OLOWALU: THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE CO-DESIGN COMMUNITY MEETING
The upcoming Honoapiʻilani Highway realignment provides a unique opportunity for your input on the future of the Olowalu and Ukumehame coastal corridor that reflects ʻike kupuna, nature-based solutions, and community priorities.
Welcome and introductions
Project overview
Engagement results
Project goals and structure
Initial draft design and concepts
Menti co-design activities
Wrap up discussion
Image: UHCDC
Who is The Nature Conservancy?
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. In Hawaiʻi since 1980, TNC promotes healthy and vibrant coral reefs through community partnerships, scientific monitoring, and restoration efforts across the state.
Image: TNC, © Lyle Krannichfeld
Who is the University of Hawaiʻi Community Design Center (UHCDC)?
We are a collective of University of Hawai’i at Mānoa faculty, staff, and allied professionals across university departments and disciplines, assisted by student interns and recent graduates. UHCDC provides a platform for learning and professional development opportunities for students.
We work at the intersection of university, government, non-profits, and community stakeholders, gathering diverse perspectives to define and inform projects that serve the public.
Olowalu: The Road to Resilience
HDOT Honoapiʻilani Highway Improvements
What is Olowalu: The Road to Resilience?
The planned Honoapiʻilani Highway realignment provides opportunities to re-imagine the Olowalu-Ukumehame coastal corridor by incorporating park spaces, traditional biocultural practices, and nature-based solutions. This project aims to strengthen coastal ecosystems, reduce pressures on the OlowaluUkumehame reef system, and improve resilience to help the area adapt to climate change effects, including sea level rise.
TNC Team:
Tamara Farnsworth, Coastal Resilience Project Manager
Dr. Kim Falinski, Coastal & Estuarine Scientist
Scott Crawford, Maui Marine Program Director
Emily Fielding, Hawai’i Marine Conservation Director
Nalei Sampson, Maui Marine Project Coordinator
UHCDC Team:
Judith Stilgenbauer, FASLA, Principal Investigator and Professor, School of Architecture
Emily Sobolewski Knight, ASLA, Research Associate
Sierra Spears, Research Associate
Student Assistants: Zoë Angelopulo, Dersel Bonai, Sarah Obra-Nakata, Kenny Morrow
Facilitators:
‘A‘ali‘i Alliance
Olowalu: The Road to Resilience
February 2025
OLOWALU: THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE
The upcoming Honoapiʻilani Highway realignment provides a unique opportunity for your input on the future of the Olowalu and Ukumehame coastal corridor that reflects ʻike kupuna, nature-based solutions, and community priorities.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
JOIN US TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECT AND SHARE YOUR ʻIKE AND MANAʻO.
Thursday Feb 6, 2025
5:30 - 7:30 PM
LAHAINA INTERMEDIATE CAFETERIA
871 Lahainaluna Rd, Lahaina, HI 96761
VIRTUAL
ALTERNATIVE 1
Tuesday Feb 11, 2025 12 - 1:30 PM
ZOOM REGISTRATION
https://tnc.zoom.us/meeting/register/x4O3irrQQqONiFoIkhWTA
VIRTUAL
ALTERNATIVE 2
Thursday Feb 13, 2025 5:30 - 7 PM
ZOOM REGISTRATION
https://tnc.zoom.us/meeting/register/ pxGgqK0MToiRijZvvUdPyA
Each meeting will cover the same content: project introduction, interactive community visioning, and talk story. At the in-person event, light dinner and beverages will be served. Throughout the year, there will be two additional rounds of visioning and co-design meetings.
LEARN MORE
For additional project and meeting info, please scan the QR code.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2ba79613d0aa4da182fe9bc34cc10cc7
QUESTIONS?
Contact: t.farnsworth@tnc.org UHCDC.olowalu@gmail.com
Olowalu: The Road to Resilience
Ridge-to-Reef Model
Talk Story Map
Activity 1: Talk-Story Map
Share your knowledge and experiences!
Olowalu: The Road to Resilience
Talk-Story Map Results
In-Person and Virtual Engagement Event Participant Input (2/6/25, 2/11/25, 2/13/25)
Olowalu: The Road to Resilience
Synthesis of In-Person and Virtual Event Participant Comments
TALK-STORY MAP SYNTHESIS
Olowalu: The Road to Resilience
Ridge-to-Reef Model
Prompt
Using pins, mark places where you see opportunities for ahupuaʻa scale improvements.
Cultural Vegetation
Water
Launiupoko
Olowalu
Ukumehame
Ridge-to-Reef Model Results
Number of Pins Placed Per Category
The Ridge-to-Reef Model exercise captured key community priorities across the Ukumehame, Olowalu, and Launiupoko ahupua‘a, with a total of 102 pins placed.
