Latest news with #UniversityofHawaii
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists discover worrisome threat lurking beneath Hawaii's iconic Waikiki Beach: 'Could fail sooner than we anticipated'
Scientists discover worrisome threat lurking beneath Hawaii's iconic Waikiki Beach: 'Could fail sooner than we anticipated' Waikīkī is famous for its gorgeous, tourist-packed beaches. But a new study suggests a hidden and dangerous problem: The storm drainage system that keeps the area safe from flooding may be on the brink of failure, and much sooner than experts had expected. What's happening? Researchers at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa have found that the combination of severe rain events and rising sea levels could lead to catastrophic drainage failures in Waikīkī as soon as 2050. According to their computer simulations, 100% of the outfalls of the Waikīkī storm drainage system are expected to fail by mid-century. This could lead to widespread flooding and backflow of contaminated water from the Ala Wai Canal. "Including rainfall events in our models showed that Waikīkī's drainage infrastructure could fail sooner than we anticipated," said Chloe Obara, the study's lead author. Over 75% of Waikīkī's storm drains are connected to the Ala Wai Canal, a body of water already known to carry pollutants. When the system fails, that water could wash back into the streets, posing serious health and safety concerns for residents and visitors alike. Why is this draining issue concerning? Waikīkī is a major economic engine for Hawai'i. Flooded roads and contaminated stormwater could disrupt tourism and create long-term environmental health hazards. While flooding is nothing new, scientists stress that human-caused pollution from dirty energy sources is fueling rising sea levels and making extreme weather events more dangerous. The study also demonstrates a bigger issue: Many models for coastal flooding overlook the added stress of intense rainfall. As rainfall becomes more frequent and intense, cities across the U.S. could face similar infrastructure failures if drainage systems aren't upgraded. What's being done about the drainage problem? The researchers hope their findings will help local officials and planners better prepare for the changes ahead. Management tactics like pumped drainage systems and stricter controls on runoff could all help Waikīkī weather the coming storms. In the U.S., organizations and programs across the nation are developing ways to fight back against extreme weather. For example, New York's Bluebelt program utilizes natural drainage corridors and improves upon them to better handle stormwater runoff. For individuals, home improvements like installing solar panels with battery storage can boost resilience during severe weather. EnergySage offers a free platform to compare quotes from vetted local installers and save up to $10,000 on solar installations. And for those who want to dig deeper, learning about and understanding the critical climate issues happening across the world is the first step toward solving them. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Maui panel passes bill curbing vacation rentals to boost housing supply after Lahaina wildfire
Honolulu — Lawmakers on Maui passed legislation Thursday aimed at eliminating a large percentage of the Hawaiian island's vacation rentals to address a housing shortage exacerbated by the wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina in August 2023. It's the latest action by a top global tourist destination to push back against the infiltration of vacationers into residential neighborhoods and tourism overwhelming their communities. In May, Spain ordered Airbnb to block more than 65,000 holiday listings on its platform for having violated rules. Last month, thousands of protesters in European cities like Barcelona and Venice, Italy, marched against the ills of overtourism. The Maui County Council's housing committee voted 6-3 to pass the bill, which would close a loophole that has allowed owners of condos in apartment zones to rent their units for days or weeks at a time instead of a minimum of 180 days. The mandate would take effect in the West Maui district that includes Lahaina in 2028. The rest of the county would have until 2030 to comply. The full council still needs to vote on the bill, but the committee's result is a strong indication of the final outcome because all nine council members sit on the housing panel. The mayor is expected to sign the bill, which he proposed. "Bill 9 is a critical first step in restoring our commitment to prioritize housing for local residents - and securing a future where our keiki can live, grow, and thrive in the place they call home," Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement, using the Hawaiian word for children. "We were seeing a dire housing crisis before the fire and then we lost 2,200 structures in the fire, and a lot of that was our local housing for our people," Jordan Ruidas of the group Lahaina Strong told CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV. The group had been pushing hard for the measure. Vacation rentals currently account for 21% of all housing in the county, which has a population of about 165,000 people. An analysis by University of Hawaii economists predicted the measure would add 6,127 units to Maui's long-term housing stock, increasing supply by 13%. Opponents questioned whether local residents could afford the condos in question, noting that many of the buildings they are in are aging and their units come with high mortgages, insurance payments, maintenance and special assessment costs. Alicia Humiston said her condo is in a hotel zone so it won't be affected. But she predicted the measure will hurt housekeepers, plumbers, electricians and other small business owners who help maintain vacation rentals. "It's not what's best for the the community," said Humiston, who is president of the Rentals by Owner Awareness Association. Bissen proposed the legislation last year after wildfire survivors and activists camped out on a beach popular with tourists to demand change. The University of Hawaii study said only about 600 new housing units are built in the county each year so converting the vacation rentals would be equivalent to a decade's worth of new housing development. Condo prices would drop 20-40%, the study estimated. The report also predicted one-quarter of Maui County's visitor accommodations would vanish and visitor spending would sink 15%. It estimated gross domestic product would contract by 4%. The mayor said such economic analysis failed to tell a full story, noting families are torn apart when high housing costs drive out relatives and that cultural knowledge disappears when generations leave Maui. The mayor told the council the bill was one part of a broader housing strategy that would include building new housing, investing in infrastructure and stopping illegally operated vacation rentals. He said there were limits to how much new housing could be built because of constraints on water supplies and sewer infrastructure. Tourism would continue on Maui but must do so in a way "that doesn't hollow out our neighborhoods," the mayor said. The mayor's staff told council members visitor spending would decline with the measure but most of the drop would be on lodging. Because 94% of those who own vacation rentals in apartment zones don't live on Maui, they said much of this income already flows off-island. They predicted the county budget could withstand an estimated $61 million decline in annual tax revenue resulting from the measure. The Lahaina wildfire tore through the historic town, killing at least 115 people, and leaving nothing but rubble and ash for blocks. Many residents whose homes burned to the ground received solicitations from off-island real estate investors to scoop up their land.
