HONOLULU — A new study from the University of Hawaii is calling for urgent updates to building standards in coastal areas, warning that existing construction guidelines fail to account for the accelerating risks of sea level rise.

Published last month in the journal Water, the study emphasizes that current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards rely on historical flood data, which do not reflect the mounting threats posed by climate change. Researchers argue that new projects—particularly in flood-prone areas like Hawaii—should adopt much higher elevation baselines to ensure long-term safety and resilience.

“With coastal high tide flooding having doubled in the U.S. in the last two decades, it’s clear that we need to build for the future, not just for the past,” said lead author Wendy Meguro, an associate professor at the UH Manoa School of Architecture and director of the Environmental Research and Design Lab.

According to the study, coastal flooding nationwide doubled between 2000 and 2022, straining existing infrastructure and placing homes, businesses, and critical facilities at greater risk. Without proactive adaptation, researchers warn, both economic costs and threats to public safety will increase dramatically in the decades ahead.

The findings provide a critical resource for policymakers, urban planners, and developers, particularly in coastal communities like Hawaii where low-lying areas face some of the highest exposure to rising seas.

Meguro and her team are urging government agencies to rethink building codes to integrate forward-looking projections, rather than relying solely on outdated flood maps. This could mean requiring higher minimum elevations for new housing, stricter design standards for critical infrastructure, and incorporating nature-based solutions—such as wetlands and green buffers—to reduce impacts.

The study also stresses the importance of community engagement. The UH research team plans to present their findings and seek public input later this year, ensuring that updated standards reflect not just scientific recommendations but also local needs and values.

Advocates for climate resilience in Hawaii say the study underscores what they’ve long argued: building codes need to evolve as climate risks escalate. By updating regulations now, the state could avoid billions in future damages, safeguard coastal economies, and protect residents from more frequent and severe flooding.

“This work is about future-proofing Hawaii’s built environment,” Meguro said. “Our communities deserve infrastructure that will endure, not infrastructure that will fail with the tides.”

Originally reported by HNN Staff in Hawaii News Now.