Three citizens groups successfully filed suit against the City & County of Honolulu for violations of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The resulting settlement in 2011 led not only to a compliance schedule for the city's wastewater collection system, but also created grant money for four environmental restoration projects, totaling $800,000.

Two of the grant recipients are Todd Cullison, Executive Director of Hui o Ko'olaupoko, Rick Barboza and Matt Schirman, General Partner for, Hui Ku Maoli Ola. Cullison will use the funds by implementing Hui o Ko'olaupoko's low-impact retrofit project to capture storm water in Windward O'ahu. Hui Ku Maoli Ola's Waipao'ili Restoration project was another to receive the grant to clear watershed lands in He'eia.