Flush with success at exchanging their water-guzzling toilets for new water savers, residents at several condominiums found themselves sitting atop a huge pile of used commodes. They didn't want their toilets to overflow the landfills, so they went fishing for a solution.

The answer was pure genius.

Why not give them to the fishes? They could join the state's artificial reef program and create commode condos for the fish to frolic in.

President Sam Bren is optimistic that he can convince the members of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board at its meeting Tuesday that one person's throne is another fish's castle.

The trash-to-treasure proposal by the small fry has attracted some big fishes. Area Councilman Duke Bainum went for it hook, line and sinker. "Using low-flush toilets and creating an artificial reef would be a double good for the environment. You save water with every flush, and attract more reef fish."

State reef expert Brian Kanenaka was enchanted with the idea, since the porcelain tanks and toilets are indestructible and would make lifetime homes for octopuses and small fish. But he was quick to throw cold water on surfers salivating at the thought of riding a new surf spot called Toilet Bowls.

Wave action would scatter the toilets all over the shallow water and send the fish fleeing from their new abodes. But the deep artificial reef off Ewa might make a good final resting place.

One problem threatens to sink the plan: how to get the porcelain out to sea? Trucking the mountain of toilets to the ocean would be expensive.

Reef experts also worried that paying customers on scuba tours might find the sight of a mountain of undersea toilets distasteful. But Carl Vincenti of Ocean Concepts isn't ready to deep-six the idea. He thinks the divers would get a kick out of exploring toilet towers.

But according to Vincenti, there are a lot of prime potential artificial reefs going to waste. He's referring to the aging fleet of warships that the military spends millions to decommission and send deep to Davey Jones' locker. If scuttled in water accessible to divers, the ghost fleet would be an irresistible lure for divers from around the world.