20-04-2025
Heavy rains push trash bags from drainage canal into ocean in Nanakuli
NANAKULI, Hawaii (KHON2) — Heavy rains drenched the west side of Oahu on Friday, April 18 and it caused trash from upstream to flow into the ocean, even trash still in bags.
It was an unusual sight. More than a dozen black trash bags were floating in the water off Depot Beach Park in Nanakuli.
Flash flood warnings issued, storm preps ongoing across islands
'To have trash bags floating around on the beach is just disheartening as a community,' said Sen. Samantha Decorte (R), Ko Olina to Makua. 'You don't want to see that because then obviously, you're not going to feel safe to get into the water.'
The bags were scattered across several hundred years in the water. Some made their way back to shore.
Beachgoers told KHON2 they came from the nearby drainage canal after the heavy rains in the morning.'The city maintains the majority of the canals that exist throughout the island of Oahu and that's why you're either seeing inconsistency or not consistent work,' said Rep. Darius Kila, (D) Honokai Hale, Nanakuli, Maili. 'I mean, we have several canals on the west side of Oahu that haven't been dredged at this point for almost two years. And residents have complained of the stench and smell.'
Residents said there were crews there a few weeks ago clearing out the drainage canal. They're not sure which agency they're from, but they said they left the bags there on the ground.
One resident said he thought they should've been moved to higher ground, so they don't get washed away.
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'Our county partners are doing the best that they can, but I think it's probably an unforeseen circumstance that we would get the imminent amount of rain,' said Kila. 'But the fact that the trash was cleaned and then left there, it's concerning.'
We reached out to the city to check who maintains the canal but haven't heard back yet. So it's not clear who's responsible, and if anyone needs to retrieve the trash bags from the ocean.
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