Last Friday, members of the Genki Ala Wai Project attended the forum organized by Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) to discuss the use of Genki Balls and their potential effects on water quality and ecosystem health.

First and foremost, we would like to thank Dr. Carmella Vizza, Dr. Olivia Nigro, and the entire HPU team for organizing this event. For many years, we have sought opportunities to work with the academic community by sharing data, exchanging ideas, and collaborating on research. So we appreciated the opportunity to meet students, educators, researchers, and community members to discuss this important topic together.

Having said that, we would like to clarify an important point for those who are looking for answers. It was reported that concerns were raised about the safety of handling Genki Balls with bare hands, especially by children. We would like to clarify why we have been confident in the safety of this activity while also remaining open to new scientific information.

The Effective Microorganisms (EM®) used to make Genki Balls are a consortium of naturally occurring microorganisms, primarily lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and photosynthetic bacteria. These microorganisms are non-pathogenic, are not genetically modified, OMRI organic certified, and have been used worldwide for decades in agriculture, animal husbandry, compost, wastewater treatment, and environmental remediation.

During the forum, HPU researchers shared findings from their laboratory tank study and field studies in Hamakua Marsh, including observations of reduced dissolved oxygen under the conditions they studied. They explained that, as scientists and educators, they felt a responsibility to communicate those findings and encourage further discussion. Our primary interest, however, has always been the Ala Wai Canal, where our project has been working continuously for the past seven years. We attended the forum hoping to learn what scientific evidence was available for evaluating the effects associated with long-term use of Genki Balls and what other data were available that could aid our assessment of the overall trends or effects on water quality. Based on what was presented, we did not hear evidence demonstrating harmful effects in the Ala Wai itself. Should credible evidence emerge showing that our activities are negatively affecting the Ala Wai ecosystem, we would welcome that information, carefully evaluate it, and make improvements as needed. We will continue to uphold our mission of engaging and empowering the community to restore this watershed.

This forum was especially meaningful because it followed nearly ten months after HPU's Hamakua Marsh study received public attention. At that time, we requested an opportunity to meet with the researchers to better understand their findings and were informed that discussions would take place after the research had progressed through the publication process. 

One of the greatest values of meeting face to face is that it allows us to better understand one another. While we may not always agree on every interpretation or approach, we came away recognizing that HPU's students, professors, panelists, and our volunteer team share something fundamental: a genuine love for Hawaii's environment and a sincere desire to protect it. Although our approaches may differ, our motivations are remarkably similar.

During the forum, Genki Balls were described as a "silver bullet." That is not our philosophy. Healthy watersheds are complex systems, and no single method can solve every environmental challenge. We believe successful watershed restoration requires many complementary approaches, including reducing pollution at its source, improving stormwater management, restoring habitats, supporting scientific research, educating the community, and encouraging environmental stewardship. Genki Balls are simply one tool among many. 

At the same time, the discussion prompted us to reflect on why some people may have come to view Genki Balls as a "silver bullet." Following the 2020 pandemic, the community's enthusiasm and support exceeded anything we had imagined, and Genki Balls quickly became the most visible part of our work. Looking back, we recognize that we may need to do a better job communicating that Genki Balls have never been intended as a cure-all, but rather as one component of a broader, long-term watershed restoration effort. We appreciate the opportunity the forum provided to clarify this point and will continue working to communicate our mission more effectively.

Over the past seven years, our project has focused not only on applying Genki Balls but also on bringing people together. More than 20,000 students, teachers, volunteers, residents, and visitors have participated in hands-on environmental stewardship through our project, resulting in the deployment of over 300,000 Genki Balls by Earth Day 2026. That achievement belongs to the community, and we are deeply grateful to every person who has participated.

Throughout the project, we have also documented encouraging observations in the Ala Wai, including reductions in sludge accumulation at the Kapahulu end of the canal. The accumulated sludge at the bottom of the canal is due to decaying organic matter and other pollutants which can choke out oxygen and support growth of harmful bacteria. We also noticed improvements in downstream recreational water quality at the Magic Island Canoe Launch monitoring point reported by the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force (BWTF). Dr. Daniel Amato and the dedicated BWTF volunteers have been collecting samples around the island for years, modeling the power of citizen scientists. We encourage you to check out their page before you go to the beach.

While many factors influence water quality and no single project can claim sole responsibility for environmental improvements, these observations encourage us to continue learning, monitoring, and improving our work alongside our partners.

Perhaps the most important outcome of the forum was not agreement on every scientific question, but a shared commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration. Community organizations and researchers each bring valuable perspectives. By working together, asking difficult questions, sharing data openly, and remaining willing to learn from one another, we believe we can develop even better approaches to restoring Hawaii's waterways.

Our mission remains the same today as it was when this project began: students, teachers, and the community working together.

We sincerely thank HPU for creating a forum where respectful dialogue could take place, and we look forward to future opportunities to collaborate with HPU and other researchers in advancing our shared goal of healthier waterways for Hawaii.