West Kauaʻi Community Vulnerability Assessment June 2020 Prepared by: University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program Department of Urban and Regional Planning 1 West Kauaʻi Community Vulnerability Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................................i LIST OF TABLES .....................................................................................................................................ii ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................................iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................ iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................................v I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................1 A. Project Purpose ........................................................................................................................1 B. Regional and Local Setting ........................................................................................................2 C. The Threat: Near-Term and Long-Term Climate Change ............................................................3 1. Observations ............................................................................................................................... 3 2. Sea Level Rise (SLR) Projections .................................................................................................. 8 D. Summary of County of Kauaʻi General Plan Policy ..................................................................11 II. METHODOLOGY ..........................................................................................................................13 A. Definition of Vulnerability .....................................................................................................13 B. Exposure Data ........................................................................................................................14 C. Vulnerability Assessment Methods ........................................................................................15 1. Quantified Exposed Assets ........................................................................................................ 15 2. Vulnerability, Consequences, and Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS) ..............................15 3. Community engagement ........................................................................................................... 17 a. Phase 1: Background Research .............................................................................................18 b. Phase 2: Community Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) Workshops .......................................18 D. Project Team ..........................................................................................................................19 III. INVENTORY OF EXPOSED ASSETS .................................................................................................20 IV. COMMUNITY PROFILES ...............................................................................................................24 A. HANAPĒPĒ-ʻELEʻELE ................................................................................................................24 1. Overview of Area ...................................................................................................................... 24 2. Exposed Assets – Buildings and Economic Loss ........................................................................26 3. Vulnerability .............................................................................................................................. 26 4. Adaptive Capacity/Opportunities .............................................................................................29 B. PĀKALĀ VILLAGE ....................................................................................................................32 1. Overview of Area ...................................................................................................................... 32 2. Exposed Assets – Buildings and Economic Loss ........................................................................33 3. Vulnerability .............................................................................................................................. 33 C. WAIMEA ................................................................................................................................35 1. Overview of Area ...................................................................................................................... 35 2. Exposed Assets – Buildings and Economic Loss ........................................................................36 3. Vulnerability .............................................................................................................................. 36 4. Adaptive Capacity/Opportunities .............................................................................................40 D. KEKAHA .................................................................................................................................42 1. Overview of Area ...................................................................................................................... 42 2. Exposed Assets – Buildings and Economic Loss ........................................................................43 West Kauaʻi Community Vulnerability Assessment 3. Vulnerability .............................................................................................................................. 43 4. Adaptive Capacity/Opportunities .............................................................................................49 E. MĀNĀ- POLIHALE ...................................................................................................................51 1. Overview of Area ...................................................................................................................... 51 2. Exposed Assets – Buildings and Economic Loss ........................................................................53 3. Vulnerability .............................................................................................................................. 53 4. Adaptive Capacity/Opportunities .............................................................................................54 V. MANAGEMENT CONCERNS .........................................................................................................56 A. TRANSPORTATION AND EVACUATION .....................................................................................56 1. Key Takeaways ........................................................................................................................... 56 2. Inventory of Exposed Transportation Infrastructure .................................................................57 3. Vulnerability and Potential Adaptation Actions ........................................................................58 B. DRAINAGE AND LEVEES ..........................................................................................................67 1. Key Takeaways ........................................................................................................................... 69 2. Inventory of Exposed Drainage Infrastructure ..........................................................................71 3. Vulnerability and Potential Adaptation Actions ........................................................................71 C. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ....................................................................................................77 1. Wastewater Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 77 a. Key Takeaways ...................................................................................................................... 78 b. Inventory of Exposed Wastewater Infrastructure .................................................................80 c. Vulnerability and Potential Adaptation Actions ....................................................................81 2. Electricity .................................................................................................................................. 84 a. Key Takeaways ...................................................................................................................... 85 b. Inventory of Exposed Eletricity Infrastructure and Assets ....................................................85 c. Vulnerability and Potential Adaptation Actions ....................................................................86 3. Potable Water Supply Infrastructure .........................................................................................88 a. Key Takeaways ...................................................................................................................... 90 b. Inventory of Exposed Potable Water Supply Infrastructure..................................................90 c. Vulnerability and Potential Adaptation Actions ....................................................................91