Site 1 -- Introduction:
Our first stop was at a clearing near the mouth of Waiāhole Stream just a few hundred feet from the Poi Factory.

Although Waiāhole Stream now has enough water to support many of Hawai‘i's native stream species, this was not always the case.

In 1916, most of Waiāhole's water was diverted to leeward agricultural operations via the 3-mile Waiāhole ditch, leaving only a trickle for the residents and native stream species of Waiāhole. What was once a water-rich community had to make do with what was left, and the native stream species that had once been abundant dwindled.

In recent years (and after a lengthy and unresolved court battle), the State Water Commission has allowed half of the water to remain in the stream. The increased flow has kick-started efforts to help re-establish the native species that had all but dissappeared from the stream. Faris described how the Makawai Stream Restoration Alliance has tried to help re-establish hihiwai (a native mollusk) in the stream by restocking with individuals from Moloka‘i.

Native Aquatic Organisms (more info)
Like the native shrimps (‘opae) and gobies (‘o‘opu), Hihiwai are "amphidromous", meaning that their larvae hatch in the stream and get washed out to the sea where they develop into juveniles within the plankton. Those that survive migrate back to a stream mouth and migrate up the stream where they live out their adult life.

Kaipo explained that most of Hawai‘i's native stream organisms are uniquely adapted to Hawai‘i's streams and flash flooding. The high waters associated with heavy rains can actually induce spawning of adult animals, perhaps to ensure that the larvae make it safely out to the sea. Introduced species are apparently much more likely to be washed away during rains than are the natives.

Site 2 -- Flooding Issues:
We headed up the highway to a location where Waikāne stream is prone to frequent flooding. One proposed solution to this flooding is to raise the highway, but Reppun is promoting a much cheaper solution - give the water a place to go!

Where the highway crosses the stream, the stream channel is clogged with hau. Reppun says that by simply cutting a path through this overgrown vegetation and maintaining it, the water will not back up and flood the highway during heavy rains.

Site 3 -- Confluence and Stream Awareness Survey:
The next stop was the confluence, where Waianu and Waiāhole stream come together. Some brave souls waded out into the stream, and measured the temperatures of the two different streams. Waiāhole had a slightly higher flow rate than Waianu, and this was reflected in a lower temperature! (~18° for Waiāhole vs. ~21° for Waianu). In addition to water volume, stream temperature is tied to how fast the water moves (faster=colder), how shaded the stream is (more shade=cooler) and even how murky the water is (murky water warms up faster than clear water).

KBAC's stream awareness survey ranked this site as the most pristine stream we have ever looked at. Please check out the data.