Ola i ka wai.
This familiar Hawaiian phrase, which means “water is life,” has long served as a gentle reminder to protect and conserve fresh water sources in our islands. Water is essential to our well-being and our lives are impacted when we do not have access to fresh water.
Recently, ola i ka wai has become a rallying cry — an urgent plea to pay attention to the warning signs across our islands.
According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and National Drought Mitigation Center, about 70% of Hawaii is now experiencing different degrees of drought because of ongoing, below-average rainfall. Our state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, which not only increases our risk of wildfires but also threatens our potable water supply.
On Oahu, prudent use of water has always been a priority, but our current weather conditions have pushed water conservation to the top of the list of concerns. The concept of “one water” is simple: fresh, clean drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and other labels that we have for water are just that — labels.
All the different types of water are one interconnected resource, not separated by artificially defined systems. By looking at the entire water cycle more expansively with a systems mindset, we can effectively develop solutions for improved sustainability, resilience and water security.
These concepts may be easy to understand, but when it comes to implementing a one-water program, the devil is in the details. Translating this knowledge and putting it into practical use can be challenging. To lead the way, city officials have begun to explore a more holistic, integrated approach to managing water that transcends our department silos, and we are joining together to educate the community about “one water” principles at an upcoming Imagine A Day Without Water event.
In other states, recycled wastewater is treated and used for drinking water. Hawaii is not there yet, but in compliance with strict Hawaii Department of Health regulations, we do use treated, disinfected recycled water for irrigation of certain types of agricultural crops, golf courses and industrial use. This helps with conservation of fresh, potable water.
Our state is also exploring ways to potentially recycle stormwater. With Hawaii’s unpredictable weather conditions that include days of heavy rains, we see valuable stormwater going into storm drains, which eventually head into the ocean where it can impact the marine environment. In the meantime, we will continue our efforts in watershed management, reducing invasive species and developing green infrastructure solutions so that more rain can be captured and re-used or allowed to seep into the ground to recharge our aquifers.
We cannot forget human impacts on our water supply. The necessary closure of the Board of Water Supply’s water pumps in Aiea and Halawa still affects urban Honolulu water users nearly four years later. In late 2021, we closed those pumps to prevent the jet fuel in the military’s water system from contaminating our municipal water system, and it is uncertain if they can ever be reopened.
One water and today’s technology open the door to new possibilities to make Hawaii more resilient and adaptable. It is especially critical as we experience the effects of climate impact, now and into the future. Just as we must see different types of water as one, we must begin to see ourselves — government agencies, private-sector companies, nonprofit organizations and everyone else — as one cohesive team working toward the same goal of improving water equity for all.
For more on the Imagine A Day Without Water event this Saturday, go online to boardofwatersupply.com/onewaterhawaii.
As seen in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser – Sunday, September 14, 2025
Ernie Lau is manager/chief engineer of the Board of Water Supply; Roger Babcock is director of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services; Gene Albano is director/chief engineer of Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance.
