States / Hawaii
Hawaii
1,406,299
Total Population
$32.4 Billion
Coastal Employment
10
Climate and Weather Disasters
(Affecting Hawaii 2010 to 2018)*
Coastal Demographics
100 percent of Hawaii’s population lives in a coastal county. The most populated of the state’s five counties is Honolulu, with approximately 984,200 people, or about 70 percent of the population.
Coastal Economy
Hawaii’s coastal economy employs 653,000 people annually, earning a total of almost $32.4 billion. This equates to approximately $89 billion in gross domestic product.
Natural Hazards
Four weather disasters affected Hawaii in 2018—and a total of 10 affected the state between 2010 and 2018.*
Coastal Resources
Hawaii’s coral reefs provide millions of dollars in protection to buildings and the local economy every year, including over $395 million to Oahu, $377 million to Maui, $50.7 to the Big Island, and $12.7 to Kauai. **
Sources:
American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates (NOAA Data)
*Disaster Declarations for States and Counties (FEMA Website)
**Rigorously Valuing the Role of U.S. Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction (U.S. Geological Survey Report)
(All economic and demographic facts represent the latest data available [2015] and are regularly updated as new data become available)
Making a Difference
in Hawaii
First-Ever Coral Recovery Plan Gets Buy-In
The Takeaway: Hawai‘i and the NOAA Coral Program’s cooperative agreement made this possible. Network of no-take zones and fishery management areas represent top two recommendations.
Learn MoreHawaii Scientists Cultivate and Replant Heat-Resistant Corals
The Takeaway: Groundbreaking experiment in coral “assisted evolution” is made possible by the long-term support of NOAA and Hawaii partners.
Learn MoreHawaii and NOAA Corals Partner on Healthier Reefs
The Takeaway: NOAA works to bolster reef resilience and lessen stressors.
Learn MoreJournal Features Largest Collection of Scientific Publications by Native Hawaiians
The Takeaway: The He‘eia Research Reserve contributed to field studies and editorial leadership.
Learn MoreNOAA Commemorates Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The Takeaway: Community pride and the centuries-old practices of Native Pacific Islanders inform several NOAA-supported projects to protect this region’s natural treasures.
Learn MoreNOAA Research Reserve Is a First for Pacific Islands
The Takeaway: This research reserve protects 1,385 acres.
Learn MoreNOAA Seed Money Leads to Hawaii Tool—and Groundbreaking Adaptation Policies
The Takeaway: Hawaii is incorporating sea-level rise science into state planning processes—and a tool supported by NOAA plays an important role.
Learn MoreNOAA Support Sets the Stage for Disaster Recovery Preparedness Policy
The Takeaway: It’s a good day when years of grants and tech assistance by NOAA and the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program lead to a new climate adaptation policy.
Learn MoreNew Metrics and Models Help Quantify Coastal Ecosystem Benefits
The Takeaway: Research reserves are using these aids to understand and communicate how their projects promote cleaner water, improve resilience, expand habitat, and more.
Learn MoreNewly Trained Law Enforcement Officers Guard Natural Treasures
The Takeaway: Graduates of a new academy, supported by NOAA Corals, enforce environmental and resource laws.
Learn MoreStudents Care for Watersheds Using Traditional Hawaiian Practices
The Takeaway: Participants in the Bay Watershed Education and Training program learn that culturally-based practices benefit the Heʻeia community’s environment and quality of life.
Learn MoreStudy on Coral-Harming Chemical Spurs Corrective Action
The Takeaway: Several states are looking at limiting sunscreen pollution, thanks to support from NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and others.
Learn MoreWetlands Restoration Is Fulfilling a Community Vision
The Takeaway: Heʻeia’s restored wetlands on Oahu are already providing benefits such as increased food security, water quality, and native species.
Learn More