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Adverse Weather and Environmental Impacts in Hawaiʻi

Pili Nā Mea a Pau (all things are related)

Monk Seal at French Frigate Shoals

An ʻīlioholoikauaua rests on a sandy islet washing away with the rising tide at Lalo (French Frigate Shoals).  PC: Koa Matsuoka NMFS Permit 16632

Communities throughout Hawaiʻi and the Pacific demonstrate Indigenous cultural and community resilience grounded in Traditional Knowledge as they continue to adapt to global changes, just as their ancestors have for millennia. These adaptations and the collective resilience of Indigenous communities are strengthened and sustained through reciprocal exchanges between the peoples and the lands, territories, waters, and resources to which they are genealogically connected. Resilient communities are vital to the overall health and well-being of island peoples. To effectively advance the science of sustainability and manage resources amidst the changing climate, spiritual rituals and engagements are central to biocultural well-being—the collective well-being of landscapes, seascapes, and Indigenous communities. Through these rituals and engagements, island communities individually and collectively are able to connect to the place and all of its life-forms, cultivating reciprocal relations that enhance future resource abundance based on responsibility rather than ownership. 

In Hawaiʻi, tidal inundation, rising water temperatures, and ocean acidification have impacted nearshore fisheries, traditional practices (e.g., salt cultivation), and fishpond maintenance, while also causing extensive coastal erosion. Drought has exacerbated wildfire potential, increased damage by feral ungulates, led to the loss of native plant species, and heightened the risk of soil erosion. Adverse weather events have caused extensive flood damage to homes, businesses, roads, and agricultural lands. Additionally, adverse weather in the continental U.S. and around the world has caused supply chain disruptions and other economic consequences, as well as policy shifts, immigration issues, and public health concerns. These challenges also affect Hawaiʻi and the Native Hawaiian Community due to the state's isolation and reliance on essential goods.

 

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