In The News

Waikiki Sidewalk Collapse Shows Why Hawaii Coastal Development Needs Site-Specific Planning

A second collapse along the shoreline walkway near Queen’s Beach and Barefoot Beach Cafe is a fresh reminder that coastal…

Hawaii Supreme Court Restores Maui SMA Permit Review: What Coastal Property Owners Should Know

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has delivered an important reminder for anyone planning construction, repairs, or renovations near Maui’s shoreline: administrative…

Turtle Bay Environmental Review Ruling: SMA Permit Lessons for Hawaii Coastal Development

A recent court ruling involving proposed development near Turtle Bay offers a clear lesson for anyone planning coastal development in…

Mā‘alaea Living Shoreline Plan: SMA Permit Lessons for Hawaii Coastal Development

Mā‘alaea is offering a practical look at how Hawaii coastal development may evolve as agencies move away from aging seawalls…

Maui SMA Boundary Assessment: What Hawaii Coastal Development Applicants Should Watch

Maui is starting a conversation that could matter for nearly every owner, designer and builder working near the shoreline. On…

Lahaina Front Street Reopening Milestone: SMA Permit Lessons for Hawaii Coastal Development

Lahaina's Front Street blessing is more than a ceremonial reopening. For owners, builders, and design teams working near the water,…

Kaanapali Beach Sand Replenishment Debate: SMA Permit Lessons for Hawaii Coastal Development

A new debate over Kaanapali Beach is putting one of Hawaii's biggest shoreline questions back in front of property owners:…

Maui Budget Shoreline Stabilization Grant: SMA Permit Lessons for Hawaii Coastal Projects

Maui County's latest budget discussion gives Hawaii coastal property owners a useful reminder: shoreline erosion projects are not only construction…

Kauai Shoreline Setback Ordinance 1187: What Hawaii SMA Permit Applicants Should Know

Kauai's latest shoreline rule update is a practical reminder for anyone planning work near Hawaii's coast: a project that looks…

Maui Emergency SMA Permit Allowances End June 7: What Hawaii Coastal Owners Should Know

Maui County's temporary emergency guidance for work inside the Special Management Area is a timely reminder that storm cleanup and…

Sunset Beach Shoreline Fines Show Why Hawaii SMA Permit Planning Matters

Recent enforcement news from Oahu's North Shore is a clear reminder that shoreline work in Hawaii cannot be treated as…

Paia Shoreline Erosion Shows Why Hawaii SMA Permit Planning Needs Long-Term Answers

A fresh shoreline erosion story from Paia is a reminder that coastal planning in Hawaii is moving beyond quick fixes.…

HB1823 Reaches the Governor: What Maui SMA Permit Changes Could Mean for Hawaii Coastal Projects

Hawaii shoreline planning is entering another important moment. House Bill 1823, a 2026 measure focused on the Coastal Zone Management…

Kihei Flooding Raises New SMA Permit Planning Questions for Hawaii Coastal Projects

Recent reporting out of South Maui is a useful reminder that coastal permitting is not only about waves, seawalls, and…

West Maui SMA Permit Planning After the Hyatt Erosion Dispute: What Coastal Owners Should Know in Hawaii

A new dispute in West Maui is a timely reminder that shoreline protection work in Hawaii rarely stays “temporary” for…

Hawaii Coastal Development After the Kona Lows: Why Coral Damage Matters for Your SMA Permit

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Hawaii Coastal Development After the Kona Lows: Why Coral Damage Matters for Your SMA Permit

March’s back-to-back Kona low storms did more than flood roads and damage shoreline infrastructure. According to late-March reporting from Civil…

South Kihei Road Emergency Repairs Put Hawaii SMA Permit Planning in the Spotlight

Recent emergency repair work along South Kihei Road is a useful reminder that shoreline-area projects in Hawaii rarely stay simple…

March Kona Low Mud Floods Raise the Stakes for SMA Permit Planning in Hawaii

March’s back-to-back Kona low storms did more than flood roads and damage shoreline infrastructure. According to a late-March Civil Beat…

Oʻahu North Shore Flood Cleanup After March’s Kona Lows: What It Means for Coastal Rebuilds and SMA Permit Planning in Hawaii

March’s back-to-back Kona low storms left parts of Waialua and Haleʻiwa under muddy floodwater, damaged homes and roads, and forced…

