More than 400 people have pre-enrolled to participate in an initiative to track the health impacts of the 2021 fuel spill in Red Hill.
The Red Hill Registry, which aims to provide vital data for understanding the long-term effects of the contamination, is a crucial step in supporting those affected by this crisis. As the official launch approaches, the growing number of pre-registrants highlights the ongoing concern and demand for resources to address the challenges faced by these communities.
For many, this effort is personal. When the Red Hill fuel leak contaminated the water system, families were left with more questions than answers. Residents across the area experienced unexplained health issues and knew something was wrong, yet many were told their symptoms were due to stress, not contamination.
For Tara Sutton, director of community engagement, the crisis began in a way many affected families would recognize: unexplained symptoms, unanswered questions, and a growing sense that something wasn’t right.
Her family lived on the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water line, and like any other family, they drank the water thinking nothing of it.
“We all wondered why we were getting sick, including the cat,” Sutton said. “It was very surreal, very unbelievable, like this can’t be happening, kind of a moment.”
Instead of answers, affected residents’ symptoms were downplayed by officials. Many were told they weren’t exposed long enough or to a high enough concentration of jet fuel to be sick.
At the time, Sutton was a student at UH Mānoa, studying communicology, ethnic studies, and anthropology. With experience in oral histories and qualitative research, she knew how to document people’s experiences and protect their anonymity.
“Those were things that I wanted to use my skill set to kind of validate my neighbor’s experiences and work against that statement of this is psychosomatic,” Sutton said.
Stephanie Wagner, the registry’s referral manager, has a similar story, one that highlights how some communities were left behind in the response.
Wagner was a registered nurse for 21 years and moved to Hawaiʻi from New York City in December 2020. Her parents started living at Kapilina Beach Homes in Iroquois Point, a neighborhood of 1,400 rental homes made up of military families, civilians, and Native Hawaiians.
Within weeks of moving in, her and her family started experiencing what Wagner refers to as “bizarre health symptoms.” Everything from nausea, headaches, and rashes after showering.
Unlike residents living on base, Wagner’s neighborhood was not prioritized in the response.
“We were treated like the stepchild of the Red Hill water crisis,” she said.
The Navy moved quickly to clean and help those who lived directly on base, but for those who were considered off base, but still on their water line, they were told the water was safe.
Now, as part of the Red Hill Registry, Wagner’s role is to connect people to resources, whether they need medical care, housing assistance, or environmental support.

“The goals of the registry are to help to connect the community to resources through our referral program, and also to track participants over time so that we can glean more information about the potential long term health effects of exposure to jet fuel in the drinking water,” said Director Rosana “Sanie” Weldon.
The registry will serve as a centralized data repository, allowing researchers to analyze exposure-related health effects and answer questions about the spill’s effects.
In addition to health concerns such as neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms, the registry acknowledges the economic hardships, pet health concerns, and mental health toll the crisis has inflicted.
By enrolling, participants help researchers understand the long-term health impacts of exposure to jet fuel and push for better support for those still dealing with the crisis.
For Sutton and Wagner, this work is about more than just research, it’s about justice for their neighbors, families, and everyone impacted by Red Hill. Many residents report ongoing trauma and a deep reluctance to trust their water sources again.
“I want people to understand, that we are in this together. This is absolutely 100% to support our community, and just to be this vessel for our community” said Wagner.