Waste Site Reports: Hawai'i

NOAA trust species in Hawaii include several amphidromous endemic finfish ('o'opu'akupa, 'o'opu naniha, and 'o'opu nakea) with a unique life history: they spend their adult life in freshwater and spawn close to estuaries. Upon hatching, eggs drift out to the ocean as planktonic larvae, returning as post-larvae and ascending freshwater streams. Other important fish include surgeonfish, eagleray, bonefish, parrotfish, and barracuda. Endemic invertebrates include Hawaiian crab, blue claw crab, and stone crab. The Hawaiian and green sea turtle, both federally threatened species, are also found in Hawaiian waters.

Military Sites in Hawaii

Hawaii is dotted with 418 military installations and formerly used defense areas, comprising 657 DoD sites. The nature of defense-related activities involves chemicals that are highly toxic and persistent in the environment. In Hawaii, military-related contaminants of concern include VOCs, PCBs, PAHs, heavy metals, pesticides, and solvents. In 1992, NOAA conducted a Coastal Hazardous Material Site Review of the Pearl Harbor Naval Complex. NOAA has been assisting in the scoping and analysis of contaminants in sediment throughout Pearl Harbor. Results of this sediments study will be used to produce a Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI / FS) during the summer of 1998. NOAA is also providing technical assistance to the Air Force to assess potential risks to Hickam Air Force Base. NOAA currently is reviewing Air Force data reports to provide recommendations for further action. NOAA's input is needed now to ensure cleanups that are protective of coastal natural resources as well as human health. NOAA offers technical expertise and a neutral perspective valued by both the military and the local public.

Areas of Special Concern in Hawaii

The NOAA RRC program works to protect and restore natural resources throughout Hawaii. The Waikele Stream and Pearl Harbor support a vital ecosystem which provides valuable spawning, nursery, and forage habitat for a number of NOAA trust resources. The habitats of primary concern to NOAA are the surface water and sediments of Pearl Harbor.

Waste Site Reports

HI: A CRC State Summary Summary in PDF form. (Document format: PDF, size: 511.8 K)

HI: Del Monte Corporation (Oahu Plantation) (Reviewed 1995); CERCLIS No. = HID980637631 (Document format: PDF, size: 50.9 K)

HI: Pearl City Landfill (Reviewed 1984); CERCLIS No. = HID980585178 (Document format: PDF, size: 295.5 K)

HI: Pearl Harbor Naval Complex (Reviewed 1992); CERCLIS No. = HI2170024341 (Document format: PDF, size: 438.2 K)

Other pages in this series

Index to the Coastal Hazardous Waste Site Reports Back to the index page.