Bringing Sea-Level Rise into Long Range Planning Considerations on Maui, Hawaii

Maui's coastal lands, along with many others worldwide, are under tremendous pressure from expanding development and accelerating coastal erosion. While it may be perceived by the public that the lands most at risk from sea-level rise are those immediately bordering the coastline, the threat to low-lying areas from a rising water table inland of the coast may also be great. Maui planning officials have begun to recognize that regardless of the uncertainty over projected rates of sea-level rise, threats associated with rising sea level should be identified and mitigated through a combination of modeling, mapping, and direct observation. This paper provides a review of current sea-level rise science and describes the scientific and management approaches being undertaken by Maui County to better understand potential risks associated with rising seas and account for these projections in long-range planning.