Mahalo to the Maui Condominium Council for featuring this article in their March newsletter!
To see photos of ocean-friendly practices at various properties in the Honokowai area, check out this post.
Is Your Condo Property a Good Reef Neighbor?
Learn more and join West Maui Kumuwai’s new recognition program!
Everything that ends up in the storm drains in and around our properties matters. But if we each do a little, we can all do a lot! Join the call to action and remember that all our behaviors as watershed dwellers collectively make a difference, whether it’s our contribution to pollution, or the steps we take to reduce that pollution. Everyday activities such as lawn care, irrigation, car and equipment washing, chemical storage, pool maintenance, and even our pets’ “bathroom habits” can have an impact on water quality, since Maui’s storm drains typically lead directly to the ocean.
In February, the West Maui Kumuwai Campaign hosted an Ocean-Friendly Landscaping workshop in Kapalua, with the goals of sharing the latest science about the health of Maui’s coral reefs, the results of ongoing water quality monitoring efforts, and ways that condo properties can get involved and join a locally-based “ocean friendly” movement. Nearly 30 community members, and representatives from West Maui properties (The Whaler, Honua Kai Resort & Spa, Montage Kapalua Bay, Kapalua Bay Vilas, Coconut Grove, Lanikeha) and businesses (SGS Hawaii, Mel’s Yard Service, Zero Emissions Landscape Maintenance, Ka’anapali Operations Association, and Bamboo Business) came together to share their expertise and learn from one another, supported by the West Maui Kumuwai campaign and its partner organizations and agencies.
Of the many threats facing reefs, land-based sources of pollution such as muddy runoff, nutrients (which can come from fertilizers, sewage, and other sources), and toxic substances are a top concern and have been responsible for much of the decline in the health of West Maui’s reefs over the years. Recent water quality data from the Department of Health drives this point home, as all coastal waters in West Maui have failed to meet the State’s water quality standards for at least one parameter. When also considering ongoing unsustainable fishing practices and the looming threats associated with global climate change, it’s clear that our local status quo is not sufficient, and we all have a role to play as stakeholders. In response, West Maui Kumuwai’s goal is to provide resources and support to help residents, properties, and business owners identify actions they can take to reduce excessive and polluted runoff, starting with simple things that can add up to meaningful results.
One way to help your property become more ocean-friendly is to ask if your landscaper is part of West Maui Kumuwai’s Ocean-Friendly Landscaper program, a free recognition program based on a checklist of sustainable practices. This program was developed in partnership with the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals (MALP) and open to properties island-wide. The checklist includes fertilizer, irrigation, and planting practices, with the goals of minimizing pollutants ending up in the water that ultimately run off into storm drains, and reducing the amount of water used in the first place. If fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are needed, alternatives can be chosen that are less harmful to the environment; these may be organic, non-synthetic, and slow-release, to help ensure that excessive nutrients and other components don’t end up washing off into the nearby drains. West Maui Kumuwai has also established a listing of Ocean-Preferred Products on its website to provide guidance on choosing yard care brands with the ocean in mind; these products are locally available at Ace Hardware in Lahaina, a partner in the campaign.
During the workshop, two herbicide products were suggested as potential alternatives to Round-Up and other brands that contain glyphosate, a compound that has recently been the focus of research from the University of Hawaii that found it can be harmful to native Hawaiian limu (algae, or seaweed), adding to the growing body of scientific knowledge around this issue. The alternative brands discussed are Avenger, now in use by the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, and Scythe, which was recommended by Duane Sparkman, Engineering and Landscape Manager at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa. According to Duane, “I have been using Scythe for the past year. We have completely stopped the use of glyphosate here. Scythe is an amino acid that takes off the waxy coating of the leaves, causing rapid die off. It is unselective, so it kills all it touches.” He advises landscapers to watch the wind and overspray, and not spray Scythe into waterways or ponds. An enthusiastic advocate of native plants and Low Impact Design (LID) as a Best Management Practice (BMP), Duane added: “We have been using native sedges (Makaloa, Carex and Blunt SpikeRush) around our ponds for filtration and the natural look.”
Other ocean-friendly tips were provided by Jacob Kane, owner of Zero Emission Landscape Maintenance (ZELM): “I’m a huge proponent for using wood chip/mulch in the landscape. I think bare dirt is terribly unattractive. The simplicity of wood chip/mulch is great, and the benefits that it adds are even better; soil moisture retention, weed suppression, slow release soil amendment, control of water run-off, and it’s inexpensive and attractive. Most tree companies will sell it cheap, or even give it away, such a great sustainable resource!” Jacob and others also noted the value of Seashore Paspalum as a turf grass due to its tolerance of salt; as a result, salt can be used to kill weeds, avoiding the need for other chemicals.
Swimming pools are another concern, and chlorinated water should never be disposed of via storm drains due to its potential to cause harm to the marine environment. Steps should be taken to dechlorinate the water, or dispose of it over a vegetated area. Discharge of dechlorinated water into a storm drain or sanitary sewer system is legal on Maui, however in the near future will require a permit as Maui’s laws associated with stormwater are slated to become more stringent, in line with those in place on Oahu. For those looking for more guidance, consider the certification available through the National Swimming Pool Foundation. According to one of its local trainers, Stacy Baqui, the training covers locally-relevant rules and regulations, including guidance for going “above and beyond” with the environment in mind. Baqui also noted that switching to a cartridge-based filter or an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system (as opposed to sand filters) will require less water and chemicals, so these alternatives will ultimately “pay for themselves.”
Another simple ocean friendly action revolves around vehicle washing. Taking your car to a commercial car wash uses less water, and due to the facilities’ connections to the sanitary sewer system, that water doesn’t end up in storm drains and reach coral reefs as it would if you were to wash it on your property. If you must wash your car at home, wash it on the grass and choose non-toxic and biodegradable soaps that do not contain phosphates. If the grass is not an option, consider getting a “filter sock” for your property to block the drain, or look into some alterations to redirect the water to a vegetated area. Finally, make sure all pet waste is scooped and deposited in the trash, since pet waste contains both nutrients and pathogens and should not be left to wash into storm drains.
For those who would like to become an officially recognized Ocean-Friendly property, please contact Campaign Manager Liz Foote at or .
