integrated planning, smarter infrastructure, and environmental stewardship.

Inspired by the Ahupua'a Model

The values of One Water Honolulu are rooted in ahupua’a, a traditional Hawaiian land management system where people and natural resources are interconnected from mountain to sea.

For an island community, water is at the center of our way of life. Like ahupua’a, One Water connects communities and natural resources from mauka to makai (mountain to ocean) to protect nature and collaboratively implement actions to address risk and promote healing and sustainability.

Benefits of One Water Honolulu

  • Encourages mutual goals for implementing climate adaptation actions synergistically.

  • Facilitates collaborative partnerships that engage communities and coordinate actions.

  • Leverages funds for multi-benefit projects through multiple partnerships.

  • Provides cooperative internal/external funding opportunities.

  • Coordinates project development across agencies, landowners, developers, and communities.

  • Fosters prioritized actions among key decision makers.

  • Promotes efficient use of water through conservation, replenishment, and reuse.

  • Addresses challenges of sea level rise, drought, extreme heat, storms, and extreme precipitation through adaptation pathways. 

  • Strengthens infrastructure resilience for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater.

  • Identifies specific geographic areas for climate change adaptation initiatives.

Who We Are

One Water Honolulu is led by the One Water Panel – a collaborative effort, established through City Ordinance, among eight City and County of Honolulu departments to prepare water resources and infrastructure for climate change.

One Water Honolulu Recognized by US Water Alliance

One Water Beyond Our Shores

One Water Honolulu is part of a growing number of communities adopting the One Water approach to solve pressing water and infrastructure challenges. According to the US Water Alliance, Honolulu is one of more than 80 communities that are developing or have created One Water Plans.

Learn how other cities are adopting One Water