There are fifteen HWEA committees in which you may participate and contribute your time in helping to preserve and enhance the local water environment. If you are interested in joining a specialty committee, please contact the respective chair or vice-chairperson listed below or any one of the HWEA officers.
The Biosolids/Co-Generation Committee was established in 2006 and its focus is on the beneficial reuse of biosolids and the potential for renewable energy associated with digester gas applications. The committee also helps to host a biosolids conference every other year to provide an avenue for exchange of current information in the field.
Melissa Carmichael
| Biosolids/Co-Generation Co-Chair Brown and Caldwell E-mail: biosolids@hwea.org |
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Vacant
| Contact president@hwea.org if you are interested in joining! |  |
The Board Advisory/Constitution & Bylaws Committee considers and recommends language for changes in the Constitution and Bylaws in accordance with proposals referred to it by the members of HWEA or by the Board of Directors. The committee continually reviews the Constitution and Bylaws for consistency and clarity, and recommends any language changes to correct flaws. The committee is also responsible for coordinating with WEF on the approval of any Constitution and Bylaws amendment.
Stacy Taniguchi
| Board Advisory/Constitution & Bylaws Co-Chair E-mail: constitution-bylaws@hwea.org |
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Shannon Holman
| Board Advisory/Constitution & Bylaws Co-Chair E-mail:constitution-bylaws@hwea.org |
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The Collection Systems Committee was established in 1999. The mission statement of the committee is to protect public health and the environment by promoting the safe and efficient collection and transport of wastewater. The committee provides a forum to review, discuss, and address local and national issues involving wastewater collections systems, including technological advancements, and regulatory policies. The committee also helps to host a collection systems conference every other year to provide an avenue for exchange of current information in the field.
Vacant
| Contact president@hwea.org if you are interested in joining! | |
The Communications Committee is responsible for the maintenance of the organization’s website and for the development, production, and dissemination of the HWEA Newsletter called the Lua Line. This newsletter is intended to inform members of the activities of HWEA both locally and nationally. Three issues of the newsletter are normally published each year: Spring, Summer, and Winter. In addition, the committee is also responsible for the distribution of HWEA emails.
Jessica Agsalda
| Communications Committee Co-Chair The Limtiaco Consulting Group |
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Audrey Haerle
| Communications Committee Co-Chair The Limtiaco Consulting Group |
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The Government Affairs Committee, formally known as the Environmental Affairs Committee, reviews and analyzes existing and proposed legislation, regulations and policies in the environmental field with specific emphasis on water quality and water resources-related issues. The committee serves as a source of information for government officials and other policy makers, and carries out programs to stimulate discussion and educate members about government affairs issues.
Vacant
| Contact president@hwea.org if you are interested in joining! | |
The Laboratory Committee was formed in 1997. The primary focus of this committee is to initiate and promote the development of programs and services for environmental laboratory personnel. The Laboratory Committee assists in the selection of a member for the annual Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award and helps with judging of the Operations Challenge at the annual HWEA conference.
Cornelio Gagarin
| Laboratory Co-Chair City and County of Honolulu laboratory@hwea.org |
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The Membership Committee develops programs to promote membership in the association and develops programs to assist in providing services to its members. The committee is also responsible for maintaining the current mailing list and database for all active members. In addition, the Membership Committee Chair also serves on the Conference Committee to assist in verifying membership status of registrants.
Reid Ikemori
| Membership Chair City & County of Honolulu membership@hwea.org |
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The Conference Chairs are responsible for planning the annual Pacific Water Conference, held jointly with the American Water Works Association Hawaii Chapter (AWWA-Hawaii). The Conference Chairs leads the sub-committees which organize the technical program, exhibition, meeting arrangements, social events, donations, and other logistics.
