DOH conditionally approves Navy Aiea Halawa Shaft reactivation

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Department of Health has conditionally approved the reactivation of a Navy water source serving Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

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The Navy’s Aiea Halawa Shaft would supplement the existing Waiawa Shaft, which currently serves as the primary source for a system used by nearly 93,000 people.

Health officials said the additional source is intended to improve the reliability and resilience of the Navy’s water system.

Before the shaft can be reactivated, the Navy must meet several conditions, including strict treatment and monitoring requirements. Those include granular activated carbon treatment, ion exchange treatment, disinfection systems, and ongoing water testing.

The DOH said testing for more than 50 contaminants, including PFAS and total petroleum hydrocarbons, did not detect levels above regulatory standards.

The Navy was also required to demonstrate that its treatment systems could effectively remove PFAS after the chemicals were detected at the shaft in June 2024.

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The Aiea Halawa Shaft is about two miles from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and is separate from both the Navy’s Red Hill Shaft and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply’s Halawa Shaft.

State health officials said the expected low rate of use, combined with geological conditions in the area, makes it unlikely that reactivation will affect contamination around Red Hill.

The Navy must notify customers and the state at least 10 days before reactivating the shaft.

The DOH warned it can suspend or revoke the approval if requirements are not met or if a threat to public health is identified.

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