Tropical futures!

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