Before the Ala Wai Canal had existed, Waikiki consisted of wetlands that flowed from Makiki, Palolo, and Manoa valleys into the sea. The Ala Wai Canal has been serving as an artificial waterway since 1928. In the early 1900s, the president of the Territorial Board of Health developed the idea of constructing a drainage canal draining the wetlands which were considered “unsanitary”. The completion of the canal redirected the flow of the streams directly into the ocean, resulting in the creation of several square miles of new real estate. The major concern of the Ala Wai canal over the course of nearly a century of existence has been the pollution that the canal has brought by urbanization. Runoff has inundated streets and growing neighborhoods, and significant levels of mercury were also detected in the canal. Although the canal has been dredged several times, most of the sediment has been deposited into the ocean, excluding some which were deemed too toxic. There is however a contradictory position that the state holds for the Ala Wai canal, stating that the water is contaminated and warning the public not to fish there. However, the state Division of Aquatic Resources manages the Ala Wai as a regulated fishing area.
The creation Kuleana Water Supply is informed by the history of the Ala Wai Canal. By creating a brand of packaged water containing water collected from the Ala Wai Canal, the work will explore the vision that urban corporations deliver to their potential consumers. The work will question the ways that we view Hawaii being sold as products (commodity) dedicated to the privileged. What appears on the surface to be illustrious and economic advancement can cause a strain on society and lead to issues such as urban and rural disparities.
The project involves design, branding, marketing, and production of the product. This website was created, marketing the brackish water as a luxurious commodity. The branding parallels the rapid changes in urban development and the facade of an eco-friendly and illustrious lifestyle. Marketing will cater to the growing demographic of consumers invested in “locally sourced” products.
Kuleana Water Supply’s motive is to give voice to ideas that affect Hawaii residents on a daily basis. Development undoubtedly brings changes to the experiences and memories of the local residents. This work was created in hopes to reach a diverse audience, and to challenge the notion of living in “paradise”.
