There's still time to contribute to the governmental Ala Wai flood risk study, how do you feel about their current solutions?
" Above ground, these same upland rains, originating in the waters of Kāne at the summits of Kōnāhuanui above Mānoa and Awaawaloa above Pālolo, once coursed through the majestic Pi‘inaio Stream, the lifeblood of Waikīkī "
From the 16th - 19th century Hawaiians tended to taro fields and fishponds within the Waikiki ahupua'a. However, once foreign disease struck the shores of O'ahu many locals died leaving Asian settlers to cultivate much of the land with rice and duck farms. At one point Waikiki was the 3rd largest rice producing region on Hawaii. The Waikiki farms were productive and effective but drainage problems began to arise as urbanization in the area took off. Then in 1906, Waikiki was officially announced unsanitary by Lucius E Pinkham, "Reclamation of the Waikiki District."
This proposal by Pinkham, a governor at the time, stated the purpose for making the Ala Wai Canal was for flood and mosquito control (epidemic fear). Building the canal would allow for them to drain the wetlands of Waikiki. Framing it as a safety concern, Pinkham also mentioned how this could attract visitors with beautiful beaches and canal. These health claims of exterminating mosquitoes were prioritized over the value of the crops being crown in the wetlands of Waikiki.
Then with a chain reaction of power dynamics Pinkham recruited Dillingham (who led the dredging), Governer Grear, and William Owen Smith to push the construction of the canal and reclamation of Waikiki. This project displaced many native Hawaiians and local farmers that worked and lived in Waikiki. This push for Waikiki's reclamation and the Ala Wai Canal was sadly led by American pressure and cultural repression.
The production for the Ala Wai Canal stopped in 1928, it was left incomplete. Originally the plan contained that the canal had two exits into the ocean, however only one was finished at Ala Wai Harbor. Which drastically aided in the creation of environmental and safety issues the canal faces today.
The Ala Wai Canal is surrounded by a mixed bag of places: residential, business, educational, and recreational. Commonly people are around the canal for recreational reasons such as gardening, fishing, canoeing, walking, the dog park, golfing or even yacht clubs in the harbor. Many people know of its intense pollution and generally steer clear of swimming, but there may be some students investigating or cleanup crews running around.