Hawaii's Rising Sea Levels and How to Design Around It

Climate change and its effects becomes more urgent going forward. Where before there was time to haggle and prevaricate socially and politically, the issue is now more immediate. Real world consequences of a rapidly changing climate are not merely up for consideration; they've become front and center. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than with rising sea levels. Humans live their entire existence in need of land. The rise of global sea levels is one of the few worldwide phenomena that threaten to reduce the quantity of land at our disposal. It also impacts our ability to use the land we have. That means we suffer the added difficulty of a decrease in quality. Any area with a substantial coastline would do well to take notice. The Hawaiian Islands are prime candidates for such an assessment. Hawaiian State officials, leading planners and architects have begun to act. They realize the moment is now, and delay is an option they can't afford.

Where Are We On Climate Change?

When word of human-induced rapid climate change first made its rounds, people barely took notice. It was the province of scientists, wonks and other specialists. The average person barely understood the principles, let alone the nomenclature and particulars. Unfortunately the problem grew, and word got out by necessity. The early findings weren't all uniform, though they did point in the same general direction.

As more information gathered, the issue moved to the political and social spheres, where it ran into partisan wrangling, international politics and economic considerations. Climate activism and climate denial became common terms. While those external considerations churned, scientific observation continued. Within a few years the problem appeared worse, and in several areas, the timing of benchmarks accelerated. Snowcaps disappeared quickly and some glaciers disintegrated unexpectedly.

The air quality lessened as the sea levels rose. A tentative worldwide consensus was reached on the reality of the problem. State-sponsored responses remain mixed however. Business and social reactions show the same uneven activity. The most proactive movement seems concentrated in sectors obliged to deal with the consequences of climate change. Industries and individuals on the front line of pollution and sea level rising find themselves forced to deal with a problem that leaves little room for debate or inaction.

How Much Are The Sea Levels Rising?

In a state like Hawaii sea level rise is a real and tangible occurrence. Rates among the islands vary, but the damage is real and it is growing. Anywhere from just over half an inch, to an inch and a third have been recorded. These are statistics from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information. In the next eighty years it is predicted sea levels will rise from one to three feet throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

With sea rise of course comes chronic flooding. Drainage that worked well in the past is currently overwhelmed. Barriers that worked for a lesser flood level are inadequate today, and even more disastrous for what comes tomorrow. Low lying areas will be particularly hard hit. The problem needs immediate solution. Luckily some political and business sectors are responding. Just as important, however, is the need for forward thinking and future proofing. As the problem intensifies, playing 'catch-up' and 'keep up' is increasingly insufficient.

What Economic Impact Can Hawaii Expect?

The economic toll of rising sea level in Hawaii is expected to be in the billions. This isn't only restricted to tourism and trade. Real infrastructure damage can devastate the state. The flooding alone is predicted to cost nineteen billion. It will affect everything from Honolulu Harbor to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.  Waikiki will be affected, as will the industrial areas in Kakaako.  Just a one-meter rise in ocean level will harm more then sixty five hundred structures. The loss of businesses, as well as home relocation will be enormous. People losing work, their homes or even their lives, would spell a statewide disaster of crippling proportions.

How Are Hawaii's Planners And Architects Responding? 

Part of the more forward-thinking respondents has been the island's architects and planners. Buildings that have to be functional for fifty to a hundred years must take rising sea levels into account. To do otherwise is foolish and irresponsible, not to mention negligent. In response, architectural groups and firms have focused more attention on rising sea levels. That has also brought attention to the problem of flooding. The professional's plans and strategies routinely offer preventatives and safeguards against some of these damages. Suggestions such as moving critical equipment (like generators and furnaces) away from the traditional basement level are often given as options.

Across the state, architects and planners have formed impact groups and steering committees that examine the problems of sea level rise and flood damage. They've studied how rainfall levels might affect the basic problem. Groups look into various industries and sectors to see where the greatest danger may lay. Train rail and building structures were identified early as candidates for disruption.  A growing concern is plumbing, particularly as it relates to wastewater and sewage. It's estimated that catastrophic flooding from seawater rise could cause a hundred twenty-four billion dollars in damage if it isn't stopped. Planners warn about limiting new projects in flood-prone areas. They suggest isolating at-risk structures to prevent them from compromising common grids when they fail. Some suggest restrictions on density and building heights. It's obvious a new breed of strategies might be needed, given the rapid rise of climate problems affecting the state.

What Solutions Are Being Implemented? 

Universities and government agencies are studying the sea level problem from a practical standpoint. Institutions like the University of Hawaii's Manoa’s School of Architecture do ongoing investigations and impact studies. They compile information and make it available directly to government agencies. The information helps create strategies for infrastructure improvements. The researchers' work and that of others has resulted in real legislation that has made its way to the governor's desk. If these proactive steps are continued and duplicated, some disasters may be averted. With further action the climate change disruptions could be stopped altogether in the distant future.