2024 Construction & Post-Construction BMP Workshop Recap

The State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Highways Maui District and the County of Maui hosted this year’s 2024 Construction & Post-Construction BMP Workshop! Held on October 24th at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, this half-day workshop brought together Maui’s designers, contractors, and industry leaders committed to sustainable, environmentally mindful construction practices on County and State projects.

This year’s agenda focused on a range of essential BMP topics, including;

Coral Reef Conservation: Exploring how responsible construction can protect our coral reefs, starting with on-site practices.

NPDES Permitting: A dive into key requirements for managing stormwater runoff and ensuring compliance with federal and local regulations.

Post-Wildfire BMPs for Lahaina: Tailoring stormwater strategies to safeguard areas impacted by recent wildfires, with best practices for long-term recovery.

Routine Construction Inspections and Common Deficiencies: An in-depth look at inspection techniques to help teams stay on top of site management.

A big mahalo to everyone who attended and contributed to these important discussions! Your dedication to best management practices is helping us pave the way for more sustainable growth on Maui, protecting the unique natural resources that make our island home.

Bringing STEM to Life – AASHTO STEM Outreach Solutions Training Day

On October 21st and 22nd, we welcomed local educators for our AASHTO STEM Outreach Solutions Training Day. This session gave teachers hands-on experience with the program. We focused mainly on the STEM Elementary Development module, designed to help kids in grades K-6 dive into the world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through fun, interactive activities.

AASHTO’s STEM Outreach Solutions program introduces students to careers in transportation and civil engineering, showing them how math and science play a big role in real-world jobs. HDOT provides schools with resources and classroom visits to promote further STEM education.

Throughout the training, teachers got to roll up their sleeves and try out the same activities they can use to inspire their students. We’re looking forward to seeing how they bring these lessons into the classroom and spark a love for STEM learning in the next generation!

All trainings and kits are free of charge! If you would like to bring STEM Outreach Solutions to your school, please send an email to ty.h.fukuroku@hawaii.gov.

Keiki Activity Day at the Maui Ocean Center

Our recent Keiki Activity Day at the Maui Ocean Center was a fantastic opportunity for Maui’s young learners to explore stormwater pollution and ocean conservation. Using interactive models, participants simulated rainfall and watched how pollutants travel through storm drains into the ocean, learning how everyday actions can impact the environment.

Keiki enjoyed hands-on activities with our Stormwater and Enviroscape Models and took home fun prizes for participating. It was a great day of learning, community engagement, and inspiring future ocean stewards!

We’ll be back on November 11th, 2024 – mark your calendars for more fun and learning at the Maui Ocean Center!