Brandon Uejo
| 2021-2022 Conference Co-Chair Park Engineering pacficwatercon@gmail.com |
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Troy Ching
| 2022-2023 Conference Co-Chair HDR pacficwatercon@gmail.com |
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The Pretreatment/On-Site Treatment Committee was established in 1999. The purpose of the committee is provide technical information to assist in the understanding and operation of industrial pretreatment systems and provide the latest information on pretreatment program issues which would enhance the working relationship between private industry and the government’s ever-changing regulations. The committee is also responsible for providing the community with technical and general support for pretreatment compliance.
Jack Tano
| Pretreatment/On-Site Treatment Co-Chair City & County of Honolulu E-mail: pretreatment@hwea.org |
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Vacant
| Contact president@hwea.org if you are interested in joining! | |
The Public Education Committee develops, recommends, and assists in implementing public education programs designed to improve the public’s understanding of the water environment field. The committee was responsible for the production of an educational video which is presented to schools and other organizations who are interested in learning more about protecting the local water environment. In 2002, the committee also spearheaded an effort to generate public service announcements (PSAs) to educate the public about sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). Click here to see the latest report from the Public Education Committee on “World Water Day”!
Lori “Kaj” Morikami
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Public Education Co-Chair |
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Audrey Haerle
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Public Education Co-Chair |
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The Research Committee coordinates dissemination of research information by encouraging members to attend workshops and seminars, sponsoring research presentations, and informing members of research programs, publications and events. The committee promotes local involvement in research groups and encourages members to provide peer-review of research projects. The committee also solicits and evaluates suggestions from regional water quality specialists, and is responsible for developing financial support for research by assisting prospective WERF Subscriber organizations and coordinating financial support for WERF.
Roger Babcock, Jr.
| Research Chair City & County of Honolulu E-mail: research@hwea.org |
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The goal of the Safety Committee is to encourage safety awareness, promote safety training and investigate new safety equipment. The committee encourages improvements in professional safety through interaction with HWEA members
Mona Gallegos
| Safety Chair City & County of Honolulu E-mail: safety@hwea.org |
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The goal of the Stormwater Committee is to advance understanding of how the implementation of stormwater best management practices and policies contributes to the protection and restoration of water resources and increases community resiliency; to promote efficient, effective and balanced water resources compliance strategies; to define and promote stormwater management governance capacity.
Phil Potter
| Stormwater Co-Chair Kennedy/Jenks Consultants E-mail: stormwater@hwea.org |
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Jay Stone
| Stormwater Co-Chair BCH, A Bowers + Kubota Company E-mail: stormwater@hwea.org |
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The goal of the Student Affairs Committee is to encourage academic and social excellence, develop and manage a financial assistance program for HWEA members and their dependents in their quest for higher education and professional development. The committee is responsible for soliciting, screening, and distributing scholarship applicants to the Board of Directors for ranking. The committee also coordinates a poster session of graduate student projects at the annual HWEA conference.
Sara Lin
| Student Affairs Co-Chair Email: student-activities@hwea.org |
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Vacant
| Contact president@hwea.org if you are interested in joining! | |
The Water Reuse Committee develops, recommends, and conducts programs to promote a general understanding of water reuse for non-potable and potable uses. The committee works with the Hawai‘i State Department of Health in developing its reuse guidelines. The committee also helps to host a reuse conference every other year to provide an avenue for exchange of current information in the water reuse field.
Lorna Heller
| Water Reuse Co-Chair Honolulu Board of Water Supply E-mail: water-reuse@hwea.org |
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John Katahira
| Water Reuse Co-Chair The Limtiaco Consulting Group E-mail: water-reuse@hwea.org |
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The Young Professionals Committee was established in 2005. The objective of the committee is to promote younger member participation and involvement in HWEA activities. The target age is 35 years and younger. The committee is a joint committee with the American Water Works Association Hawai‘i Section Younger Professionals Committee.
Jeff Onaga
| Younger Member Co-Chair Jacobs E-mail: young-professionals@hwea.org |
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Camille Gozum
| Younger Member Co-Chair GHD E-mail: young-professionals@hwea.org |
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