Public Invited to Free Presentation on Impacts of Climate Change on Maui’s Coastal Areas 

The public is invited to learn more about the impacts of climate change on Maui’s coastal areas, including big waves, flooding, erosion and more, at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s meeting on Wednesday, July 11. The meeting takes place from 5 to 7 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops. All are invited.

The climate change presentation will be offered by these guest presenters:

– Bradley Romine, PhD, Coastal Management and Resilience Specialist, University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program, Center for Coastal and Climate Science and Resilience.

– Tara Owens, Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program (partnered with Maui County’s Planning Department).

Attendees are welcome to bring questions about managed retreat, beach replenishment and other issues relating to the impact of climate change on Maui’s shorelines.

The meeting is free and open to all. Refreshments will be provided.

Established in 2007, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to clean ocean water, healthy coral reefs and abundant native fish for Maui County. The meeting will include updates on our projects, including the Hui O Ka Wai Ola water quality monitoring program, Olowalu coral reef study and efforts to improve water quality in Ma’alaea Harbor. Copies of MNMRC’s 10th anniversary annual report will be available to take home.

To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.

Presenter bios:

Bradley Romine, PhD
Coastal Management and Resilience Specialist
University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program,
Center for Coastal and Climate Science and Resilience

Brad’s role as University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant extension faculty is to provide bridges between the university, our communities, and government to meet the complimentary goals of conserving coastal environments and reducing natural hazards risk to shoreline development. He works closely with the Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands at the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and interfaces with other government agencies and the public on collaborative projects to support planning and decision-making based on the latest and best-available coastal and climate science. Recently, he provided scientific and technical guidance to the DLNR for the development of the Hawaiʻi Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report. He is also leading the development of science-based planning tools and guidance to improve resilience to coastal hazards and sea level rise in Hawaiʻi through funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Brad completed his PhD in Geology and Geophysics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2013 and has published research articles on coastal geology, beach processes, shoreline change, and sea level rise impacts in Hawaiʻi.

Tara Owens
Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist
University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program

Tara Owens is Extension Faculty with the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College  Program,  specializing  in  coastal  processes  and  coastal  hazards.    Partnered  with  Maui  County’s  Planning  Department,  Tara’s  role  is  to  “bridge  the  gap”  between  science  and  policy  and  planning  for  improved  coastal  management  by  providing  technical  guidance,  consultations,  site  visits,  and  public  outreach.  Tara  also  interfaces  with  other  government  agencies  and  the  public  on  collaborative  projects  pertaining  to   coastal  hazards,  including  beach  erosion  and  sea-level  rise  impacts.   Tara  earned  a  bachelor  of  science  degree  in  marine  science  from  Coastal  Carolina  University,  and  a  master’s  degree  in  coastal  geology  from  the  University  of  Hawaii.   She  was  hired  by  UH  Sea  Grant  and  moved  back  to  Hawaii  in   2010  after  working  for  7  years  in  the  federal  government  at  the  U.S.  Geological  Survey  in  St.  Petersburg,  Florida  and  then  at  the  NOAA  Coastal  Services  Center  in Charleston, SC.

Beach photo by John Seebart