Kauaʻi County and two districts honor 2025 Water Conservationists of the Year

The Kaua’i County Department of Water and the East and West Kauaʻi Soil and Water Conservation Districts hosted an awards ceremony earlier this week to award and honor the 2025 Water Conservationists of the Year.

GoFarm Hawaiʻi was awarded as East Kauaʻi Soil and Water Conservation District 2025 Water Conservationist of the Year for its hands-on training program for farmers, combining practical production, basic business skills and conservation-minded, regenerative practices to develop new food growers.

The Kauaʻi site has graduated an astounding 14 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 University of Hawaiʻi GoFarm Hawaiʻi Kauaʻi farm coach Jin-Wah Lau in a release about this year’s awards. “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 as West Kauaʻi Soil and Water Conservation District 2025 Water Conservationist of the Year, recognizing its exceptional leadership in educating youth and community members about Kauaʻi’s west side.

The nonprofit organization focused on community wellness through sustainable food production, physical fitness and cultural exchange offers programs that highlight the importance of the traditional ahupuaʻa system. Iwikua inspires environmental stewardship and sustainable practices through hands-on farming and aquaponics programs.

Iwikua seamlessly blends 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,” said Iwikua Executive Director Josh Mori in the release. “We offer gardening support, agroforestry seminars, aquaponics programs and community produce sales. We also offer wellness initiatives at the Makana Training Center in Waimea.”

The East and West Kauaʻi Soil and Water Conservation Districts are two of 16 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. A major focus in Hawaiʻi is on controlling soil and water erosion to improve water use efficiency and minimize the environmental impact of farming.

“We are delighted to recognize outstanding water conservation efforts in our local community,” said county Water Department Manager and Chief Engineer Joe Tait in the release. “Water is the lifeblood of our island and everyone should be inspired to use it wisely for future generations to come.”

Contact the Kauaʻi County Department of Water at 808-245-5461 or via email at publicrelations@kauaiwater.org for further information about the 2025 Water Conservationist of the Year awards.