Gov. David Ige, College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka, Director of Marketing and Outreach Relations Kim Perez Hults and College of Engineering students
How to help the community effectively manage stormwater runoff was the focus of a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Engineering student-powered project in spring 2021. The Community Innovation Mentorship Program (
UH students from two engineering disciplines and a team of five Waipahu High School students with industry mentors to design a real-world solution to this growing challenge.
Stormwater runoff is precipitation that does not get absorbed by the ground and flows into sewers and streams, eventually leading to the ocean. The water is untreated and has collected pesticides, dirt, debris and physical and chemical pollutants. Most of this water flows from developed areas, such as buildings and pavements. Hawaiʻi’s growing population has made stormwater runoff a pressing issue in our state.