Building Resilient Waters
People • Pipes • Partnerships
Ke Kūkulu ‘ana I nā Wai Paʻa Mau: Nā kānaka, nā paipu a me nā hui like ‘ana
November 17-19, 2026 • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i
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Welcome to the 2026 HRWA Conference
Aloha and welcome! The Hawai'i Rural Water Association invites you to join us November 17-19, 2026 at the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel for three days of training, networking, and aloha.
This year's conference celebrates the three pillars of resilient rural water service - the People who run our systems, the Pipes that carry our water, and the Partnerships that sustain the work. Whether you operate a small system on a neighbor island, manage a county utility, or supply our industry, you belong here.
This Year's Theme: Building Resilient Waters
Hawai'i's rural water and wastewater systems are only as strong as the operators who run them, the infrastructure they steward, and the partnerships that hold the work together. The 2026 HRWA Training & Technical Conference celebrates these three pillars - People, Pipes, and Partnerships - and the resilience they create when woven together.
People
Operators, managers, board members, apprentices - and the next generation we are training to take the helm. The conference invests in the human capital that keeps our systems compliant and our communities served.
Pipes
Wells, mains, treatment plants, collection systems, meters, SCADA - the infrastructure that carries water to and from every Hawai'i household. Sessions cover asset management, modernization, and resilient design.
Partnerships
Inter-island mutual aid, county/state/federal collaboration, vendor relationships, and cultural partnerships rooted in aloha 'āina. We grow stronger when we grow together.
Who Should Attend
• Water and wastewater system operators (all certification levels)
• Utility managers, supervisors, and board members
• County, state, and federal regulatory staff
• Engineers, consultants, and contractors serving Hawai'i utilities
• Equipment, technology, and service vendors
• Students and apprentices considering a career in water
• Community members interested in their local water system
What to Expect
• Three days of technical training sessions, earning continuing education units (CEUs)
• Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Competition
• Great American Water Taste Test
• Equipment exhibit hall featuring industry partners and live demonstrations
• Pre-conference golf tournament on November 16, 2026 (location TBD), benefitting our apprenticeship program
• Welcome reception, networking events, and connections that last the year
Quick Facts
• Dates: November 17-19, 2026
• Location: Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, 75-5660 Palani Rd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
• Pre-conference golf: Monday, November 16, 2026 (location TBD)
• Vendor set-up: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
• Audience: water and wastewater professionals serving Hawai'i and the Western Pacific
• Continuing Education: CEUs available for water/wastewater operator certifications
