The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs on March 4, 2026.
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March 4, 2026, 2 p.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 325 and Videoconference
To: House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs
Rep. David A. Tarnas, Chair
Rep. Mahina Poepoe, Vice-Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF HB1728 HD1 — RELATING TO RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and other Committee members,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports HB1728 HD1, which would require the counties to allow the installation and use of rainwater catchment systems in all areas.
This bill would give Hawaii residents the opportunity to use rainwater for drinking water and irrigation, and it could help them overcome a barrier to expanding their homes or building small, accessory dwelling units on their properties.
Right now, tens of thousands of Hawaii residents — especially in rural areas — rely on catchment systems for their drinking water.[1] But regulations can make it difficult or impossible to construct a catchment system in areas that have access to a public water system, even if that water system is at capacity and cannot service any additional homes.
This is the situation across much of Kauai, where public water systems do not have the capacity to handle more users, but rainwater catchment is prohibited.[2]
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] Patricia Macomber, “Guidelines on Rainwater Catchment Systems for Hawai‘i,” College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 2020, p. 3.
[2] Jonathan Helton, “Kauai lawmakers should revisit water catchment issue,” The Garden Island, Sept. 20, 2025.
