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Waiʻanae Readiness Review

The Leeward Coast of Oʻahu is one of Hawaiʻi's most dynamic and exposed landscapes, a place where dry valleys meet the open ocean, where wildland fires can sweep across hillsides with little warning, and where a single road connects coastal communities to the rest of the island. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam leadership, is conducting a comprehensive climate risk assessment for the Waiʻanae Coast to better understand the interconnected risks that threaten infrastructure shared by the local communities and the Lualualei military installation. The project examines six overlapping hazards: wildland fire, coastal flooding, compound flooding, coastal erosion, extreme heat, and drought. These threats can compound risks, drought dries out vegetation and fuels fires, heat intensifies both, and a major storm can simultaneously overwhelm drainage systems, flood Farrington Highway, and cut off the only road connecting leeward communities to emergency services and critical resources. Our research uses advanced physical modeling and geospatial analysis to map where these hazards converge, and to identify which pieces of infrastructure (roads, utilities, water systems) are most vulnerable when they do. Throughout the project, the University is working closely with community stakeholders, government partners, and local subject matter experts through a Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee. The knowledge and priorities of the people who live and work on the Waiʻanae Coast are central to this process. The ultimate aim is not just to understand the risks, but to identify the most pressing needs and translate them into concrete, shovel-ready projects that the City, community organizations, and other partners can champion and carry forward.