State regulators have dropped a six-figure hammer on one of Hawaiʻi’s biggest builders, ordering Honolulu‑based Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company to pay $390,000 after finding that soil and vegetation from its work had flowed into two gulches above Hanapēpē. The Clean Water Branch also said the company ran earth‑disturbing activities without the required stormwater permit coverage, and it is now demanding that the contractor install erosion and sediment controls and secure National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System coverage for its stormwater discharges.
According to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Clean Water Branch, investigators identified discharges of soil and vegetation into two gulches in Hanapēpē tied to grading and other earth‑disturbing work. The agency said it issued a Notice of Violation and Order requiring corrective measures and imposing a monetary penalty, and it warned that noncompliance could lead to additional legal action.
Local reporting included a photo the agency attached to the NOVO showing dirt and vegetation pushed to the edge of a valley above the Hanapēpē River; the image was captured Aug. 25, 2025, and published by local outlets. As reported by Kauai Now, the company has 20 days to contest the order and request a hearing.
Why the NPDES permit matters
The NPDES program requires construction sites that disturb one acre or more, or that are part of a larger common plan of development, to obtain permit coverage before discharging stormwater. The Environmental Protection Agency explains that those permits and associated stormwater pollution‑prevention plans are intended to keep sediment, concrete washout, and other construction pollutants from reaching streams and coastal waters.
Penalties and next steps
The Clean Water Branch’s notice points out that violators can face penalties of up to $60,000 per day, per violation, and that Hawaiian Dredging must implement the specific erosion controls listed in the NOVO. A copy of the NOVO for Docket No. 2025‑CW‑EO‑44 is posted on the Clean Water Branch, where the agency outlines required corrective actions and the timeline for any administrative contest.
Local context
Hawaiian Dredging is one of the state’s largest general contractors and regularly works on county and federal infrastructure projects, so enforcement actions can ripple through public‑works schedules and procurement decisions. As reported by Hawaii Business, the firm has been pre‑qualified for major government contracts and appears on multiple island project lists, underscoring why regulators emphasize erosion controls on steep Kauaʻi terrain.
