HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-26 HIEFC Presentation for Agenda Item V.1.Dana Okano, PhD, AICP
Director, Hawaiian Islands Environmental Finance Center
Hawaii County EMC
May 27, 2026
Hawaiian Islands
Environmental Finance
Center (HIEFC)
2
2
Hawai‘i Community Foundation
•Statewide community foundation established in
1916
•3,510 grants and contracts awarded for $136M
in 2025
•~90 staff on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i, and
Maui
3
Hawai‘i Fresh Water Initiative
Create 100mgd of additional, reliable fresh water
supply
3
4
4
2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
•$20+ billion for safe drinking water
•$15 billion in dedicated funding to replace lead pipes
•$12+ billion to ensure clean water for communities
•$1.8 billion to protect regional waters
•$135 million for additional water improvements
invests more than $50 billion through EPA’s water infrastructure programs
5
5
HIEFC Goals
Facilitate Funding for Water Infrastructure
•Identify organization/community water priorities, research funding opportunities, assist
organizations with grant applications.
Build a Sustainable Water Workforce
•Assess water workforce gaps, develop models for career pathways, assist with workforce
growth and professional development. Partnerships with UHERO, UH-WRRC, and USDN.
Encourage Innovation in Sustainability and Equity
•Promote projects that emphasize water conservation, recharge, and reuse. Ensure projects
encompass sustainability and resilience. Prioritize actionable plans for equity in
disadvantaged communities.
6
Water Technical Assistance
•Needs assessment and
recommendations
•Capacity building and training
•Project development and planning
•Application preparation and federal
registrations
•Grant management
7
Workforce Development
•Partner with USDN
•Assess water agency hiring
challenges
•Design fellowship program with
agencies
•Recruit fellows
•Provide training and support services
to fellows and agencies
8
UH Career Pathways
•Assessment of water agency needs
•Evaluation of UH pathways
•Development of training models
•Refinement of UH skills pathways
9
9
Awards to Date
Earmarks or Congressionally-Directed Spending
•FY 2023
•County of Hawaiʻi –Large Water Meter Replacement,
$80,000 (Schatz, Hirono)
•City & County of Honolulu –Green Stormwater
Infrastructure, $679,000 (Schatz, Hirono)
•County of Maui –Recycled Wastewater Distribution,
$600,000 (Schatz)
•FY 2024
•C&C of Honolulu ENV – Planning and Design for
water recycling at O‘ahu Regional Park, $800,000
(Schatz/Hirono)
•County of Hawai‘i – Watershed Restoration for
Aquifer Recharge, $1,000,000 (Schatz/Hirono)
•Commission on Water Resource Management – Deep
Monitoring Wells, Leak Detection, Derelict Wells,
$4,319,514 (Schatz/Hirono/Case/Tokuda)
Competitive Grants
•U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, WaterSMART: Title XVI
Congressionally Authorized Water Reclamation and
Reuse Projects –$1 million for County of Maui,
Lahaina
•U.S. Environmental Protection Agency –Hawaiʻi
Community Foundation, Fresh Water Initiative –$3.2
million over five years, Hawaiʻi Islands
Environmental Finance Center
•U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, WaterSMART:
Cooperative Watershed Management Program –
Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance - $300,000
•U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, WaterSMART: Water
Strategy Grant – ʻĀina Ho’okupu o Kīlauea - $400,000
•U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, WaterSMART: Title XVI
Congressionally Authorized Water Reclamation and
Reuse Projects –$15.6 million for County of Maui,
Lahaina
10
HIEFC Contact Info
Website: hawaiianislandsefc.org
Email: HIEFC@hcf-hawaii.org
10