In Hawai‘i, the land and sea are never far apart. Water moves through the land in a delicate cycle — one that wasn’t considered when cesspools and septic systems were brought from the continental U.S. Today, pollution moves quickly from backyards into aquifers and coastal waters, carrying nutrients that fuel algae blooms and smother coral reefs. Banning cesspools has done little to slow their pollution, with less than 3% of cesspools ungraded since the 2016 ban. The good news? Hawai‘i is uniquely positioned to lead. The geography isn’t a limitation — it’s an invitation to innovate. At WaiHome, we have taken the initiative to redesign wastewater systems from the ground up.