HAWAI'I LOCAL

HAWAII

Topic: The Red Hill Contamination Crisis

Committee Profile

Among the resources vital to the survival of Hawaiʻi, one in particular stands out: water. From the moment rain falls to the moment it ends up flowing out of our taps, it will have gone through a 25-year journey as it becomes groundwater and filters through the lava rock which makes up Hawaiʻi. Because it takes so long for water in the aquifers to replenish, however, it is imperative to protect not only access to the aquifers, but the aquifers themselves. What happens, then, if an aquifer were to become contaminated? In November 2021, families living in military housing around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam began feeling unwell, reporting a “chemical smell” coming from the drinking water in the homes. As investigations began to examine the cause, one thing became abundantly clear: petroleum products had leaked into the water supply. Upon further investigation, officials found that the U.S. Navy fuel tanks at Red Hill had leaked, contaminating the Navy’s Aiea-Halawa Shaft, and posing a substantial risk to the civilian Halawa Shaft, which supplied up to 20% of the water for the City and County of Honolulu. As the crisis comes to a head, how will officials respond? Will the military, the City & County of Honolulu, and the State of Hawaiʻi be able to find a solution? How will the public react to the contamination? Perhaps most importantly, how can all parties involved prevent such a catastrophe from occurring again?

Committee Chair

  • Georgetown University

    Luka Wohl is a recent graduate of Georgetown University with a Bachler’s Degree in International Relations and Business. Hailing from Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi, has a strong passion for international affairs and cross-cultural understanding, primarily driven by his involvement in Model United Nations in high school. This curiosity led him to embark on life-changing experiences abroad, spending a year in India and studying in Israel-Palestine for two years, which ignited his desire for diplomatic endeavors. During his time in the nation's capital, he has gained valuable internship experience at both USAID and the U.S. Department of State.

A young man in a blue school blazer with a school's emblem on the pocket, white shirt, and a blue and yellow floral tie, standing outdoors with a blurred green background.

Crisis Director

  • University of California, Los Angeles

    Connor Davidson is a second-year student at the University of California, Los Angeles who was born and raised in Hawaiʻi Kai. He will be serving as the Crisis Director for the Red Hill Fuel Spill committee. Connor has been involved with both Model UN and PacMUN since his junior year of high school and hasn’t looked back since. This will be his fourth PacMUN and second as a Crisis Director. Outside of Model UN, he enjoys baking, running, writing, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and spending time with his pet bunnies (expect to see photos throughout the conference).