South Kīhei Road Collapse After Maui’s March Storm: What It Means for SMA Permit Planning in Hawaii

A week of extreme weather in March put a very visible spotlight on a problem coastal property owners in Hawaii…

Why Hawaiʻi’s SB2401 Matters for Coastal Projects and SMA Permit Strategy in 2026

Hawaiʻi’s 2026 shoreline policy conversation is not just about whether a homeowner can install a temporary barrier before the next…

Kauaʻi Shoreline Setback Rules Could Tighten in 2026: What It Means for SMA Permit Planning in Hawaii

Kauaʻi is considering a shoreline policy change that coastal property owners across Hawaii should pay attention to. In early March,…

Hawaii SMA Permit Update: What 2026 Shoreline Erosion Bills Mean for Coastal Projects

Hawaii SMA Permit Update: What 2026 Shoreline Erosion Bills Mean for Coastal Projects If you own property near the shoreline…

HB 1846 and HB 2205: What Hawai‘i’s Proposed Coastal Erosion Bills Mean for SMA Permits

HB 1846 and HB 2205: What Hawai‘i’s Proposed Coastal Erosion Bills Mean for SMA Permits Erosion is not a new…

Maui’s New Water Conservation Rules: What Coastal Builders Need to Know About SMA Permits

Maui’s New Water Conservation Rules: What Coastal Builders Need to Know About SMA Permits Updated March 1, 2026 — Maui County has…

Hawaii County’s New Coastal Preservation Move and What It Means for Your SMA Permit

Protecting Hawai‘i’s fragile shorelines isn’t just about preventing erosion; it’s also about making sure locals can still access the ocean.…

Lawmakers Debate Shoreline Erosion Bills: What Hawai‘i Homeowners Should Know

A Pair of Bills Could Change Erosion Policy Recent hearings at the Legislature have zeroed in on a pair of…

HB 1823 Could Exempt Infrastructure from SMA Permits: What It Means for Hawai‘i’s Shorelines

HB 1823 Seeks to Exempt State and County Infrastructure from SMA Permits — What It Means for Hawai‘i’s Shorelines A…

Kailua Shoreline Permit Extension and New SMA Approvals: What Homeowners Need to Know

Kailua Shoreline Permit Extension and New SMA Approvals: What Homeowners Need to Know Archaeological Surveys and Sea-Level Risks Delay a…

Legislative Efforts Aim to Modernize Hawaii’s SMA Permitting

Architects Bring Their Vision to the Capitol Late January saw members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Hawai‘i State…

Hawaiʻīi Planning Commission Attendance Struggles Slow SMA Decisions — What It Means for Your Project

Quorum woes are delaying approvals If you’ve been following recent headlines, you may have noticed some frustration in Hawaiʻĭi County’s…

Hawaii Expands SMA Permit Exemptions for Post-Disaster Rebuilding and Smaller Projects: What You Need to Know

Hawaii Expands SMA Permit Exemptions for Post‑Disaster Rebuilding and Smaller Projects: What You Need to Know A changing regulatory landscape…

Lahaina’s Fast-Track Rebuild: What the SMA Suspension Means for Your Home or Business

When the devastating Aug. 8, 2023 Lahaina wildfire swept through West Maui, it destroyed homes, businesses and irreplaceable cultural landmarks.…

Maui’s Coastal Lines Are Changing — What Homeowners, Remodelers and Businesses Need to Know

Maui’s beaches and reefs aren’t just postcard-perfect; they’re critical assets for homeowners, small businesses and the island’s economy. Building or…

Oʻahu DPP Goes Transparent: Publishing SMA Minor Permits for Public Review

Hawaiʻi’s coastline is a stunning, fragile resource. From towering waves on the North Shore to the calm coves of Kāhala,…

Rebuild Your Lahaina Legacy by 2029: What Maui’s New Nonconforming Ordinance Means for You

Imagine being able to recreate your old Lahaina home or storefront – the one that made your family or business…

New Bills Could Raise SMA Minor Permit Limit to $1 Million and Include Shoreline Homes – What It Means for You 

Higher SMA Minor Permit Limit and Shoreline Homes: What HB 654 Means for You Coastal communities in Hawaiʻīi have long…