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Data Room

Every official document, in one place

The laws, permits, State studies, funding rules, water data and maps behind Hawaiʻi’s cesspool deadline.

188 documents from the Department of Health, the Legislature, the counties, UH and the nonprofits working on this. We keep our own copy of 148 of them, so a moved or deleted government link doesn’t leave you stuck. Each one also links to its official source. Just want the short list? Rules, maps and funding has the dozen links most homeowners need.

Quick answers

How long is an approved conversion plan good for?
About a year. The State’s approval to construct lapses if construction hasn’t started within one year of approval, or if the county hasn’t issued the building permit within a year. After that the plan has to be reapproved.
HAR §11-62-06(l) (opens in a new tab)
When do cesspools have to be gone?
Every cesspool in the State must be upgraded, converted or connected to sewer by January 1, 2050.
HRS §342D-72 (Act 125, 2017) (opens in a new tab)
Is there money to help right now?
Not yet statewide. The 2023 State pilot grant ($20,000) and the 2016–2020 tax credit are finished, and Kauaʻi’s county grant closed October 23, 2026. Act 120 (2026) created a statewide revolving loan program with low-interest or forgivable loans, to be run by the Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority; it was still being set up as of November 2026.
DOH Wastewater Branch, Financial Support Programs (opens in a new tab)
How do I find out what system my house has?
Look up your property by TMK in the State’s wastewater system database, or ask the Wastewater Branch for your file with a records request.
DOH eHawaii IWS lookup (opens in a new tab)

188 documents in 9 topics

Laws and rules

The statutes and Department of Health rules that set the 2050 deadline and the standards a new system must meet.

Permits and forms

The State forms an engineer and contractor file to design, build and close out a conversion, and how to request records.

Approved systems

The treatment units the Department of Health has accepted for use in Hawaiʻi, with their approval letters.

State plans and studies

The Legislature’s working group reports, the cost and technology studies, and the research behind the priority map.

Funding and loans

Grant rules, loan programs and the State revolving fund documents. Check each program’s status before you count on it.

Water quality and science

Beach monitoring, the State’s water quality assessments, and studies tracing sewage in streams, wells and reefs.

Maps, tools and live data

Interactive maps and raw datasets you can explore or download yourself.

Guides and community

Plain-language guides for homeowners, lists of registered firms, and material from Hawaiʻi nonprofits working on cesspools.

Meeting records

Agendas, minutes and presentations from the State’s cesspool working groups, oldest decisions to the current rule rewrite.

Collected November 1, 2026. These are public documents from the agencies named; ʻĀina Force didn’t write them and isn’t responsible for their content. Rules and programs change, so check the official source before you rely on one. This is general information, not legal advice. Know a document we’re missing? Tell us.

Not sure which of these applies to you?

Check your property and we’ll point you to the ones that matter.

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