Post-Disaster Permitting Is Streamlined and Improved
Building off years of experience with coastal hazards, the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program and Maui County developed new guidelines and protocol to protect sensitive coastal ecosystems and streamline repair and redevelopment permits for communities affected by storms and tsunamis.
The resulting post-disaster permit process is serving as a model for other Hawaii counties, and a training program sponsored by the American Planning Association and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Disaster Preparedness Training Center is helping spread the word. A two-year resilience grant from the NOAA Coastal Storms Program was used to develop this portion of the training program. A new grant will expand this effort to South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. (2016)
Partners: American Planning Association, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program, NOAA Office for Coastal Management
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High-Wind Building Codes Part of Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
The Hawaii Coastal Management Program is helping coastal communities prepare for severe winds and storm surges by developing local hazard mitigation plans. Approval of these plans by the Federal Emergency Management Agency makes the community eligible to receive federal disaster assistance. With the program’s leadership and funding from Section 309 of the CZMA, Hawaii’s first statewide and county plans were approved and adopted in 2005.
In completing the initial plans, the coastal program discovered that building codes needed updating to handle the impact of the 100+ miles per hour wind gusts sustained under extreme conditions. All four counties in the state performed this task. In addition, the coastal program partners with the Hawaii Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, engineering associations, and county planning and public works departments to provide training workshops on the upgraded wind standards. (2016)
Partners: Hawaii Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Hawaii Coastal Management Program, NOAA Office for Coastal Management
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Wetlands Restoration Is Fulfilling a Community Vision
Agricultural changes to the Heeia wetlands, once known for abundant taro crops and naturally healthy fishponds, resulted in increased runoff, invasive species, and sedimentation. Concerned community members consulted with local elders and the broader community to create a vision for restoring the wetland. Funding from the Hawaii Coastal Program and NOAA went toward a 2010-2015 strategic restoration plan that also takes into account potential impacts of climate change.
More than 400 acres on the windward side of Oahu, Hawaii, are being restored. The project is strengthening the community’s traditional agricultural economy, improving nearshore water quality, and preparing the area for climate change. Clearing and cultivation work performed by volunteers is now yielding taro. The Heeia Wetlands Restoration Project is a role model for other coastal communities. (2016)
Partners: Hawaii Coastal Program, NOAA Office for Coastal Management
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Mapping the Urban Realm to Enhance Community Resilience
Tropical urban forests provide recreational benefits and a wide range of environmental services, including protection from storms, sea level rise, and coastal erosion, and protection for coral reefs and nearshore marine ecosystems. The Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program brought partners and stakeholders together to define the type and location of these forests in Hawaii.
The resulting “Urban Realm” data layer was assembled using the high-resolution land cover data, available from NOAA’s Digital Coast, and depicted existing urbanized areas and nearby forests. With the urban realm mapped, the state was better able to identify urban forests, develop a set of long-term management activities and environmental literacy initiatives, and enhance the health of coastal ecosystems and the resilience of coastal communities. (2016)
More information: coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/stories/urban-realm?utm_source=SocialMedia&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=Green
Partners: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawaii Office of Planning GIS Program
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