The fourth-annual Good Neighbor Awards recognizes over 50 volunteer leaders and partners in the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services Storm Water Quality program for exceptional volunteer service for implementing neighborhood source control practices, a relatively new approach, to protect our waters.
The awards, presented Thursday, May 27, from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. on Kapolei Hale’s Grand Lawn, are given out each spring for education and outreach efforts in the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services Storm Water Quality Branch Adopt-A-Stream and Adopt-A-Block programs.
The ceremony includes native planting of a kou tree in collaboration with the City's Parks and Recreation Urban Forestry Division on the Kapolei Hale grounds and presentation of the Good Neighbor certificate of recognition by Environmental Services, Facility Maintenance, Customer Service and Parks and Recreation departments.
General volunteer efforts include:
The awards are presented for achievement of exemplary interaction, communication, and involvement with government agencies, and homeowners in adopted areas.
Several major projects from the past year include: The Kapakahi Adopt-A-Stream Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup, which drew more than 500 volunteers in April; Ewa Beach Adopt-A-Block/Adopt-A-Stream, which focuses on educating residents in the drainage areas with curb gutter systems to minimize non-point source pollution that impacts Ewa Drainage Channel; and the Waimanalo Adopt-A-Block’s outdoor demonstration area where erosion control blanket and matting were used to cover and hold the soil in place, along with native revegetation to help filter pollutants and debris in runoff, encourage water infiltration, and minimize soil erosion. Some of the native plants used were ahuawa wetland sedge (Cyperus javanicus) and pohinahina shrub-like groundcover (Vitex rotundifolia).
This year’s honorees also include the longest-running and newest volunteer groups within the City’s Storm Water Quality Program. Malama O Manoa has been participating in the city’s Adopt-A-Stream program for the past 14 years; while the Kaimuki Business and Professional Organization started an Adopt-A-Block program earlier this month.
| American Society of Civil Engineers, Hawai Section, Younger Member Forum |
Earth Month Mauka to Makai Partner |
| Banyan Apartments |
Palama Adopt-A-Block, Kanoa |
| Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, Hale Pono Clubhouse |
Ewa Beach Adopt-A-Block |
| Cal Chong, Painter's Warehouse |
Palama Adopt-A-Block |
| Campbell High School |
Ewa Beach Adopt-A-Block |
| Carlos Long Community Association |
Palolo Adopt-A-Block |
| Castle High School |
Kawa Adopt-A-Stream |
| Chaminade University |
Palolo Adopt-A-Stream |
| Church of Jesus Christ of the Later Day Saints |
Makakilo-Kapolei-Ewa Storm Drain Stenciling |
| Ewa Beach Lions Club |
Ewa Beach Adopt-A-Block |
| Ewa Beach Weed and Seed |
Ewa Beach Adopt-A-Stream |
| GeoTech Solutions |
Earth Month Mauka to Makai Partner |
| Hawaii Water Environment Association, Public Education Committee |
Makiki Adopt-A-Stream |
| HonBlue |
Palama Adopt-A-Block, Iwilei |
| Honolulu Community College |
Palama Adopt-A-Block |
| HPD District 3 Community Policing Team |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| HPD District 4 Community Policing |
Kahawai Adopt-A-Stream |
| HPD District 8 Community Policing Team |
Ulehawa-Mailiili-Kaupuni Adopt-A-Stream |
| Huakailani School for Girls |
Kailua Adopt-A-Block |
| Hui Ku Maoli Ola, A Native Plant Nursery |
Earth Month Mauka to Makai Partner |
| Hui Malama I Ke Kai Foundation |
Kahawai Adopt-A-Stream |
| Imua Athletics |
Kawa Adopt-A-Stream (Kaneohe) |
| Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Kaala View Baptist Church |
Maili Adopt-A-Block |
| Kaimuki Business and Professional Association (KBPA) |
Kaimuki Adopt-A-Block |
| Kalakaua Homes |
Makiki Adopt-A-Stream |
| Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board #15 |
Palama Adopt-A-Block, Banyan |
| Kamehameha Middle School |
Kalihi Adopt-A-Stream/Adopt-A-Block |
| Kaumakapili Church |
Palama Adopt-A-Block, Banyan |
| Kevin Mulkern Landscaping |
Wailupe Adopt-A-Stream |
| Kula Kaiapuni 'O Anuenue |
Palolo Adopt-A-Block |
| Lex Brodie's Tire Company |
Earth Month Mauka to Makai Partner |
| Malama Maunalua |
Wailupe Adopt-A-Stream |
| Malama O Manoa |
Manoa Adopt-A-Stream, Woodlawn-Kahaloa |
| Mayor Wright Tenant Association |
Palama Adopt-A-Block, Pua Lane |
| McDonalds Nanakuli and Waianae |
Ulehawa-Mailiili-Kaupuni Adopt-A-Stream |
| Moanalua High School |
Salt Lake Adopt-A-Stream |
| Moi Release Team |
Earth Month Mauka to Makai Partner |
| Nani O Waianae |
Ulehawa-Mailiili-Kaupuni Adopt-A-Stream |
| Niu Valley Middle School |
Wailupe Adopt-A-Stream |
| Office of Council Member Ann Kobayashi |
Moiliili Adopt-A-Block |
| Office of Council Member Gary Okino |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Office of Council Member Ikaika Anderson |
Waikapoki Adopt-A-Block |
| Office of Council Member Nestor Garcia |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Office of Council Member Romy Cachola |
