So far we've seen only a fraction of
the forms and processes that have sculpted Maui into the tropical
paradise we see today. Hawaii hosts the United States' only tropical
rain forrest, as well as the majority of U.S. coral reefs. Being an
isolated island, Maui hosts upwards of 22,000 unique plant and animal
species, not including the various microorganisms that have yet to be
discovered (or Kim Kardashian). Maui's shorelines are an important part of the island's
economy, as well as a major cultural and recreational resource. The
Hawaiian government it taking steps to ensure the sustainability of
Maui's various ecosystems, resulting in a battle between man and
nature.
Maui coastlines are becoming
increasingly overpopulated due to both an increase in tourism and
aggressive business development practices. With that said, changes to
the coast in the next 10 years are most likely to be the result of
conservation efforts. Many of Maui's undeveloped beaches are
currently in equilibrium, meaning sediment is replaced at the same
rate it is lost; however the coast along populated areas such as
Wailea and Kihei have seen modifications such as revetment (one of
the only things keeping the Wailea Marriott from falling into the
sea).
Erosion and creation (accretion) of
Maui's beaches are affected by many factors including location,
season, year, ocean activity, and human interference. Several areas
of concern have been identified and armored where coastal erosion
threatens property and infrastructure. Protecting shorelines with
structures such as sea walls slows coastal erosion but generally
accelerates loss in front of the structure. Only in the last 20 years
has Maui begun utilizing beach nourishment techniques, transporting
large volumes of sand to highly eroded areas. Normally, sand dunes
along the coast serve to store excess sand and protect natural
erosion, however many of these dunes have been leveled and moved by
developers to provide an unobstructed view of the sea. Loss of dunes
also results in a loss of vegetation which prevents erosion by runoff
from land to sea.
More than erosion, a major concern for
Maui's coast is the steady rise in sea-level, which studies currently
estimate at 9inches/century. While man can prevent the beach from
“floating away”, we cannot prevent the ocean level from rising.
At the current accepted rate, Maui's coast could recede by almost 9
feet in the next millennium. In addition, Maui is constantly at risk
for major geological catastrophes. Large magnitude earthquakes occur
every 250 years or so on the island itself, and is susceptible to
tsunamis as a result of seismic activity elsewhere in the Pacific
Rim. Maui's main volcano Haleakala, which we saw in the beginning of
the semester is currently still considered active. Although it has
not erupted recently it usually erupts every 200 – 500 years and
has the potential to do so again, which could have fairly devastating
consequences for the island topography and it's residents.
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- http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/07/15/news/story02.html
- http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/hiland.htm
- http://www.hawaii247.com/2010/06/04/volcano-watch-should-maui-residents-be-concerned-about-lava-flows/
- http://www.co.maui.hi.us/index.aspx?NID=862
- http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/archive/1996/96_11_27.html
- http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/hispp.html
- http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/HMRG/FloodingOahu/stepbystep_maui.php
