Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced settlement agreements and a closure order involving the owners of Large Capacity Cesspools on Maui and Hawai‘i Island, citing potential water contamination risks.
Mani Makai Reserve (DE) LLC, Walter A. Taylor Associates, Inc., Konohiki Corp., Joshua A. Stone Trust, and Amy M. Stone Trust have agreed to close their illegal cesspools in Maui under these settlements. Additionally, EPA issued a closure order to Retreat Village at Kalani Kai, LLC on Hawai‘i Island.
“EPA will continue to uphold the law and protect the environment by taking enforcement action against operators of illegal Large Capacity Cesspools,” said Martha Guzman, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator. “Every cesspool closed represents cleaner groundwater, surface water and beaches for Hawai‘i.”
The identified cesspools are:
- **Mani Makai Reserve (DE) LLC**, Hana, Maui: One cesspool serving two restrooms in the Hasegawa General Store building. The owner and operator have agreed to pay a $50,000 penalty and close the cesspool by December 2024.
- **Walter A. Taylor Associates, Inc.**, Kula, Maui: One cesspool serving the Kula Hardware & Nursery store and gas station. The owner has agreed to pay a $90,000 penalty and close the cesspool by July 31, 2025.
- **Konohiki Corp.**, Makawao, Maui: One cesspool serving a restroom at the HPM Building Supply building owned by Konohiki Corp. The company has agreed to close the cesspool by May 1, 2025, convert it into a septic system, and pay a $44,000 penalty.
- **Joshua A. Stone Trust and Amy M. Stone Trust**, Makawao, Maui: One cesspool serving two restrooms in a building leased to a yoga studio. The owners have agreed to pay a penalty of $50,137 and close the cesspool by March 31, 2025.
- **Retreat Village at Kalani Kai LLC**, Pahoa, Hawai‘i Island: One cesspool serving a campground restroom on property leased to Kalani Honua Inc. for use as a retreat center. They are required to close the cesspool by July 2025.
Cesspools collect untreated raw sewage that can contaminate groundwater with disease-causing pathogens and harmful chemicals.
Since the federal ban in 2005 on non-residential Large Capacity Cesspools capable of serving 20 or more persons per day was implemented, over 3,862 such systems have been closed in Hawai‘i; however hundreds remain operational.
For further details on reporting possible violations of environmental laws visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.