Palama Adopt-A-Block, Pua Lane |
| Office of Council Member Todd Apo |
Ulehawa-Mailiili-Kaupuni Adopt-A-Stream |
| Office of Speaker Calvin Say |
Palolo Adopt-A-Block |
| Office of Representative Mark Takai |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Office of Representative Karen Awana |
Ulehawa-Mailiili-Kaupuni Adopt-A-Stream |
| Office of Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Office of Representative Blake Oshiro |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Office of Representative Kymberly Pine |
Ewa Beach Adopt-A-Stream |
| Office of Representative Karl Rhoads |
Palama Adopt-A-Block |
| Office of Representative Scott Saiki |
Moiliili Adopt-A-Block |
| Office of Representaive K. Mark Takai |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Office of Senator Will Espero |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Office of Senator Clarence Nishihara |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Office of Senator Norman Sakamoto |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Office of Senator Brian Taniguchi |
Moiliili Adopt-A-Block |
| Office of Senator Jill Tokuda |
Waikapoki Adopt-A-Block |
| Palolo Chinese Home |
Palolo Adopt-A-Block |
| Palolo Lions |
Palolo Adopt-A-Block |
| Palolo Neighborhood Board |
Palolo Adopt-A-Block |
| Pearl City Lions |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Pride In Moiliili |
Moiliili Adopt-A-Block |
| Princess Victoria Kaiulani Elementary School |
Palama Adopt-A-Block |
| Punahou School |
Earth Month Mauka to Makai Partner |
| Residents of Akepo Lane |
Palama Adopt-A-Block, Akepo Lane |
| Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset |
Pearl Harbor Bike Path Cleanup |
| Save Our Surf And Seal |
Ewa Beach Adopt-A-Stream |
| St. Andrew's Priory School |
Downtown Honolulu Adopt-A-Block |
| Tamashiro Market |
Palama Adopt-A-Block |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa Environmental Law Society |
Manoa Adopt-A-Stream, Manoa-Palolo |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa, Waikiki Aquarium |
Earth Month Mauka to Makai Partner |
| US Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu Engineer District, Civil Works Technical Branch |
Makiki Adopt-A-Stream |
| US Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu Engineer District, Pacific Regional Visitor Center |
Makiki Adopt-A-Stream |
| US Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration |
Salt Lake Adopt-A-Stream |
| USMC |
Waikapoki Adopt-A-Block |
| Waianae Boys and Girls Club |
Kaupuni Adopt-A-Stream at Kaneaki |
| Waianae Intermediate School |
Kaupuni Adopt-A-Stream at Plantation Road |
| Waipahu High School |
Kapakahi Adopt-A-Stream |
| Weinberg Village |
Kahawai Adopt-A-Stream |
| City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Service |
Adopt-A-Stream/Adopt-A-Block |
| City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services GIS Section |
Adopt-A-Stream/Adopt-A-Block |
| City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services Refuse Division, Bulky Item Program |
Adopt-A-Stream/Adopt-A-Block |
| City and County of Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance Road Maintenance Division |
Adopt-A-Stream/Adopt-A-Block |
| City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, Nanakuli Beach Park |
Nanakuli-Maili-Waianae Adopt-A-Stream |
| DOH-Clean Water Branch |
World Water Monitoring Day |
| DOH-Wastewater Branch |
World Water Monitoring Day |
| HWEA Public Education Committee DOH-Clean Water Branch |
World Water Monitoring Day |
| HWEA Public Education Committee DOH-Wastewater Branch |
World Water Monitoring Day |
| HWEA Public Education Committee Kennedy Jenks Consultants |
World Water Monitoring Day |
Adopt-A-Stream and Adopt-A-Block programs, sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services Storm Water Quality Branch, is intended to motivate business and homeowner stakeholders into action, educate them about non-point source pollution and invite them to play a direct role to protect our waters … for life (e malama I ka wai ola). Adoptees are introduced to Adopt-A-Stream and Adopt-A-Block neighborhood source control stewardship practices by adopting simple, easy and low-cost alternatives to polluting behaviors in their neighborhoods (e.g. neighborhood cleanup, storm drain stenciling, mulching, driveway and gutter sweeping, distributing educational materials, illicit discharge and bulky item hot spot followup). The program presents a framework for targeting pollution source control at the neighborhood level. And to remind the public that clean water stewardship starts with making the connection between their homes, storm drains and downstream waters.
Members of an Adopt-A-Stream team are stewards for a designated portion of a stream under the City’s jurisdiction, while the Adopt-A-Block program targets litter and illicit discharge into the City’s storm drain system. Current volunteers in the programs include school organizations, businesses, civic organizations, and scouts. Call 768-3248 or visit www.cleanwaterhonolulu.com for more information.
