The Kauaʻi Climate Adaptation Plan (CAP) will ensure Kauaʻi communities continue to thrive as the climate changes. It will draw upon community and scientific knowledge to provide a framework for County climate change adaptation actions. The plan will:

• Incorporate residents’ knowledge of Kauaʻi’s environment and community-specific vulnerabilities
• Build on related plans, including the Kauaʻi General Plan, the Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resiliency Plan, and the West Kauaʻi Community Vulnerability Assessment
• Assess Kauaʻi island’s exposure and vulnerability to climate risks and hazards
• Recommend adaptation strategies and identify priority actions

The Kauaʻi County Planning Department and our consultants Raimi + Associates are facilitating the CAP process and preparing the plan. The preparation of the CAP is also being worked on in close collaboration with the County’s Resiliency Team, which is comprised of representatives from the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, Office of Economic Development, the Mayor’s Office, and the University of Hawai`i Sea Grant College Program.

Climate change is already affecting our island ecosystems and communities and will continue to do so for generations to come. Impacts related to climate change are detrimental to various resources and assets important to society, including transportation, cultural resources, energy, natural resources, food systems, water supply, housing, and public health. This can negatively affect human health and community well-being. The CAP will help guide ways in which we can take action to proactively prepare for and also mitigate impacts. This will be an opportunity for Kauaʻi’s communities to detail how they are personally impacted by climate change, voice their concerns, and inform adaptation strategies.

Responding to climate change also includes addressing our community’s contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The CAP will consider emission reduction targets when developing adaptation strategies and identifying priority actions.

The CAP process takes place in four phases:

• Phase 1: Project Initiation (Q3 2021)
  Start up CAP process with a kick-off meeting and prepare a community engagement plan
• Phase 2: Technical Analysis (Q4 2021 – Q1 2022)
  Understand the climate hazards facing the island (sea level rise, temperature, flooding, etc.), assess island and community-wide vulnerability to hazards, and identify possible adaptation strategies
• Phase 3: Vision and Strategy Development (Q1 – Q2 2022)
  Prepare a vision statement for the plan, prioritize adaptation strategies and tools, and explore funding and financing options
• Phase 4: Plan Development and Adoption (Q3 2022 – Q2 2023)
  Prepare multiple drafts of the Climate Adaptation Plan, with the Final Draft to be presented to the County Council

Robust community engagement will be ongoing through all phases of the CAP.

All Kauaʻi residents, from keiki to kūpuna, are encouraged to participate! You can get involved in the CAP at any phase of the planning process by participating in the open house events, surveys, talk stories, and deep-dive workshops. You can also submit a comment on a draft of the plan when complete. Please click here to explore how you can get engaged.

While the COVID-19 pandemic will limit face-to-face community engagement, the CAP team is dedicated to conduct robust, meaningful, and inclusive community engagement by utilizing a hybrid of digital and socially-distanced in-person (if deemed safe) engagement methods. You can stay informed by accessing all resources and activities on this website or following the CAP on social media. We look forward to hearing from you!

Instagram: @plankauai
Facebook: Kauaʻi County Planning Department

Throughout the planning process, your input and feedback will be incorporated into the Climate Adaptation Plan. Below is an overview of how your input will be incorporated in each phase of the project:

• Technical Analysis Phase: We will listen to your perceptions and experiences with climate change impacts in their work and/or community through stakeholder talkstories. There will also be a public open house event and online survey where all community members can share their experiences and knowledge of local conditions.
• Visioning and Strategy Development: We will have in-depth conversations in a collaborative setting about specific topics in a series of deep-dive workshops. Your input will influence the climate adaptation strategies that are incorporated into the CAP.
• Plan Development: You can provide input on the climate adaptation strategies included in the plan through an online survey. All community members will also be invited to an open house event presenting the Public Draft and you can submit comments.
• Plan Adoption: You can testify to the County Council during the public hearing for the CAP.

The main purpose of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) is to ensure that the CAP process is utilizing the best available data and tools to assess vulnerability and generate adaptation recommendations for Kauaʻi. The TAG is composed of persons with scientific expertise as well as Kauaʻi residents with local expertise of ecological processes, cultural expertise, and societal dynamics. High school and college student representatives on the TAG will help ensure the participation of Kauai’s youth (the segment of our population who will be most impacted by climate change over the course of their lifetime).

Technical Advisory Group members are experts from a range of organizations and fields:

• Dr. Bradley Romine, University of Hawaii Sea Grant
• Dr. Lisa Cali Crampton, Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project
• Dr. Charles “Chuck” Blay, Geologist
• Sheri Mann, Division of Forestry and Wildlife Kauai
• Dr. Heather Ylitalo-Ward, Division of Aquatic Resources
• Jamie Thomton, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Malia Nobrega-Olivera: Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge
• Pelika Andrade, University of Hawaii Sea Grant Education & Community Engagement Specialist/ Nā Maka Onaona
• Peleke Flores, Mālama Hulē‘ia
• Dr. Steve Taylor, Kauai Community College
• Missy Kamai, Cultural Surveys
• David Bissell, Lihue / Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
• Lauren Guest, Department of Health Kauai
• Helen Raine, Native Fauna Interests
• Ian Jung, Land Use Attorney
• Dr. Helen Cox, Kauai Climate Action Coalition
• Hayley-Jay Kaeo, Youth Rep: Kauai Community College
• Julia Barzilai, Youth Rep: Island School
• Ezikio Quintana, Youth Rep: University of Hawaii Mānoa

The plan will identify priorities and implementation strategies that will inform the County’s future projects, master plans, and programs.