Aloha Mai Kakou,

As we welcome a new year, we also celebrate a remarkable milestone—AWWA Hawaii Section’s 50th anniversary! Since its founding in 1975, our section has remained steadfast in its mission: to safeguard public health and well-being by ensuring access to high-quality and abundant drinking water across Hawai‘i, Guam, American Samoa, and other Pacific communities. This is not just a celebration of time passed; it is a tribute to the vital resource of water and the dedicated professionals who serve it with unwavering aloha.

Although I was unable to join you at this year’s Pacific Water Conference, I extend my deepest gratitude to our incredible Conference Chairs, Darnelle Chung and Troy Ching, along with their dedicated committee. Their hard work and resilience ensured a phenomenal program, even as they navigated last-minute changes caused by the unexpected storm. I hope you found the conference enriching, filled with insightful presentations and thought-provoking discussions around this year’s theme, “Hawai‘i’s Water: Global Challenges, Local Solutions.” I trust you walked away with new perspectives and perhaps even a few “a-ha” moments.

A heartfelt congratulations to all contest winners and scholarship recipients! We also extend our deepest mahalo to our Silver Water Drop and Lifetime Member awardees for your unwavering commitment to the water industry. And a special congratulations to our Fuller Award recipient, Ken Kawahara—your leadership and dedication to mālama our wai continue to inspire us all.

As we commemorate 50 years of progress, let us also look ahead. What will the next 25 or 50 years hold for Hawai‘i’s water future? The conference theme serves as a guiding light—thinking globally while acting locally. Every day, water professionals like you confront the challenges of today while preparing for those of tomorrow. We cannot take water or water services for granted. Only through collective understanding, appreciation, and responsible stewardship of this precious resource can we ensure a future where safe and reliable water is available for generations to come.

On behalf of the AWWA-HI Section Board, I extend my heartfelt mahalo to each and every one of you. Your dedication, expertise, and passion create meaningful connections, foster invaluable knowledge, and renew our shared inspiration to advance our mission.

E Mālama I Ka Wai!

Juanita Reyher-Colon
Hawaii Section Chair