KK Tunnel Fact Sheet
KK Tunnel Fact Sheet
KK Tunnel Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
updated June 2018
Project
The Kāne‘ohe-Kailua Wastewater Conveyance & Treatment Facilities Project is improving one of many
wastewater collection systems in Hawai‘i. The project is mostly known for its Kāne‘ohe-Kailua Gravity
Sewer Tunnel phase but also includes a new pump station, headworks facility, generator building, odor
control facilities, and tunnel influent facility.
Approximately three miles long, the tunnel uses gravity, rather than a force main, to transport sewage.
This eliminates aboveground wastewater storage, reduces overall costs and helps preserve Kāne‘ohe
Bay. (Originally the plan was to replace the existing force main with a new one in Kāne‘ohe Bay, but it
was decided that the possibility of a rupture in the bay was too risky.)
Construction of the Kāne‘ohe-Kailua Wastewater Conveyance and Treatment Facilities Project lasted six
years and involved three construction contracts (three different project phases).
Phase 1 – Gravity Sewer Tunnel
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology was used for the gravity sewer project. This technology used
mechanical excavation for hard rock rather than blasting. More than 90 percent of the Kāne‘ohe-Kailua
tunnel route is deeper than 100 feet and the TBM mined underground between nearby residences without
causing any damage aboveground.
TBM technology is widely used. However, this is
Hawai‘i’s first sewer tunnel created with such a
machine.
The TBM team began mining on April 30, 2015 and
“holed-through” on June 28, 2016.
Construction of the KK Tunnel – Alignment (see
blue line in map graphic)
• The first leg of the tunnel started at the shaft
within the Kailua Regional Wastewater
Treatment Plant (RWWTP) and then beneath
Aikahi Gardens under Halia Street.
• From there, the tunnel alignment runs under the
Kailua side of the H3 freeway and straight
through the center of Oneawa Hills.
• It then continues under Mokapu Blvd. with a
slight curve until it crosses under Kāne‘ohe Bay
Drive.
• The final leg goes under Bay View Golf Course.
The TBM exited at the Kāne‘ohe Wastewater
Blessing of tunnel boring machine, Kailua Pre-Treatment Facility (WPTF).
Kailua
RWWTP
Phase 2 - Construction of Tunnel Influent Pump Station (TIPS)
Phase 2 - Construction of Tunnel Influent Pump Station (TIPS)
The construction of the TIPS began February 16, 2016. It included the construction of a 45 million gallons
The construction of the TIPS began on February 16, 2016. It included the construction of a 45 million
per day (MGD) pump station, headworks and odor control facilities, generator/medium-voltage building,
gallons per day (MGD) pump station, headworks and odor control facilities, generator/medium-voltage
building, and 15 MGD capacity mini-Kailua influent pump station at the Kailua RWWTP.
and 15 MGD capacity mini-Kailua influent pump station at the Kailua RWWTP.