The weak link in the Poamoho Agricultural Research Station’s water supply.

The purpose of this web page is to illustrate the susceptible nature of the water supply servicing the UH Poamoho Experiment Station and the difficulty in repairing it. These images can serve as a resource for requesting assistance to insure a more permanent fix to reduce the weather related (i.e. heavy rains) disruptions of the water supply.

The Poamoho station obtains pressurized water from one of the military bases and this water is used for both personnel sanitation and irrigation for field experiments. The pipe that brings water to the station must cross a stream and some rather hilly terrain before reaching the farm. Flood waters in the stream carry debris that have knocked out the pipe several times in the last year (2001-2002). Although the farm crew is to be commended for their efforts to reconnect the pipe, the long gaps in water supply to the farm represents a health hazard for workers at the station and compromises the integrity of on going research experiments.

Servicing the pipe that crosses the stream is challenging. The trail leading to the pipe has some very steep sections with loose soil. All tools and materials must be carried in and work around the stream bank is hazardous. The images below are designed to allow you to appreciate how difficult it is to service the pipe that is located over a remote streambed in central Oahu.

The journey to the pipe begins by entering a large Del Monte pineapple field located off of Kaukonahua Road about a mile east of the Poamoho Station.

Once you enter the pineapple field you must drive about ½ mile along farm road to reach the trailhead leading to the pipe.

The trailhead is not clearly marked and starts at the edge of the pine field

The trail begins with a steep decent into the gulch. The trail is highly eroded and contains loose soil and deep ruts caused by erosion.

The trail is especially challenging when carrying supplies and tools to repair the pipe.

A highly eroded section of the trail passes a ditch carrying water from Lake Wilson.

A sinkhole is forming next to the trail above the tunnel carrying the water from Lake Wilson

The clean water pipe crossing the ditch is the same pipe that must cross a much wider stream below.

Viewing the water pipe looking East. The galvanized steel pipe has been replaced with schedule 80 PVC pipe.

On the east side of the stream, erosion has exposed the pipe to damage from debris carried by the stream.

The inverted J-shaped pipe repair is effective but a temporary fix at best. The original pipe was bent by flood waters, thus the contorted repairs were require to reach a replacement pipe suspended above the stream with a ½ inch cable.

The cable supporting the water pipe is secured on both sides of the stream bank by these braces. Bank erosion will eventually reach these cable anchors.

The cable crossing the stream and supporting the pipe is beginning to fray. How long can the cable last is anybody’s guess.

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