We specialize in converting outdated cesspools into modern, Department of Health–compliant systems, and we do it with precision, respect, and heart. As a full-service team with in-house engineering and proven regulatory expertise, we make the process clear and manageable from start to finish. Whether you’re planning ahead to avoid rising costs, preparing for a home addition, getting ready to sell, or protecting Hawaiʻi’s environment for future generations, we’re here to ensure your property is cared for every step of the way.
Hawaiʻi Cesspool Conversion Company was created with one goal: to make the cesspool conversion process clear, professional & grounded in care for the islands we call home.
With over 57 years of combined experience (27 years from Zendo Kern & 30+ years from Kurt Inaba) both with extensive government leadership, our team brings unmatched expertise in land use planning, construction, permitting & infrastructure development. We know how to get projects done the right way—efficiently, legally & with deep local insight.
What We Offer
We’re more than just installers. We’re your full-service partner. Our team handles:
Site Evaluations, SMA Screening & System Engineering
Regulatory Strategy & Department of Health & County Permitting
Legal Cesspool Decommissioning & Excavation
Septic Installation & Aerobic System Installation
Final Inspections & Post-Installation Restoration (Landscaping, Driveways, Walls)
Zendo Kern - President
Zendo Kern was born and raised on Hawaiʻi Island, where he grew up surfing, fishing, and living close to the ‘āina. That connection to the land has never left him and it drives everything we do.
Zendo Kern is a land use and development expert with over two decades of experience shaping Hawaiʻi’s built environment. A licensed general contractor and former County Planning Director, Zendo brings a rare blend of technical knowledge, field experience, and policy insight to every project. He began his career early in construction and has since worked across nearly every layer of Hawaiʻi’s real estate and development landscape. He’s served as a Hawaiʻi County Council Member, Chairman of the Windward Planning Commission, and most recently, as Planning Director for Hawaiʻi County from 2020 to 2024. During that time, he also represented the County on the Hawaiʻi Climate Change and Adaptation Commission, helping shape statewide policy on environmental resilience.
From regulatory policy to boots-on-the-ground project delivery, Zendo has seen it all, and built this company to bring that rare combination of experience directly to the homeowners who need it most.
Kurt Inaba - Vice President & Principal Engineer
Kurt Inaba brings over 30 years of experience in civil engineering, water supply, wastewater, and infrastructure throughout Hawaiʻi. His career includes serving as Engineering Division Head for the Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply, where he led capital improvement programs, infrastructure planning, and regulatory coordination across multiple agencies. In that role, he was responsible for decisions affecting drinking water infrastructure and oversaw projects valued in the tens of millions of dollars.
In the private sector, Kurt has provided engineering design, permitting, and infrastructure strategy for landowners, developers, and community projects. He is known for his calm, grounded leadership and his ability to simplify complex technical and regulatory challenges, ensuring clear communication, alignment, and forward momentum.
Born and raised on Hawaiʻi Island, Kurt is a lifelong waterman and fisherman who views environmental work through the lens of stewardship. His work is anchored in respecting the land, protecting water, and ensuring projects serve both community and place.
Kim Chiodo - Vice President of Sales & Operations
Originally from Boston, Kim Chiodo was drawn to Hawaiʻi Island’s natural beauty, unique landscape and close-knit community, moving to the Big Island in 2008. With a diverse background spanning project management, land use and planning, small business leadership, and nonprofit sales, Kim brings a uniquely holistic perspective to every project.
Prior to joining Hawaiʻi Cesspool Conversion Company Kim worked as a sales coordinator for a nonprofit, where she supported health and safety programs, coordinating with donors and customers and helping to streamline internal processes to strengthen organizational impacts. She then went on to hone her leadership, operational and customer services skills in various business and project management positions in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Most recently, Kim owned and operated a land use consulting company where she worked with a variety of clients, from local farmers to small business owners to large-scale developers, to successfully navigate Hawaiʻi’s complex permitting channels and realize environmentally sound and sustainable land use goals.
As an avid swimmer, paddleboarder and cacao farmer, Kim is passionate about preserving Hawaiʻi’s natural beauty and resources. She brings her deep understanding of Hawaiʻi land use regulations, strong attention to detail and project management expertise to Hawaiʻi Cesspool Conversion Company with the goal of ensuring our clients seamlessly achieve sustainable wastewater solutions.
Susan Kunz - Vice President of Business Development & Funding
Born and raised on Hawaiʻi Island, Susan Kunz brings decades of leadership experience across business, nonprofit, and government sectors, with deep expertise in housing, project funding, partner relations, property management, and community investment. She grew up in a family with deep roots in farming and agriculture, where she developed a strong work ethic and a lasting respect for the land and natural resources that support local families and communities.
Susan served twice as Housing Administrator for the County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing and Community Development, working with public agencies, community organizations, and residents to address housing needs, secure funding, and support responsible policy and compliance. Through that work, she saw firsthand that housing is not only a matter of building homes, but of solving the infrastructure challenges that allow families and communities to thrive. Her experience brings an important housing and community-development perspective to wastewater work, where responsible systems can help unlock housing opportunities while protecting Hawaiʻi’s land and water resources.
Having spent much of her life camping, fishing, diving, and hiking around Hawaiʻi Island, Susan has a firsthand connection to the places and resources this work is meant to protect. She brings a grounded, community-centered approach to helping property owners meet critical wastewater needs while supporting healthier land, cleaner water, and stronger communities across Hawaiʻi.
Our Values
Aloha
Every client, every home, every project is treated with care and respect.
Kuleana
We take our responsibility to this land and community seriously.
Pono
We do things the right way, even when it’s not the easy way. That’s our promise to you.
Looking Ahead
We’re scaling to meet Hawaiʻi’s growing needs. We’re expanding our team, investing in top-tier equipment, and strengthening partnerships across all islands. But even with that momentum, a bigger picture is emerging and it impacts every homeowner.
Statewide, more than 80,000 cesspools must be converted by 2050, with over 14,000 in Priority 1 areas likely to face mandated conversion within the next 10 years. On Hawaiʻi Island alone, that means nearly 1,800 conversions must happen every year just to stay on pace.
Yet the number of qualified contractors is limited, and the pipeline is already starting to bottleneck.
In the past decade, the average cost of a cesspool-to-septic conversion has risen 30–50%, driven by rising material prices, labor shortages, and increasingly complex permitting. As deadlines approach and demand surges, those costs are only expected to climb, especially for remote or difficult-to-access properties.
That’s why we urge homeowners to plan early, lock in pricing, and secure their place on the schedule now…before the rush becomes a crisis.
At Hawaiʻi Cesspool Conversion Company, we’re not just keeping up, we’re building the capacity to lead. But the best time for a smooth, cost-effective conversion is now.
