In The News

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…