Adapting the Built Environment for Sea Level Rise

Adapting the Built Environment for Sea Level Rise strengthens Hawai‘i’s climate and disaster resilience by developing strategies to address multi-factor flooding in Waikīkī, a dense economic and cultural hub. Building on 2019 research that visualized site-specific hazards and proposed adaptation strategies for buildings, open spaces, transportation, and utilities, the project advances this work through updated analysis, design iterations, and community engagement. The interdisciplinary team refines architectural and landscape solutions such as elevated streets, stormwater capture, bioretention areas, and coastal infrastructure, emphasizing equity and socio-economic vulnerability. By iterating on prior research, it delivers locally validated, actionable approaches that safeguard infrastructure and strengthen long-term community resilience against increasingly severe coastal flooding and climate hazards.