Honolulu City Council earns praise of Sierra Club

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Wayne Tanaka, Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, expressed strong approval after the Honolulu City Council passed Resolution 24-216 on Sept. 4.

This resolution urges the U.S. Navy and other federal agencies to test water regularly for contaminants from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

Tanaka thanked the City Council for their action, which he believes is crucial for protecting Oʻahu’s drinking water.

“We’re very grateful to the City Council for taking this important step,” Tanaka said. “This resolution will help track and manage the contamination from the Red Hill facility, which has leaked a huge amount of fuel and chemicals since World War II.”

The Red Hill facility has released between 200,000 to 2 million gallons of hazardous materials, posing a long-term risk to the island’s water supply.

The resolution calls for weekly testing of both monitoring wells and drinking water to ensure safety.

Tanaka also praised community members who supported the resolution, including representatives from the Board of Water Supply and the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative.

He highlighted the efforts of key figures such as Board of Water Supply Chair Nāʻālehu Anthony and Chief Engineer Ernie Lau, as well as CRI members like Marti Townsend and Healani Sonoda-Pale.

Tanaka urged Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation, the Governor, and the Department of Health to follow the City Council’s lead and push for stronger actions to hold the Navy accountable and protect Oʻahu’s water resources.