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Arab Times
Think Earth Has One Moon? You've Been Lied To, Scientists Reveal The Stunning Truth
You might think Earth has just one moon — but scientists say we've actually got a small family of them quietly circling us at any given time. In a new international study, researchers have found that Earth is regularly orbited by at least six 'minimoons' — tiny natural satellites, many of which may be fragments of our own moon, blasted into space by ancient asteroid impacts. These mysterious mini-moons, or temporarily bound objects (TBOs), are typically no larger than six feet in diameter and were likely created when asteroids slammed into the lunar surface, flinging debris into space. Some of that debris, scientists say, ends up caught in Earth's gravitational field — forming mini companions that orbit our planet for months or even years before drifting off. The groundbreaking study, published in the journal Icarus, challenges previous assumptions that these objects came from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Instead, researchers believe many of them are literally moon dust — lunar ejecta that has broken free and found a temporary home around Earth. 'It's kind of like a square dance,' said Dr. Robert Jedicke of the University of Hawaii, one of the lead researchers. 'Partners change regularly and sometimes leave the dance floor for a while.' And the dance floor is getting busy. According to their analysis, roughly 6.5 minimoons larger than one metre in diameter could be orbiting Earth at any moment — some for weeks, others for years. Most eventually escape Earth's grasp and are pulled into solar orbit, but some crash back into the planet or even return to the moon. The study closely examined two such objects — Kamo'oalewa and 2024 PT5 — both of which appear to be made of the same material as lunar rock. Kamo'oalewa, spotted in 2016, is the largest known minimoon, measuring up to 328 feet in diameter, and reflects light in a way strikingly similar to the moon's surface. Even more recently, 2024 PT5 — dubbed Earth's temporary second moon — was discovered last August as it drifted into orbit. At first, astronomers thought it was just another space rock, but further analysis revealed a composition almost identical to that of the moon. If confirmed, it would mean this chunk of rock is a literal child of the moon — and a grandchild of Earth. The revelation ties neatly into the popular giant impact hypothesis, which suggests our moon formed billions of years ago when a Mars-sized planet slammed into Earth, hurling debris into space that eventually coalesced into the moon. Now, it appears, pieces of that original collision are still breaking off — orbiting their planetary 'grandparent' in a cosmic reunion no one expected.
