NEWS & EVENTS
Public Education Programs
Honolulu Board of Water Supply provides safe, dependable and affordable water now and into the future.
To meet this mission, the BWS offers public education programs to help others understand and learn about Oʻahu's water resources through in-person and online opportunities. This includes, subject to availability, providing guest speakers, attending community events, and free group tours of a number of BWS facilities.
Activities On-Demand: Hālawa Xeriscape Garden | Publications | Sources to Tap
Speaker Requests
The BWS accepts speaker requests from schools (Grade 1 through college) and community organizations. Through an online or in-person meeting, our staff can address various topics including the water cycle, conservation, water quality, climate change, xeriscaping, BWS careers, and more. Hands-on activities and games can be coordinated with kumu as well.
Please use the form at the bottom of this page (preferred) or email tours@hbws.org to submit your request at least three (3) months in advance. To help us finalize your reservation, please submit all information requested and verify that the information is correct. We will reply as soon as we can.
"Keiki and staff were excited and remembered many things you shared...it reinforced many things we have been learning. Keiki were excited to share the coloring books and crayons with their families...(and) share the message of conservation."
Facility Tours
Available Tours & Additional Information
While BWS offers several facility tours, some may not be available during your preferred tour window. General information pages for tour sites are listed below. Click on the site link to read tour descriptions and review important tour information such as group sizes plus age and safety requirements that could impact your planning.
Once you have reviewed the associated webpages, please use the form at the bottom of this page (preferred) to submit your request or email us at tours@hbws.org at least three (3) months in advance. Tour reservations may be made up to one year in advance. To help us finalize your reservation, please submit all information requested and verify that the information is correct. We will reply as soon as we can.
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Hālawa Xeriscape Garden
Please email tours@hbws.org to coordinate your visit. The Hālawa Xeriscape Garden (HXG) displays xeric (dry) plants in a residential-scale setting to demonstrate how gardens can be visually attractive, while using less water than most popular garden plants. The garden is a three-acre landscaped park, located at 99-1268 Iwaena Street in Hālawa Valley's Central Park Industrial Area, that promotes outdoor water conservation. Visitors to the garden will see numerous varieties of native and introduced plants that conserve water, water-saving irrigation systems, mulches, and other xeriscape ideas. Due to annual facility and site maintenance, tours are not available during the month of July.
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Honouliuli Water Recycling Facility
Please request your tour via the request system below or email tours@hbws.org with relevant information. The Honouliuli Water Recycling Facility (HWRF) has been recycling treated wastewater to serve irrigation and industrial needs in ʻEwa since August 2000. This free 90-minute tour for up to 20 participants includes a recycling water video, an overview of the facility and the recycling processes, and a walk-through of the facility. The group tour is available by appointment. Grade 4 through adults only.
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Additional Tour Information
Before submitting a tour request to the Board of Water Supply, be sure to review the additional information, which outlines recommendations and requirements by facility and which may affect your planning. Please submit a request at least three (3) months in advance. Tour appointments may be made up to one year in advance.
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Waiheʻe Tunnel
This site is closed for infrastructure improvements throughout Waiheʻe Valley through about mid-2026. Please revisit this page for updates. When tours are available, visitors have the opportunity for a unique educational experience. Awaken your senses with a walk inside the 1,500-foot dike tunnel that provides water to Windward Oʻahu, from Kahaluu to Kailua. Tour includes introduction of Oʻahu's water cycle, discussion on watershed areas and facility history. Free 2-hour group tour is available by appointment only. Grade 7 and older.
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Hālawa Shaft & Underground Pumping Station
Due to ongoing renovations, Hālawa Shaft & Underground Pumping Station tours are suspended until further notice. When tours are available, visitors will descend more than 140 feet underground into the depths of the Koʻolau to visit a fully operational pump room and walk through a 300-foot tunnel to view a portion of the 919-foot water development tunnel. Tour includes introduction to Oʻahu's water cycle and guided xeriscape garden tour. Free 90-minute group tour is available by appointment only. Grade 7 and older.
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Fred Ohrt Water Museum
Due to ongoing renovations, the Fred Ohrt Water Museum tours are suspended until further notice. Call (808) 748-5041 for more information. When tours are available, guests will visit the museum – named in honor of the first Manager and Chief Engineer for the Board of Water Supply – which is located at the Kalihi Pumping Station, 1381 North King Street. Tour includes an introduction to Oʻahu's water cycle, discussion on water conservation, and a walking tour of the museum showcasing "The Old Man of Kalihi," the original 1899 steam pump, and the history of the BWS. Free 1-hour group tours are available by appointment only. Kindergarten and older.
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Nuʻuanu Watershed
Due to site renovations, Nuʻuanu Watershed tours are not available until further notice. Call (808) 748-5041 for more information. When tours are available, visitors will experience the outdoors and learn the important role watershed areas play in Oʻahu's water cycle. Set sights on panoramic valley views, wind-borne clouds as they move across mountaintops and forests that reach toward the skies. Nuʻuanu Valley's Watershed holds a rich heritage of historic sites and ancient Hawaiian folklore and legends. Free 90-minute group tour is available by appointment only. Grade 4 and older.
Reservation Request
Use the following form to submit your speaker or tour request. To help us finalize your reservation, please submit all information requested and verify that the information is correct. We will reply as soon as we can.
Updated: 12/19/2025