Natural Hazard Considerations for Purchasing Coastal Real Estate in Hawaiâ€˜i

November 17, 2014

Environmental responsibility along with the numerous benefits of owning coastal property comes a responsibility to take care of the natural environment – a custom known in Hawaiian as mälama ‘äina.

Before buying coastal property, it is important to have an understanding of the potential risks and consequences of living on the ocean’s edge. Hawai'i is reknown for its pleasant tropical climate; however the weather and ocean conditions are subject to dramatic changes that can pose various threats to coastal property.

This guide focuses on basic questions to consider as an investor in coastal real estate. Whether you are looking to buy a developed or an undeveloped lot, there are critical issues that should be examined and assessed before committing to a purchase. For additional sources of information, refer to the list at the end of this guide.

Four people install substrate for an oyster reef.

Alaska

Biden-Harris Administration invests $60 million to build a climate-ready workforce through Investing in America agenda

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $60 million in funding to help train and place people in jobs that advance a climate-ready workforce for coastal and Great Lakes states, Tribes and Territories as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda under the Inflation Reduction Act. To date, awards like these from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda have created more than 270,000 jobs across the country.

The funding will support nine projects around the nation, with $50 million going directly to the projects and $10 million for technical assistance to support the grantees.

Sea Grant Aquaculture Academy in New Hampshire

Sea Grant aquaculture professionals from across the country convened in Portsmouth, NH in early April for a 4-day intensive “Sea Grant Aquaculture Academy” hosted by New Hampshire Sea Grant with support from North Carolina Sea Grant.

Sea Grant takes center stage in Oceanography special issue

NOAA Sea Grant-funded research and work with coastal and Great Lakes communities across the nation are being highlighted in a special issue of “Oceanography,” the official journal of The Oceanography Society.

This special issue, published in April 2024, features 36 articles contributed by Sea Grant authors across 29 programs and the NOAA National Sea Grant Office.