Genki Ala Wai Project – Restoring Hawaii’s Most Polluted Waterway, One Genki Ball at a Time
The Ala Wai Canal, once a vibrant waterway, is now burdened with decades of accumulated sludge, organic waste, and harmful pollutants, making it one of the most visibly polluted sites in Hawaii. This toxic buildup releases methane, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide, creating a hazardous and oxygen-deprived ecosystem.
The Genki Ala Wai Project is a grassroots bioremediation initiative utilizing Effective Microorganisms (EM) technology to restore balance to the canal. Our solution? Genki Balls—handmade mud balls packed with billions of beneficial microbes that digest sludge, neutralize foul gases, and help revive the aquatic ecosystem naturally and sustainably.
Since launching in 2019, we’ve engaged thousands of community members, students, and volunteers to support our mission.
