Column: Kahala’s eroding beaches are public loss, not just private one
July 23, 2026
The Star-Advertiser recently published an article about beachfront properties in Kahala, in which a value was put on what erosion means for the oceanfront estates along Kahala Avenue: every square foot lost is thousands of dollars gone from a landowner’s balance sheet (“State decries erosion at Kahala beachfront properties,” June 29). The description reveals what’s missing from the conversation about Kahala’s crumbling shoreline — it represents only a small portion of the ledger. Missing from that accounting is the value of the beach itself, the public trust asset that state law says belongs to everyone, not to whomever happens to … Read more
Column: Rolling back climate scenario does not roll back risks
July 12, 2026
The recent decision by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to retire the high-emissions RCP8.5 scenario has prompted some to argue that the climate crisis may not be as severe as once feared. In Hawaii, that discussion has even raised questions about whether our clean energy and emissions-reduction goals should be relaxed. That would be a profound mistake. RCP8.5 was never a prediction; it was a scenario. Critics are correct that it assumed exceptionally high fossil-fuel emissions that now appear less likely because renewable energy has expanded faster than expected and coal use has not grown as projected. But … Read more
CRC and Partners Release New Sea Level Rise Viewers for Pohnpei and Yap
July 3, 2026
A team from the University of Hawai‘i and Arizona State University, supported by a NOAA Adaptation Sciences grant, has developed two high‑resolution online GIS Viewers to help communities in Pohnpei and Yap better understand local sea level rise risks. Using GPS and drone-based elevation surveys tied to tide gauges, the project maps one‑foot increments of sea level rise and shows how homes, roads, utilities, and public spaces may be affected over time. In May and June 2026, the team met with government agencies and community members to demonstrate the tools and gather feedback. The Viewers integrate critical infrastructure data from … Read more
CRC’s own Earth Science grad Noah Paoa is among first from Rapa Nui to earn doctoral degree
June 9, 2026
Growing up on Rapa Nui, Noah Paoa spent his summers camping by the shore, bodyboarding, and exploring the island’s landscape with his family. A pivotal moment occurred in 2010 when, at fifteen years old, a massive earthquake in Chile triggered a tsunami warning for the island. Paoa watched the shoreline recede so far it seemed as if the ocean had never been there. In addition to his deep connection to place, this experience highlighted how closely life on an island is tied to the forces of the sea, eventually guiding him toward a historic academic milestone. Graduating with the University … Read more
Waiʻanae Readiness Review launches effort with first community meeting
May 7, 2026
The Waiʻanae Readiness Review held its first community meeting on April 29th, at Kamehameha Schools’ Kaiāulu Community Learning Center in Māʻili, marking the formal launch of a year-long effort to assess climate vulnerability and build resilience across the Waiʻanae Moku. The project is led by the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa’s Climate Resilience Collaborative (CRC), headed by Chip Fletcher, Dean of the School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology (SOEST) at UH Mānoa, in partnership with the UH Mānoa Wildfire Research team led by Clay Trauernicht, and the Resilience Office of the City and County of Honolulu. More than 90 committee members, community members, … Read more
Sea-level rise might increase tainted water
April 27, 2026
If you’ve walked through ankle-deep water in Waikiki during heavy storms, its possible that you’ve come in contact with contaminated water from the Ala Wai Canal. That’s according to a new study from the University of Hawaii, which simulated past flood events and projected future events to analyze how contaminated water affects the area. It notes that climate change will increase global flood risks by raising sea levels, shifting precipitation patterns and increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Contact with Ala Wai Canal water won’t be solely tied to precipitation, the study said. Sea-level rise and deteriorated … Read more
Waikīkī flood adaptation research earns international award
April 14, 2026
Visualizing a future where Waikīkī’s iconic landscape is redesigned to survive rising tides has earned a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research team the 2026 Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) Best Journal Article Award. The team leveraged scientific data, studies and community participation to create architectural renderings that visualize how Waikīkī’s built environment can be modified to accommodate future flooding. “By merging climate science with architectural design and integrating direct community feedback, we are creating forward-looking, actionable visions that will help coastal communities like Waikīkī successfully adapt to the growing realities of sea-level rise,” said Wendy Meguro, principal investigator and … Read more
Column: Pivotal time to spur climate resilience
April 5, 2026
Hawaii’s recent floods have shattered records and lives, with Kona-low storms dumping extraordinary rainfall on Oahu and Maui in March 2026. Our hearts are with every survivor who has lost homes, livelihoods and a sense of security amid the mud and wreckage. We also extend profound gratitude to the neighbors who pulled together to assist one another, and the rescue workers — from National Guard members wading through floodwaters to firefighters and first responders — whose courage and compassion embody aloha in action. These events are not isolated tragedies; they are stark revelations of our vulnerabilities. Systems designed for past … Read more
Kauaʻi Wants To Get Tough On Beachfront Home Renovations As Tides Climb
March 10, 2026
A nearly $4 million beachfront house on Wainiha Beach seems like a typical tropical vacation rental, with panoramic ocean views, a living area wrapped with floor-to-ceiling windows and five ensuite bedrooms. But with climate change making beaches like this one on Kaua‘i’s North Shore retreat, the county hopes to get tougher on houses that want to do repairs and other improvements within the shoreline setback. Bill 2984 would give the Kaua‘i Planning Department more authority to demand that such houses provide proof that the cost of their improvements fall under the county’s threshold for requiring that structures be moved outside … Read more
Spotlight Now: Green Fee Advisory Council on where $100M+ should go
February 2, 2026
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – On this edition of Spotlight Now, Green Fee Advisory Council members Eric Co and Dr. Chip Fletcher discussed how the $100 million or more should be spent. Last year, Gov. Josh Green signed Act 96, which increases taxes on hotel guests and vacation rental visitors. According to Co, environmental improvement efforts, climate-resilient infrastructure, and sustainable tourism should receive funding. Each effort should show tangible results, reduce harm, be ready in a reasonable timeframe, and build community relationships, said Co. “All of us in Hawaii know that we can do a lot with a little because were so … Read more