HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Hawaii's State Capitol reflecting pools, long known for their stagnant and smelly water, are set for a transformation as plans to replace the water with art move forward. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Originally intended to symbolize the ocean surrounding the state, the pools have suffered from years of deferred maintenance costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Chronic leaking into the Capitol building's basement prompted the legislature to appropriate $33 million last year to fix the pools' waterproofing and replace the water with an artistic installation. "It's a tremendous cost, but it's something that has needed to be done for the last 20 years," said Gordon Wood, administrator of the Department of Accounting and General Services Public Works Division. Wood explained that there is no longer a viable water source to fill the pools. "The springs that we've been using are no longer usable. The Board of Water Supply will not allow us to use potable water because every day we lose about 25,000 gallons just through evaporation," he said. Broadway returns to Hawaii with new 2025 lineup The new installation will feature glass artwork that resembles the ocean. "The original intention for the reflective pools around the Hawaii State Capitol was to represent all the different oceans and nearshore areas around the Hawaiian Islands, bringing them together like an amalgamation of different facets," said artist Solomon Enos, selected to create the artwork. "The idea is to maintain that same intention; what was literally water to represent the ocean will now be glass to figuratively represent it." The project is already underway, and in a highly unusual move, Enos has reversed the process by allowing the public to participate in the painting. "This is what artists don't typically do, but I want to be more like a conductor, with the community bringing the music," he said. The art being created on a canvas measuring about 109 inches by 60 inches will be scanned in Germany and enlarged into glass plates for two art pieces—one on the House side and another on the Senate side. "It's the people's house, and the people need to be felt, seen, and part of this," Enos added. The artwork is part of the $33 million state appropriation and is open for public participation at Capitol Modern every day the museum is open through September and on a limited schedule in October. Enos welcomed walk-ins, stating, "If you only have one minute, you can take that time to add five or ten marks to this canvas, and it'll live on for generations." The project also includes improvements to a 16-foot promenade around the pools, which they hope to complete by December 2026, in time for the next governor's inauguration. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Details on how to participate in the Capitol pool art can be found at capitolmodern.org.