Walk for Wai, Walk for Our Future
Written by Malia Marquez, Red Hill Community Representation Initiative (CRI) Native Hawaiian Community Representative (guest author) | Reading Time: 2min
How did the “Walk for Wai” come to fruition?
Let's not forget the disaster the U.S Navy caused in November 2021, when their jet fuel leaked into O'ahu's main water aquifer, and contaminated the drinking water system for over 90,000 military and civilian residents across Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Aliamanu Military Reservation, and surrounding neighborhoods. And while they were attempting to “clean up” a horrific mess, a year later in December 2022, they spilled 1300 gallons of PFAS-based fire fighting foam concentrate from the Red Hill facility into our ‘āina?!? When do we say enough is enough?
On December 10, 2022, I, along with over one thousand O'ahu residents took part in a “Walk for Wai”. We met at Keʻehi lagoon and trekked over 3 miles to the Navy Facilities Command (NAVFAC) headquarters, in hopes of having our voices heard, our concerns addressed, and for the Navy to do the “pono” thing.
Here we are, 4 years later, and the Navy now announces they will move forward with the construction of a new water treatment facility at its Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, to reconnect the Red Hill Shaft to its drinking water system at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
This proposal is moving forward, even as experts and community members - including retired EPA scientists - have raised warnings about water quality monitoring and drinking water safety issues, and when the Navy admits it has no idea where the contamination in our aquifer is, or how it might move in the coming years and decades.
Are we supposed to believe everything is OK just because they announce they are moving forward? How are we supposed to trust ANY thing the Navy tells us when they have removed themselves from meeting with the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative(CRI), simply because the CRI asks questions they prefer not to answer? They do not want to be transparent in ANY of their plans or actions.
Therefore, another “Walk for Wai 2” was discussed. Originally it was set for March 2026, but with the crazy Kona Low storms, we had to push back the walk date back. On Saturday June 20, 2026 we walked from Magic Island, through Waikīkī, to Kapi'olani Park. Our numbers weren't as high as our original walk in 2022, BUT we spoke to tourists (and locals), explaining that this issue is NOT pau yet; that concerns about Navy transparency and our future water security are valid, and that the Navy's plan to move forward with the Red Hill drinking water shaft needs much more scrutiny.
Until the Navy does the “PONO” thing, communicating with residents and being transparent in their every move, we will continue to walk and educate people of the harm and toxicity they have brought to our islands.
It's time to say enough is enough and protect our ‘āina from the largest pollutant, the US Military. And if we need to walk again, we will.