The large number of vegetation-related pins highlights a strong focus on native plant restoration, erosion control, and watershed health, while water-related pins emphasize concerns about stream flow, freshwater quality, and impacts of sediment on the Olowalu Reef. The cultural pins reflect a commitment to preserving significant sites and improving access, reinforcing the value of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in resilience planning.
Launiupoko
Olowalu
Ukumehame
Ridge-to-Reef Model Synthesis
CLEAN UP POLLUTION
STRENGTHEN CULTURAL SITES
PROTECT MAUKA AREAS
RESTORENATIVEFORESTS
PROTECT STREAM
Summary of In-Person and Virtual
Engagement Event Comments
(2/6/25, 2/11/25, 2/13/25)
CONTROLSPECIESINVASIVE
RESTORE WETLANDS
STRENGTHENMAUKATO MAKAIRELATIONSHIPS
RESTORE NATIVE FORESTS
COASTAL PROTECTION Categories:
IMPROVE ACCESS
Coastal Interventions: Resilient Future
Post-highway relocation, where do you see opportunities for the following? Please use pins.
Coastal Interventions: Resilient Future Results
Coastal Interventions: Resilient Future Results
Coastal Interventions: Resilient Future Written Responses
Project Goals
Project Goals
Design Approach
PROJECT GOALS MAP LAYERS
PLACE & COMMUNITY
• Public and private landowners
• Ocean recreation
• Parcels / TMK
• Roads and circulation
• Wahi Pana / Hawaiian placenames
ECOLOGY & HABITAT
CLIMATE & HAZARDS
• Wetlands & potential wetlands
• Hydrology (streams and ditches)
• Forest reserves
• Benthic habitat and reef footprint
• Sea walls
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
• Sea-level rise exposure area (3.2’ SLR-XA)
• FEMA flood zones
• Historic fires
• On-site sewage disposal systems
• Talk story map results
• Ridge-to-reef model results
• Coastal interventions: resilient future results
Design Timescale - Definition of “Near Term” and “Long Term”
Near Term and Long Term
Current Sea-Level Rise Impacts
Overall Project Area
Catalytic Sites
Olowalu: The Road to Resilience
OLOWALU TOWN
MILE MARKER 14
UKUMEHAME BEACH PARK & WETLANDS
OVERALL PROJECT AREA
CONCEPT
MILE MARKER 14
CATALYTIC SITE
OLOWALU LANDING
OLOWALU TOWN
CATALYTIC SITE
UKUMEHAME WETLANDS
UKUMEHAME BEACH
CATALYTIC SITE
PARK CATALYTIC SITE
Existing Conditions
1.1’ Sea-Level Rise Exposure Area
Data source: Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) sea-level rise data (September, 2024)
3.2’ Sea-Level Rise Exposure Area
Data source: Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) sea-level rise data (September, 2024)
Catalytic Sites
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town
Site Analysis: Opportunities and Constraints
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town
Initial Draft
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town – Analysis
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town – Analysis
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town – Analysis
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town – Analysis
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town – Analysis
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town – Analysis
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town – Existing Conditions
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town
Existing
Conditions
• Commercial uses and services
• Large impervious surfaces
• Perceived lack of public access along coastline
• Sugar mill remnants
• Invasive species
• Recreational water access
• Privately owned land
• On-site sewage disposal (cesspools)
Image: UHCDC
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town – Near Term (1.1’ SLR-XA)
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town
Near Term (1.1’ SLR-XA)
PLACE & COMMUNITY
• Connect to new highway
• Multi-use path (West Maui Greenway)
• Increase community benefit in commercial zone
• Possible conversion to park land (public-private partnership)
• Continuous waterfront access
• Adaptive reuse of sugar mill remnants
ECOLOGY & HABITAT
• Vegetated buffer / living shoreline
• Bioswales / nature-based solutions along highway and parking lots
• Native habitat restoration
CLIMATE & HAZARDS
• SLR adaptation (coastline protection)
• Retrofit sewage systems to sustainable solution
Precedent: LA Zoo parking lot bioswale; image adapted from greenportal.wca.ca.gov/strategies/water-capture
Precedent: Ke Ala Hele Makalae; image adapted from: Kauai Path (www.kauaipath.org)
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town – Long Term (3.2’ SLR-XA)
Catalytic Site 1: Olowalu Town
Long Term (3.2’ SLR-XA)
PLACE & COMMUNITY
• Multi-use path (West Maui Greenway)
• Continue to support commercial use, services, and community resources
• Create resilience hub
• Public park
• Recreational water access
• Olowalu Pier
ECOLOGY & HABITAT
• Vegetated buffer / living shoreline
• Clean sugar mill remnants become habitat
• Continued native habitat restoration
CLIMATE & HAZARDS
• SLR adaptation (retreat)
• Sustainable sewage disposal solution
• Bioswales / nature-based solutions along highway & parking lots
www.flickr.com/photos/19779889@N00/18810926046
www.lotsafunmaps.com/Oahu/Kawaikui_Beach_Park/gallery.html?id=11753
Precedent: Kawaikui Beach Park Oʻahu; image adapted from
Precedent: Taro root; image adapted from
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14
Site Analysis: Opportunities and Constraints
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14
Initial Draft Conceptual Design Sketches
Existing
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14 – Analysis
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14 – Analysis
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14 –
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14 – Analysis
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14 – Analysis
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14 – Analysis
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14
Existing Conditions
• Popular snorkeling spot
• Illegal dumping and long-term houseless population
• Coastal erosion and sedimentation
• Impacts of parking and tourism on shoreline and reef
• Invasive species
• Severe roadway erosion
• Coastal erosion hotspot
Image:
Image: UHCDC
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14 – Near Term (1.1’ SLR-XA)
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14
Near Term (1.1’ SLR-XA)
PLACE & COMMUNITY
• Local access road (protect existing highway)
• Multi-use path (West Maui Greenway)
• Conversion to public land
• Potential new public beach park
• Beach park parking
• Boardwalk access
ECOLOGY & HABITAT
• Reef restoration
• Mālama ʻāina (clean illegal dumping, etc.)
