Water quality laboratory receives donation from Kā’anapali Ocean Resort Charitable Trust

The Kā’anapali Ocean Resort Charitable Trust donated $ 40,000 to the University of Hawaii Maui College water quality laboratory. The funds will be used to purchase a peristaltic pump for filtering seawater; a laboratory furnace for burning bottles; general laboratory supplies for operation and analysis of nutrients, biological oxygen demand, E.coli and total suspended solids; and will also finance a student internship in the laboratory.

The laboratory – called PÅ«ko’a hina’ole in Hawaiian – is run by Dr. Andrea Kealoha headed. Born and raised in Pā’ia and a graduate of King Kekaulike High School, she holds a BS in Global Environmental Science from the University of Hawai’i in Mānoa, an MS in Marine Science from Hawai’i Pacific University, and a Ph. D in oceanography from Texas A&M University.

Her research focuses on climate change and other human stressors on coral reef ecosystems.

During the pandemic, she conducted research at Kahekili Beach Park, the location of the injection wells of the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

“With improvements in sewage infrastructure and the dramatic decline in tourism, Kealoha had an unprecedented opportunity to examine the potential positive effects of improved water quality on the health and resilience of coral reefs at the Beach Park – which happens to be in front of the Kā’anapali Ocean Resort. “According to UHMC.

KORCT invests in maintaining the health of the local reef and supports efforts in this area from Mauka to Makai.

“When we found out that Andrea’s work was literally happening in our garden, we really wanted to join in and involve our homeowners,” said Ryan Nobriga, general manager of the Kā’anapali Ocean Resort. Kealoha also believes “this is a great opportunity to involve homeowners, and especially their children, in our oceans.”

Founded in 2020, PÅ«ko’a hina’ole is the only water laboratory on Maui, despite the many rules and regulations that require many farms, businesses, and other businesses to regularly test the quality of their water. Previously, the samples had to be flown to Honolulu, often on ice and within hours of collection.