Reduce the Upfront Cost of Cesspool Conversions

Hawaiʻi has the highest number of cesspools per capita in the nation with roughly 83,000 cesspools releasing 52 million gallons of untreated sewage into the environment every day.

Hawaiʻi has done a good job identifying the problem. We know cesspools are one of the main sources of wastewater pollution in Hawaiʻi. This contamination threatens public health, degrades water quality, fuels harmful algal blooms that damages coral reefs- ecosystems that protect our shorelines, sustain fisheries, and support recreation and local economies. The risk is only increasing as climate change impacts including sea level rise and storm associated flooding inundate coastal cesspools carrying sewage freely to nearshore waters.

Recognizing the problem, in 2017 the State of Hawaiʻi established Act 125 which creates a statewide mandate requiring conversion of all cesspools by 2050. While this sets the vision, it remains aspirational as the state is slow and ill-equipped to meet this massive undertaking.

At the current pace, we're nowhere near where we need to be. We need to be converting more than 3,000 cesspools per year to meet the deadline, but we're converting only a small fraction of that.

There are significant barriers that are slowing progress. One of the biggest challenges is affordability. The upfront cost of conversion in the range of $20K-$75K, places compliance with the statewide mandate out of reach for many households. While there are efforts underway to explore more affordable alternative solutions, there are certain triggers in administrative rules that mandate cesspool conversion.

While more affordable alternatives may not be available yet, a revolving low interest or forgivable loan fund to reduce the upfront cost barrier can help homeowners make the needed transition. House Bill 1618, just does that. HB1618, was signed to law (Act 204) on July 8, 2026 by Governor Green. Act 204 directs the Hawaiʻi green infrastructure authority to establish a cesspool conversion financing program to provide low-interest or forgivable loans for eligible households to upgrade cesspools to approve wastewater systems or connect to existing sewage systems.

The plan is currently being developed and will be operational in the summer of 2027.

This measure was one of Surfrider Foundations priority clean water bills in the 2026 legislature. We are grateful for the leadership and diligence of our partners at Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations for leading the charge at the capitol as well as the State legislators who championed this measure. We are one step closer to narrowing the gap and making the 2050 aspirational goal, something achievable.