• Native dryland forest and stream restoration, erosion control
• Wetland restoration
CLIMATE & HAZARDS
• SLR adaptation (existing roadway protection)
• Partial roadway removal (and/or other adaptation solution with vegetated buffer)
Precedent: Ulehawa Beach Park cleanup, Oʻahu; image adapted from Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation
Precedent: Kealia pond; image adapted from friendsofkealiapond.org
Wetland restoration
Mālama ʻāina
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14 – Long Term (3.2’ SLR-XA)
Catalytic Site 2: Mile Marker 14
Long Term (3.2’ SLR-XA)
PLACE & COMMUNITY
• Multi-use path (West Maui Greenway)
• Boardwalk access to beach park
• Reef education
• Biocultural practices (loʻi kalo)
• Ahupuaʻa boundary marker
ECOLOGY & HABITAT
• Reef protection
• Maintain native dryland forest and streams (erosion control)
• Wetland expansion
• Vegetated buffer / living shoreline
CLIMATE & HAZARDS
• SLR adaptation - beach park (adapt in place)
• SLR adaptation - roadway removal (retreat)
Precedent: Kealia Pond Wildlife Refuge; image adapted from Rick Obst, flickr
Precedent: West Maui snorkeling; image adapted from molokinicrater.com/west-Maui-snorkeling
Snorkeling
Reef education
Boardwalk
Wetland
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands
Site Analysis: Opportunities and Constraints
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands – Analysis
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands – Analysis
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands – Analysis
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands – Analysis
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands – Analysis
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands – Analysis
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands – Existing
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands
Existing Conditions
• Beach park with low SLR adaptation potential (per Maui County study)
• Roadway erosion
• Disturbed wetlands area
• Coastal erosion and sedimentation hot spot
• Pollutants (firing range and highway)
• Hardened shoreline / seawall
• Popular surf spot
Image: UHCDC
Wetland
Invasive species
Invasive species
Seawall
Erosion
Crumbling infrastructure
Erosion
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands – Near Term (1.1’
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands
Near Term (1.1’ SLR-XA)
PLACE & COMMUNITY
• Water access via boardwalks
• Elevated multi-use path (WMG)
• New parking / rest area
• Relocation of public park
• Wetland education
• Surfing ECOLOGY & HABITAT
• Reef protection
• Wetland restoration
• Invasive species management
• Native bird habitat
• Potential Kānaka Maoli community-led, state-supported stewardship
CLIMATE & HAZARDS
• SLR adaptation – consider seawall, highway and parking options or retreat
• Address potential pollutants
Precedent: Kaonoulu Estuary Wetland; image adapted from savethewetlands.org/kaonoulu-kulanihakoi-wetlands
Precedent: Wetland restoration volunteers; image adapted from savethewetlands.org/volunteer-to-malama-a-wetland
Mālama ʻāina Wetland restoration
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands – Long Term
Catalytic Site 3: Ukumehame Beach Park & Wetlands
PLACE & COMMUNITY
• Expand access via network of boardwalks
• Mauka hiking access
• Wetland education
• Wildlife watching
• Surfing
• Paʻakai (salt) farming and other biocultural practices
• Consider land return
ECOLOGY & HABITAT
• Native habitat restoration and sediment mitigation
• Wetland expansion
• Vegetated buffer / living shoreline
• Reef protection
CLIMATE & HAZARDS
• SLR adaptation (protection and nature-based solutions)
from www.flickr.com/photos/scotnelson/8233485966
Precedent: Kealia Pond Wildlife Refuge; image adapted from Rick Obst, flickr
Precedent: Hawaiian monk seal; image adapted
Habitat for native fauna
Wetland
Native species
Activities
Welcome and introductions
Project overview
Engagement results
Project goals and structure
Initial draft design and concepts
Menti co-design activities
Wrap up discussion
Mahalo!