Ala Wai Canal
Encyclopedia
The Ala Wai Canal is an artificial waterway in Honolulu, Hawaii
which serves as the northern boundary of the tourist district of Waikīkī. It was created in 1928 for the purpose of draining the rice paddies and swamps which would eventually become the tourist resort area of Waikiki
, and today also serves as a primary drainage corridor for the neighborhoods of central Honolulu.
The canal runs from just northwest of Kapahulu Avenue along the length of Waikīkī, then turns southwest to empty into the Pacific Ocean. Bridges cross the canal at McCully Street, Kalākaua Avenue, and Ala Moana Boulevard. Ala Wai Boulevard runs parallel to the canal in Waikiki.
, Palolo
, and Manoa
valleys to the sea. In the early 1900s, Lucius Pinkham, then President of the Territorial Board of Health, developed the idea of constructing a drainage canal to drain the wetlands, which he considered "unsanitary." Although the canal proposal was approved by the Board of Health, final approval did not occur until Pinkham became Governor of Hawaii.
Construction of the canal, by Walter F. Dillingham
's Hawaiian Dredging company, began in 1921 and was completed in 1928. When the city was permitting for new buildings in Waikiki they required builders to build above sea level. Dillingham then sold the dirt he had dredged to create the canal so they could build up the newly created land. The canal is still routinely dredged, most recently in 2003.
The creation of the canal shunted the flow of the streams directly into the ocean, which resulted in the creation of several square miles of new real estate. Among those who benefited from the development were people who though of modest means had obtained and maintained small rice and bean farms.
The reclamation of these lands were considered pivotal in the eventual development of Waikiki as a tourist center.
caught from the canal. Garbage and debris can be seen in certain parts of the canal. Despite the water quality issues, the canal remained a popular area for some forms of aquatic recreation, with canoe paddling teams practicing along the length of the canal.
In March 2006, heavy rains overwhelmed the sewers around the Ala Wai Canal, causing a pressurized sewage line to break. Days later, and after the spill was made public, Mayor Mufi Hannemann
decided to divert 48 million USgals (181,699.8 m³) of untreated sewage into the Ala Wai Canal in an attempt to avoid having the sewage back up into the hotels and residences. This sewage then tainted Waikiki and the nearby beaches, leading to closures of the beaches for health reasons. One person died from septic shock
after falling in to the Ala Wai Harbor
near the mouth of the canal, with his death being attributed by some to the higher levels of bacteria present after the flood.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
which serves as the northern boundary of the tourist district of Waikīkī. It was created in 1928 for the purpose of draining the rice paddies and swamps which would eventually become the tourist resort area of Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
, and today also serves as a primary drainage corridor for the neighborhoods of central Honolulu.
The canal runs from just northwest of Kapahulu Avenue along the length of Waikīkī, then turns southwest to empty into the Pacific Ocean. Bridges cross the canal at McCully Street, Kalākaua Avenue, and Ala Moana Boulevard. Ala Wai Boulevard runs parallel to the canal in Waikiki.
History
Before the canal existed, Waikiki consisted of wetlands which were fed by streams running from the MakikiMakiki
Makiki is an area of Honolulu, Hawaii located northeast of downtown Honolulu generally stretching east to west from Punahou Street to Pensacola Street and north to south from Round Top Drive/Makiki Heights Drive to Lunalilo Freeway. Punchbowl, an extinct tuff cone, and Tantalus, tower over the...
, Palolo
Palolo
Palolo may refer to:*Palolo, Hawaii, a valley and neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii*Palolo worm, a species of invertebrate that lives in tropical coral reefs...
, and Manoa
Manoa
thumb|240px|right|Vintage shot of University of Hawaii, Manoa240px|thumb|right|Vintage photo of Manoa ValleyMānoa is a valley and a residential neighborhood of Honolulu CDP of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States; the community is approximately three miles east and inland from...
valleys to the sea. In the early 1900s, Lucius Pinkham, then President of the Territorial Board of Health, developed the idea of constructing a drainage canal to drain the wetlands, which he considered "unsanitary." Although the canal proposal was approved by the Board of Health, final approval did not occur until Pinkham became Governor of Hawaii.
Construction of the canal, by Walter F. Dillingham
Walter F. Dillingham
Walter Francis Dillingham , called the Baron of Hawaii Industry, was an industrialist and businessman from Honolulu, Hawaii.He gained favors from Hawaii politicians to develop urban Honolulu.-Life:...
's Hawaiian Dredging company, began in 1921 and was completed in 1928. When the city was permitting for new buildings in Waikiki they required builders to build above sea level. Dillingham then sold the dirt he had dredged to create the canal so they could build up the newly created land. The canal is still routinely dredged, most recently in 2003.
The creation of the canal shunted the flow of the streams directly into the ocean, which resulted in the creation of several square miles of new real estate. Among those who benefited from the development were people who though of modest means had obtained and maintained small rice and bean farms.
The reclamation of these lands were considered pivotal in the eventual development of Waikiki as a tourist center.
Water quality issues
Being an artificial waterway, the canal has very low flow rate, and little to no natural organisms to filter and clean the water. In addition, storm drains in the Honolulu neighborhoods of Waikīkī, Kapahulu, Mānoa, and Moiliili empty into the canal. Because of this, signs are posted along the Ala Wai warning users not to swim in the water or eat the tilapiaTilapia
Tilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
caught from the canal. Garbage and debris can be seen in certain parts of the canal. Despite the water quality issues, the canal remained a popular area for some forms of aquatic recreation, with canoe paddling teams practicing along the length of the canal.
In March 2006, heavy rains overwhelmed the sewers around the Ala Wai Canal, causing a pressurized sewage line to break. Days later, and after the spill was made public, Mayor Mufi Hannemann
Mufi Hannemann
Muliufi Francis "Mufi" Hannemann is an American politician. He is the former Mayor of Honolulu. Hannemann has served as a special assistant in Washington, D.C., with the Department of the Interior, where he was selected for a White House fellowship in the Reagan administration under Vice President...
decided to divert 48 million USgals (181,699.8 m³) of untreated sewage into the Ala Wai Canal in an attempt to avoid having the sewage back up into the hotels and residences. This sewage then tainted Waikiki and the nearby beaches, leading to closures of the beaches for health reasons. One person died from septic shock
Septic shock
Septic shock is a medical emergency caused by decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery as a result of severe infection and sepsis, though the microbe may be systemic or localized to a particular site. It can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death...
after falling in to the Ala Wai Harbor
Ala Wai Harbor
Ala Wai Harbor is the largest small boat and yacht harbor in Hawaii. The harbor is situated in Honolulu at the mouth of the Ala Wai Canal, between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu...
near the mouth of the canal, with his death being attributed by some to the higher levels of bacteria present after the flood.