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HPU researcher: ‘Genki balls’ did not improve water quality in field tests and may pose local risks
Summary
An HPU environmental scientist told the Kahaluʻu Neighborhood Board that a multi‑year study found Genki balls produced no water‑quality benefit in field trials and showed harmful effects in tank experiments; the research team has shared results with state agencies and offered to help local monitoring.
Carmela Vitsa, an environmental science professor at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, presented research to the Kahaluʻu Neighborhood Board saying her team’s multi‑year study did not find evidence that commercially marketed “Genki balls” improved water quality in field deployments and that concentrated tank tests produced concerning results.
Vitsa said tank experiments recorded dissolved oxygen declines of up to about 50 percent and phosphate increases “20 times” relative to control tanks, and she raised human‑health concerns about microbes detected in the EM (effective microbe) solution sold with some Genki ball products. “Our research strongly shows that in their current form they are not [effective],” Vitsa said, and added that much of the online discussion about the project has included misinformation originating from companies that profit from EM products.
Board members and residents pressed the researchers about next steps and local testing. Keoni asked whether the scientists were also developing alternatives; Vitsa replied her group focuses on environmental monitoring rather than engineering solutions but said they would be “happy to consult” on low‑cost monitoring plans. Jesse asked whether the tank‑scale effects translate to field systems; Vitsa said that while concentrated tank tests revealed potential harm, field conditions often dilute such effects and that the team did not observe harmful field impacts in the larger, deeper systems they tested.
Several board members and residents offered local monitoring resources. Ian (Blue Water Task Force) said his group conducts storm and recreational sampling and invited the HPU team to coordinate. Vitsa said she has shared results with the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources and would welcome follow‑up conversations about permitting and monitoring.
The researchers asked to be placed on a future agenda to present full methods and data; the board agreed to follow up.
