The University of Hawaii in the Mānoa-led Waikīkī-Rise adaptation project has been preserved and has won a design award from the Society of American Registred Architects (SARA) for its innovative and resilient architectural solutions. The project is led by experts from the UH School for Architecture, Hawaii Sea Grant and the collaboration of climate efficacy and combines scientific research with a community-based design in order to counter the urgent challenges of increasing sea level, coastal flooding and a waste of groundwater in Waikīkī. This recognition underlines how important it is to integrate the latest science into urban planning in order to create sustainable and customizable coastal communities.
The research of the team, published in Technology/architecture + designMarked strategies such as the shift of critical infrastructure, the increase in supply companies and the implementation of rainwater management systems as part of a holistic approach to mitigating flood risks. By including local stakeholders and the use of scientific data, the project offers scalable solutions that can serve as a model for other coastal areas in need of protection. These efforts reflect a commitment to the further development of the climate resistance through interdisciplinary collaboration and design innovation and receive the team nomination for Clima Hawaii Climate Leadership Awards.
UH Mānoa leaders emphasize the urgency to address the effects on the increase in long-term sea levels, as the IPCC emphasizes, which warns of continuing rising seas centuries. Interim Dean Chip Fletcher underlines the potential consequences for Hawaii, including insecure and unaffordable without effective guidelines and proactive planning. The project serves as a critical step in the establishment of a resilient future and demonstrates the strength, architecture, climate science and local contributions to ensure that Hawaii's communities can adapt and thrive in the middle of the climate problems.