Community invited to ‘Olowalu: The Road to Resilience’ design events

The Nature Conservancy and UH Community Design Center are hosting the second in a series of events to gather community input on a resilient future for the Olowalu and Ukumehame coastal corridor once Honoapiʻilani Highway is realigned.

An in-person event will be held Thursday, May 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria. Light dinner and beverages will be provided. RSVP here.

Virtual Zoom meetings will follow on Tuesday, June 3, from noon to 1:30 p.m. (RSVP), and on Thursday, June 5, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. (RSVP). The virtual meetings will mirror the activities at the in-person event using visual and participatory online tools.

“This coastline is rich in culture and history and boasts one of the most important reef systems in Hawaiʻi,” said Tamara Farnsworth, TNC’s Coastal Resilience project manager. “As the shoreline erodes and the highway is moved inland, we have an opportunity to show our aloha ʻāina for this treasured place by developing a collective vision that preserves its integrity. With the impacts of sea-level rise already upon us, it is crucial that we look ahead now, so we can prepare for and adapt to future changes that will continue to impact our beloved coastline and reef.”

The input shared during initial events in February has been incorporated into preliminary conceptual design drafts that address potential impacts and effects along the eroding Olowalu-Ukumehame coastline. These designs consider ongoing environmental hazards and explore possible interventions that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge, biocultural practices and other nature-based solutions to build resiliency along the coastal corridor. At the upcoming interactive events, participants will consider near- and long-term scenarios for adapting to changing conditions and zoom in on areas of social, ecological, cultural, recreational and economic relevance at three priority sites.

To RSVP or learn more about the project, visit the Olowalu: The Road to Resilience website.