5 days ago
- Business
Maui panel passes bill to curb vacation rentals and boost housing supply
HONOLULU -- Lawmakers on Maui passed legislation Thursday aimed at eliminating a large percentage of the Hawaiian island's vacation rentals to address a housing shortage exacerbated by the wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina two years ago. It's the latest action by a top global tourist destination to push back against the infiltration of vacationers into residential neighborhoods and tourism overwhelming their communities. In May, Spain ordered Airbnb to block more than 65,000 holiday listings on its platform for having violated rules. Last month, thousands of protesters in European cities like Barcelona and Venice, Italy, marched against the ills of overtourism. The Maui County Council's housing committee voted 6-3 to pass the bill, which would close a loophole that has allowed owners of condos in apartment zones to rent their units for days or weeks at a time instead of a minimum of 180 days. The mandate would take effect in the West Maui district that includes Lahaina in 2028. The rest of the county would have until 2030 to comply. The council still needs to vote on the bill, but the committee's result is a strong indication of the final outcome because all nine council members sit on the housing panel. The mayor is expected to sign the bill, which he proposed. "Bill 9 is a critical first step in restoring our commitment to prioritize housing for local residents — and securing a future where our keiki can live, grow, and thrive in the place they call home,' Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement, using the Hawaiian word for children. Vacation rentals currently account for 21% of all housing in the county, which has a population of about 165,000 people. An analysis by University of Hawaii economists predicted the measure would add 6,127 units to Maui's long-term housing stock, increasing supply by 13%. Opponents questioned whether local residents could afford the condos in question, noting that many of the buildings they are in are aging and their units come with high mortgages, insurance payments, maintenance and special assessment costs. Alicia Humiston said her condo is in a hotel zone so it won't be affected. But she predicted the measure will hurt housekeepers, plumbers, electricians and other small business owners who help maintain vacation rentals. 'It's not what's best for the the community,' said Humiston, who is president of the Rentals by Owner Awareness Association. Bissen proposed the legislation last year after wildfire survivors and activists camped out on a beach popular with tourists to demand change. The University of Hawaii study said only about 600 new housing units are built in the county each year so converting the vacation rentals would be equivalent to a decade's worth of new housing development. Condo prices would drop 20-40%, the study estimated. The report also predicted one-quarter of Maui County's visitor accommodations would vanish and visitor spending would sink 15%. It estimated gross domestic product would contract by 4%. The mayor said such economic analysis failed to tell a full story, noting families are torn apart when high housing costs drive out relatives and that cultural knowledge disappears when generations leave Maui. The mayor told the council the bill was one part of a broader housing strategy that would include building new housing, investing in infrastructure and stopping illegally operated vacation rentals. He said there were limits to how much new housing could be built because of constraints on water supplies and sewer infrastructure. Tourism would continue on Maui but must do so in a way 'that doesn't hollow out our neighborhoods,' the mayor said. The mayor's staff told council members that visitor spending would decline with the measure but most of the drop would be on lodging. Because 94% of those who own vacation rentals in apartment zones don't live on Maui, they said much of this income already flows off-island. They predicted the county budget could withstand an estimated $61 million decline in annual tax revenue resulting from the measure.
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Maui panel passes bill to curb vacation rentals and boost housing supply after Lahaina wildfire
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The council still needs to vote on the bill, but the committee's result is a strong indication of the final outcome because all nine council members sit on the housing panel. The mayor is expected to sign the bill, which he proposed. Advertisement 'Bill 9 is a critical first step in restoring our commitment to prioritize housing for local residents — and securing a future where our keiki can live, grow, and thrive in the place they call home,' Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement, using the Hawaiian word for children. Advertisement Vacation rentals take up one-fifth of Maui's housing Vacation rentals currently account for 21% of all housing in the county, which has a population of about 165,000 people. An analysis by University of Hawaii economists predicted the measure would add 6,127 units to Maui's long-term housing stock, increasing supply by 13%. Opponents questioned whether local residents could afford the condos in question, noting that many of the buildings they are in are aging and their units come with high mortgages, insurance payments, maintenance and special assessment costs. Alicia Humiston said her condo is in a hotel zone so it won't be affected. But she predicted the measure will hurt housekeepers, plumbers, electricians and other small business owners who help maintain vacation rentals. 'It's not what's best for the the community,' said Humiston, who is president of the Rentals by Owner Awareness Association. Bissen proposed the legislation last year after wildfire survivors and activists camped out on a beach popular with tourists to demand change. Mayor says tourism will continue but must not 'hollow out our neighborhoods' The University of Hawaii study said only about 600 new housing units are built in the county each year so converting the vacation rentals would be equivalent to a decade's worth of new housing development. Condo prices would drop 20-40%, the study estimated. The report also predicted one-quarter of Maui County's visitor accommodations would vanish and visitor spending would sink 15%. It estimated gross domestic product would contract by 4%. The mayor said such economic analysis failed to tell a full story, noting families are torn apart when high housing costs drive out relatives and that cultural knowledge disappears when generations leave Maui. The mayor told the council the bill was one part of a broader housing strategy that would include building new housing, investing in infrastructure and stopping illegally operated vacation rentals. He said there were limits to how much new housing could be built because of constraints on water supplies and sewer infrastructure. Advertisement Tourism would continue on Maui but must do so in a way 'that doesn't hollow out our neighborhoods,' the mayor said. The mayor's staff told council members that visitor spending would decline with the measure but most of the drop would be on lodging. Because 94% of those who own vacation rentals in apartment zones don't live on Maui, they said much of this income already flows off-island. They predicted the county budget could withstand an estimated $61 million decline in annual tax revenue resulting from the measure.
