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.
