Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program

Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program
Name	Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program
Formed	1977
Jurisdiction	Hawaii
Headquarters	Honolulu
Parent agency	Department of Land and Natural Resources (Hawaii)

Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program

The Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program operates within Hawaii to coordinate coastal resource protection alongside National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Congress, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior (United States), United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and regional authorities such as Pacific Islands Forum. It integrates state statutes like the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 with local planning efforts across islands including Oʻahu, Maui, Hawaii (island), Kauaʻi, and Molokaʻi to address issues related to coral reefs, sea level rise, beach erosion, and marine species protected under instruments like the Endangered Species Act.

Overview

The program was established following guidance from the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 and partnerships with NOAA and state institutions including the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Hawaii State Legislature. It functions alongside agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and local county planning departments in Honolulu County and Hawaii County. Activities intersect with stakeholders represented by organizations like the Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, and native Hawaiian entities such as Office of Hawaiian Affairs and cultural practitioners linked to ʻāina-based stewardship.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

Statutory authority derives from the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 and state laws enacted by the Hawaii State Legislature with implementation via the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Hawaii). The program coordinates consistency review under federal statutes administered by NOAA and interacts with case law from courts such as the United States Supreme Court and the District Court of Hawaiʻi. Coastal permitting processes require alignment with regulations influenced by national policy documents from United States Environmental Protection Agency and planning precedents set by bodies like the American Planning Association.

Program Components and Management Measures

Key components include shoreline setback regulations, special management area rules, and habitat protection measures for resources including coral reefs, mangroves, and seabirds such as Newell's shearwater and Hawaiian petrel. Management measures address activities regulated under permits from agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers (wetland permits), National Marine Fisheries Service (marine mammal and fisheries issues), and county building permits tied to municipal codes of Honolulu, Maui County, and Kauaʻi County. The program implements guidance consistent with international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and national strategies like the National Coastal Zone Management Program.

Key Coastal Issues and Initiatives

Major issues are sea level rise, coastal inundation, storm surge as documented by NOAA National Hurricane Center analyses, shoreline armoring debates involving cases like Public Trust Doctrine litigation, and ecosystem decline affecting species listed under the Endangered Species Act including coral and turtle protections coordinated with NOAA Fisheries and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Initiatives include resilience planning influenced by reports from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, community-based restoration projects with partners such as The Nature Conservancy and Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, and hazard mitigation planning with coordination through FEMA and state emergency management.

Implementation, Partnerships, and Funding

Implementation relies on interagency collaboration among Department of Land and Natural Resources (Hawaii), county planning agencies, regional offices of NOAA, and academic partners including University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology. Funding streams combine federal grants administered by NOAA under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, state appropriations from the Hawaii State Legislature, and philanthropic support from organizations such as Kamehameha Schools and national foundations like the Packard Foundation and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Partnerships extend to indigenous governance entities including Office of Hawaiian Affairs and community groups active in places such as Waikīkī, Hā`ena, and the North Shore (Oahu).

Monitoring, Enforcement, and Evaluation

Monitoring employs scientific programs at institutions like University of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, and federal monitoring by NOAA and US Geological Survey, utilizing tools such as satellite remote sensing from NASA, sea level data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and bathymetric surveys used by the United States Geological Survey. Enforcement actions coordinate with county planning offices, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Hawaii) enforcement branch, and judicial review in courts including the Hawaii State Judiciary. Program evaluation uses performance metrics aligned with national reporting to NOAA and policy reviews informed by studies in journals such as Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Category:Environment of Hawaii Category:Coastal management in the United States