alwysonvac
TUG Lifetime Member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2005
- Messages
- 15,954
- Reaction score
- 3,778
- Points
- 848
- Location
- New Jersey
- Resorts Owned
-
WORLDMARK, HGVC, VISTANA
SOLD (DVC, FSRC)
From Travel and Leisure - https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/waikiki-beach-hawaii-threatened-by-rising-water-levels
Rising Sea Levels Are Threatening Hawaii's Beaches — Here's What's Being Done to Save Them
APRIL 25, 2019
...According to a 2017 report by the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission that was updated in September 2018, the capital of Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, and several coastal areas on Hawaii’s five islands will experience frequent flooding within 15 to 20 years.
According to lawmakers, the water levels have already risen more than 6 inches in recent decades. The 2017 report estimates that as the Earth heats up and water expands there will be a 3-foot rise in Hawaii’s sea level by 2100. This rise would threaten over 6,000 buildings and 20,000 people with chronic flooding across the five islands.
"This flooding will threaten $5 billion of taxable real estate; flood nearly 30 miles of roadway; and impact pedestrians, commercial and recreation activities, tourism, transportation, and infrastructure," said Shellie Habel, lead author of the 2017 study, in a release on Science Daily.
To protect Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, and the state’s coastline, AP reports that Hawaii’s state Senate and House of Representatives passed a bill that calls for a shoreline protection plan. If approved, the bill would utilize $4 million to fund a pilot project to build-up and protect the shoreline.
From Hawaii Bill 1487 - https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2019/bills/HB1487_.HTM
Rising Sea Levels Are Threatening Hawaii's Beaches — Here's What's Being Done to Save Them
APRIL 25, 2019
...According to a 2017 report by the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission that was updated in September 2018, the capital of Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, and several coastal areas on Hawaii’s five islands will experience frequent flooding within 15 to 20 years.
According to lawmakers, the water levels have already risen more than 6 inches in recent decades. The 2017 report estimates that as the Earth heats up and water expands there will be a 3-foot rise in Hawaii’s sea level by 2100. This rise would threaten over 6,000 buildings and 20,000 people with chronic flooding across the five islands.
"This flooding will threaten $5 billion of taxable real estate; flood nearly 30 miles of roadway; and impact pedestrians, commercial and recreation activities, tourism, transportation, and infrastructure," said Shellie Habel, lead author of the 2017 study, in a release on Science Daily.
To protect Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, and the state’s coastline, AP reports that Hawaii’s state Senate and House of Representatives passed a bill that calls for a shoreline protection plan. If approved, the bill would utilize $4 million to fund a pilot project to build-up and protect the shoreline.
From Hawaii Bill 1487 - https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2019/bills/HB1487_.HTM
RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that due to climate change, Hawaii has seen over half a foot of sea level rise in recent decades, and the rate of sea level rise is quickly accelerating. Data show that Honolulu is expected to begin seeing regular flooding of the urban core in as little as fifteen years. Climate change and warming seas are also causing Hawaii to see more hurricanes of increasing intensity than ever before. A direct hit on Honolulu is expected to mean a loss of $40,000,000,000 to Hawaii's infrastructure and economy. The loss of coastal property and infrastructure, increased cost for storm damage and insurance, and loss of life are inevitable if nothing is done, which will add significant burden to local taxpayers, the State's economy, and way of life.
In 2012, storm surge flooding during Hurricane Sandy led to $19,000,000,000 in losses to New York City, which has prompted New York City to begin planning for a comprehensive shoreline protection pilot project to prevent future flooding. The plan will allow shoreline neighborhoods to expand park space, redevelop the urban landscape, and add amenities to enrich their communities. Most of all, it will provide critical sea level rise and flood protection from storm events which will reduce disaster cost to taxpayers, reduce risk to the city, and save lives in the event of disaster.
The legislature further finds that many coastal communities in Hawaii are equally exposed. It is only a matter of time before significant disaster impacts Hawaii's shoreline communities, and as sea level rise continues accelerating, its potential impact grows more severe. As a result, it is prudent and urgent to begin planning for change.
The most challenging shoreline to protect will be urban Honolulu, and a comprehensive plan to protect urban shorelines will likely take over a decade to develop and implement with input and support from shoreline communities. Therefore, the time to begin is now.
The legislature further finds that in addition to coastal flooding, as sea level rise raises groundwater levels it will cause inevitable inland inundation. Raising street levels in many inland areas will still be required in the future. However, beginning with a comprehensive shoreline protection pilot project will first create a shoreline buffer and reduce the risk of coastal disaster events, behind which other projects to address inland inundation can follow in the future.
A comprehensive shoreline protection pilot project can serve as a model for new ways to engage neighborhoods and allow residents opportunities to expand park space, redevelop the urban landscape, and add amenities to enrich their communities. Most importantly, it will reduce risk and cost to taxpayers and property owners, and in the inevitable event of disaster, save lives.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a Honolulu shoreline climate protection pilot project to develop a plan to protect urban Honolulu from the impacts of climate change and be used as a model for the entire State......
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that due to climate change, Hawaii has seen over half a foot of sea level rise in recent decades, and the rate of sea level rise is quickly accelerating. Data show that Honolulu is expected to begin seeing regular flooding of the urban core in as little as fifteen years. Climate change and warming seas are also causing Hawaii to see more hurricanes of increasing intensity than ever before. A direct hit on Honolulu is expected to mean a loss of $40,000,000,000 to Hawaii's infrastructure and economy. The loss of coastal property and infrastructure, increased cost for storm damage and insurance, and loss of life are inevitable if nothing is done, which will add significant burden to local taxpayers, the State's economy, and way of life.
In 2012, storm surge flooding during Hurricane Sandy led to $19,000,000,000 in losses to New York City, which has prompted New York City to begin planning for a comprehensive shoreline protection pilot project to prevent future flooding. The plan will allow shoreline neighborhoods to expand park space, redevelop the urban landscape, and add amenities to enrich their communities. Most of all, it will provide critical sea level rise and flood protection from storm events which will reduce disaster cost to taxpayers, reduce risk to the city, and save lives in the event of disaster.
The legislature further finds that many coastal communities in Hawaii are equally exposed. It is only a matter of time before significant disaster impacts Hawaii's shoreline communities, and as sea level rise continues accelerating, its potential impact grows more severe. As a result, it is prudent and urgent to begin planning for change.
The most challenging shoreline to protect will be urban Honolulu, and a comprehensive plan to protect urban shorelines will likely take over a decade to develop and implement with input and support from shoreline communities. Therefore, the time to begin is now.
The legislature further finds that in addition to coastal flooding, as sea level rise raises groundwater levels it will cause inevitable inland inundation. Raising street levels in many inland areas will still be required in the future. However, beginning with a comprehensive shoreline protection pilot project will first create a shoreline buffer and reduce the risk of coastal disaster events, behind which other projects to address inland inundation can follow in the future.
A comprehensive shoreline protection pilot project can serve as a model for new ways to engage neighborhoods and allow residents opportunities to expand park space, redevelop the urban landscape, and add amenities to enrich their communities. Most importantly, it will reduce risk and cost to taxpayers and property owners, and in the inevitable event of disaster, save lives.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a Honolulu shoreline climate protection pilot project to develop a plan to protect urban Honolulu from the impacts of climate change and be used as a model for the entire State......