DOW gives honors to 2025 Water Conservationists of the Year
Published on December 19, 2025
LĪHUʻE – The Kaua’i Department of Water (DOW) and the East and West Kaua’i Soil and Water Conservation Districts (Kaua’i SWCD) held an awards ceremony for the 2025 Water Conservationist of the Year on Thursday, Dec. 18.
“We are delighted to recognize outstanding water conservation efforts in our local community, said Joe Tait, Manager and Chief Engineer at DOW. “Water is the lifeblood of our island and everyone should be inspired to use it wisely for future generations to come.”
GoFarm Hawaiʻi was awarded the 2025 Water Conservationist of the Year by the East Kauaʻi SWCD for their hands-on training program for farmers which combines practical production, basic business skills, and conservation-minded, regenerative practices to develop new food growers. The Kauaʻi site has graduated an astounding fourteen cohorts of farmers.
“We focus on everyday methods that conserve water and nurture living systems in our soils, including minimal tilling, cover cropping, rotating fields, using drip irrigation with surface water, and regularly testing soil to ensure we water only when needed, said Jin-Wah Lau, Kauaʻi farm coach with the University of Hawai’iʻs GoFarm Hawai’i farmer training program. “These water conservation approaches are easy for new farm businesses to adopt because they save money, optimize fertilizer use, boost efficiency, reduce weed pressure, and grow better crops.”
Iwikua was honored with the 2025 Water Conservationist of the Year award by the West Kauaʻi SWCD, recognizing their exceptional leadership in educating youth and community members on Kauaʻi’s west side. Their programs highlight the importance of the traditional ahupuaʻa system. Through hands-on farming and aquaponics programs, Iwikua inspires environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. They seamlessly blend Hawaiian cultural values, educational initiatives, and sustainable agriculture.
“At Iwikua, we strive to strengthen the community’s connection to kuleana and the function of ahupuaʻa. We offer gardening support, agroforestry seminars, aquaponics programs and community produce sales. We also offer wellness initiatives at the Makana Training Center in Waimea,” said Josh Mori, Executive Director of Iwikua.
The East and West Kauaʻi Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) are two of sixteen such conservation districts in Hawaiʻi and part of a network of 3,000 districts nationwide. Their primary mission is to help landowners conserve soil, water, and related resources through the development of comprehensive conservation plans. In Hawaiʻi, a major focus is on controlling soil and water erosion to improve water use efficiency and minimize the environmental impact of farming.
For further information on the 2025 Water Conservationist of the Year award, please contact the Department of Water at 808-245-5461 or publicrelations@kauaiwater.org.
GoFarm Hawaiʻi and Iwikua accept awards for 2025 Water Conservationist the Year from DOW and Kauaʻi SWCD on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
From left (back row): Julie Simonton, Board of Water Supply Chair; Jenni Scotti, Hawaiʻi State District Manager, Hawaiʻi Association of Conservation Districts; Brian Kwak (GoFarm); Ed Kawamura, Jr.(East Kauaʻi SWCD); Kaulana Poe (Iwikua); Kevin Gonsalves (Iwikua); Jin-Wah Lau (GoFarm); Josh Mori (Iwikua); Umi Martin (West Kauaʻi SWCD); Joe Tait, DOW Manager and Chief Engineer; Johnathan Kelly (GoFarm).
From left (front row): Kaaona Mori (Iwikua), Huki Lau (GoFarm), Keahonui Mori (Iwikua).
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