Living on the Shores of Hawaii: Natural Hazards, the Environment, and Our Communities

Charles H. Fletcher; Robynne Boyd; William J. Neal; Virginia Tice

Published by University of Hawaii Press 2010

Living on the Shores of Hawaii

Natural Hazards, the Environment, and Our Communities

Charles H. Fletcher , Robynne Boyd , William J. Neal and Virginia Tice

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780824860905

Overview
Contents

About this book

Rarely a day goes by in Hawai‘i without the media reporting on environmental issues stemming from public debate. Will the proposed housing development block my access to the beach? Is the rising sea level going to cause flooding where I live? How does overfishing damage the reef? Is the water clean where I surf? Living on the Shores of Hawai‘i discusses the paradox of environmental loss under a management system considered by many to be one of the most stringent in the nation. It reviews a wide range of environmental concerns in Hawai‘i with an eye toward resolution by focusing on "place-based" management, a theme consistent with—and borrowing from—the Hawaiian ahupua‘a system.

After describing a typical situation in Hawai‘i where a sandy beach is lost because a seawall has been built to protect a poorly sited home, the authors step back in time to trace land-use practices before and after the arrival of Westerners and the increased tempo of destruction following the latter. They go on to discuss volcanoes and the risk of placing homes in locations vulnerable to natural hazards and the potential dangers of earthquakes and tsunamis to a complacent public. Water issues, including scarcity, flooding, and pollution, are surveyed, as well as climate change and the possible outcomes of projected sea rise for Hawai‘i. The authors explain coastal erosion and beach loss and the problems of overfishing and ocean acidification. Later chapters assess residents’ risks to hurricanes, offering mitigation techniques, and provide a summary and some management conclusions.

As tensions increase because of conflicting standards, misunderstandings, and contradictory ideals and actions, we put our economy and quality of life at risk. Sound decision-making begins with asking the right questions. This book addresses these questions within the context of sustainability and thus their influence on the future of Hawai‘i.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
1. Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. History of the Land Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	12
3. Volcanism among the Islands Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	26
4. Earthquakes and Tsunamis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	43
5. Hurricanes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	66
6. Climate and Water Resources Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	93
7. Stream Flooding and Mass Wasting Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	133
8. Sewage Treatment and Polluted Runoff Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	164
9. Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	203
10. Beach Erosion and Loss Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	249
11. Reefs and Overfishing Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	276
12. A Responsibility to Nurture the Land Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	315
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	331
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	367
About the Authors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	373

Language: English
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Audience: General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 384
Illustrations
- Other: 124 color illus.

eBook

Published: December 31, 2010
ISBN: 9780824860905