The Ala Wai Canal is a manmade waterway built in 1928 for land reclamation and flood mitigation.

However, this disruption of the natural watershed led to issues with runoff. Pesticides, heavy metals, mud, trash, organic debris, and other pollutants began accumulating in the canal. As a result, a thick layer of organic material called sludge formed. The Ala Wai Canal is now one of the most polluted waterways in Hawai’i.

Putrefactive bacteria decompose the sludge and release methane, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. These gases are all harmful to both the canal and the surrounding environment.

Fortunately, the microbes in our EM•1® solution have the power to ferment and digest the sludge, restoring a healthy balance of microorganisms in the ecosystem. This significant step increases the canal's self-purification ability, paving the way for native species to return. With every Genki Ball thrown into the canal, we are closer to our inspiring goal of making the canal swimmable and fishable by 2026.