40 Days and 40 Nights

In March 2006, a rare continuous approximately 40 days of rainfall occurred in the Hawaiian Islands, causing massive coastal flooding, and eventually leading to one of the biggest short-term fecal discharges in the history of Hawai'i when approximately 50 million gallons or more of raw sewage was dumped into the Ala Wai canal after a sewer line busted, threatening to back up hotels and homes in human waste. Instead, the raw sewage flowed to Waikiki beach, and to South Shore O'ahu's infamous surf break 'Ala Moana Bowls'. One surfer even died of flesh eating bacteria after falling into the canal nearby the sewage discharge site.

The film was produced in 2006 by Pikoi Ke Kaula Kualena a few months after the sewage spill occurred in Waikiki. Shortly after filming finished, the film stalled in production, and now five years later, is being released for the first time.

The short film documentary investigates the response and conflicts by government officials regarding a lack of on-site warning systems during federal guideline exceedances of fecal bacteria concentrations in Waikiki surface waters polluted with human and animal feces. This film compares and contrasts claims made by the State of Hawaii Department of Health over the last few decades regarding natural versus human and animal sources of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended fecal bacteria indicator Enterococcus in surface waters of tropical islands, with a focus on the response related to the 2006 sewage spill during 40 days and 40 nights of rain. In conclusion, the film ties in the most current internationally peer reviewed research that shows significant associations between stream deforestation, urbanization, ungulate and human presence, and excessive recreation with increased incidence rates of fecal bacteria in surface waters of tropical islands.

Regardless of the politics and science behind increased rates of fecal matter in surface water of Waikiki and the lack of a thorough epidemiology study to causally connect water pollution with illness rates on any tropical island, the film most importantly, provides sustainable solutions using plant based remedies to improve surface water contamination and public health.

Music in the film was composed by brotha.deep, Wayne Cobham, Osmar Cobo, and, contains the title track 'Surfing Medicine' from the charity album 'Surfing Medicine: Volume I' by Joe Isaacs of the Soul Vendors. The film was directed and edited by Surfing Medicine International.
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Surfing Medicine International, 501(c)(3)
"Fostering and creating international collaboration between traditional healers and surfers to develop sustainable medicinal plant systems for coastal communities"
Official Website: www.surfingmedicine.org