Rising sea levels are slowly and quietly reshaping coastlines, threatening the communities built along and around them. The Pā’ia Youth Cultural Center is being relocated.
What happened?
The Hawaii Journalism Initiative reports that officials are planning to rebuild the center further inland.
The Paia Youth Cultural Center is located near Baldwin Beach Park on Maui’s North Shore. The park itself has suffered from repeated flooding and shoreline recession.
Globally, sea levels are rising and storms are getting stronger, largely due to rising global temperatures. Sea levels in Hawaii have risen 5 inches since 1970, according to the Hawaii State Climate Change Portal.
Benjamin Rachunas, the center’s general manager, said time is of the essence, according to news reports. While projects have not yet been affected, he noted: “Fast forward 10 years, this is going to be an issue.”
The situation is part of a larger trend of coastal erosion and flooding events that threaten homes, schools, roads and livelihoods in the Pacific and beyond. The burning of coal, oil and natural gas and rising global temperatures are exacerbating the slow-moving crisis.
Distant events can also add to stress. In Greenland, scientists have found that extreme ice melt events have nearly doubled in recent decades, accelerating sea level rise. At the same time, marine heat waves in the Arctic are more frequent and sea ice is melting faster. These global changes driven by human activities are causing sea levels to rise, impacting communities like Paya.
Why is this important?
Coastal communities have had to adapt to a new normal of experiencing coastal flooding from time to time. The Hawaii Climate Change Portal notes that the state experienced only two high-tide floods between 1970 and 1980. Between 2010 and 2020, 40 days of flooding occurred.
Flooding, seawater intrusion and erosion have devastated local economies and displaced entire communities. In coastal states such as Hawaii, Florida and Louisiana, billions of dollars in property and cultural heritage are at risk as the ocean continues to spread inland and inundate cities.
What measures are being taken?
On Maui, plans are moving forward to relocate the youth center while developing long-term adaptation measures such as raised event spaces and “walls” to allow water to pass through if needed, according to news reports. Funds will be raised to make the youth center flood-proof and reduce potential damage to the structure.
Globally, scientists stress that reducing the burning of oil, coal and natural gas is crucial to slowing the phenomenon. Shifting to cleaner, cheaper energy could help limit rising temperatures and ease pressure on fragile coastlines.
Personally, some of the best long-term measures include improving household resilience, staying informed about coastal risks and learning more about key environmental issues.
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