Granite Cliff Studio

What does every island have? That’s right, the title of this post, coastlines. Why are coastlines so important to an island culture? First, it’s access to one of your main sources of food. The coast is also where you can access travel via canoe or boat. The ability to see weather, waves and wildlife is important to plan for agriculture and where to build shelters. Coastlines, as a function of civilization would be open and accessible to the population that they sustain. So why do we keep building walls, gates and mansions that block coastlines. What value does a blocked coastline have?

The coastlines of Hawaii typically are hot with sunny beaches that attract tourists. These areas would be considered undesirable to live in unless you were a fishermen or George Hamilton. A natural air condition exists here, the balmy trade winds make for comfortable living. It lies on the windward side. Also, the side that receives rain. The windward side is a completely sustainable environment, where wind and solar energy could be harvested and water could be stored. Cooler temperatures and ample water would allow for planting and a lifestyle to grow your own food. Humans, though defy common sense, and continue to migrate to desert areas. Desert areas like the leeward sides of the Hawaiian islands require more water for landscaping, more energy to run air conditioning and new infrastructure to provide these amenities. The North American southwest and leeward sides of Hawaiian islands are being developed at an alarming pace.

Desert areas lack water and demand high electricity usage. Why do we continue to allow development in areas like Lahaina, Kihei and Wailea?

Enough about the destruction of coastlines, let’s take a moment to appreciate coastlines. Being from the midwest, my first experiences were hiking along the sand dunes of Terry Andrae state park and playing in the freezing water of Lake Michigan. Wisconsin’s coastlines were hugely affected by glaciers and their recession to the north. Sand and limestone are unique along the Great Lakes coastlines. The steep cliffs that border these lakes will freeze, thaw and change annually. These coastlines are equal in beauty to any Hawaiian coastline, only the weather dissuades those to build hotels and vacation homes here. Commercial fishing does still exist but with runoff and pollution is less desirable.

Like most other Wisconsinites, Florida and the Gulf Coast were popular destinations for my family in the winter. Coastlines here, were full of brackish water ways and inland passages. Deep seas and shallow sandy beaches were diverse and home to incredible birds, mammals, reptiles and fish. I remember seeing thousands of hermit crabs and alligators around inland lakes, manatees swimming in the channels, pelicans eating anything they could on the docks and swimming out to shallow sandbars in search of sand dollars. Life on a beach in Florida was paradise. These coastlines are protected by Mother Nature, she rages with storms and swells that remind people that these coastlines can change at anytime.

My next coastline experience was in Southern California. I lived in San Diego and would spend many a day exploring Cabrillo National Monument and Sunset Cliffs. These days were filled with learning about the tides and tide pools that have fragile ecosystems and endless creatures. I would spend hours climbing around the rocky coastlines identifying crustaceans and fish that were only figments of my imagination. Then I would look up and see kelp forests with playful seals and sunny skies ideal for surfers. The steep cliffs stretched for miles and were difficult to navigate down to the sandy beaches. Multi-million dollar homes and gated communities made it hard to gain access. Believe it or not these coastlines are also severely affected by forest fires. Smoke, ash and runoff can destroy plant life, coral reefs and create algae blooms.

Southern California was not meant to be my home. Like one of my inspirations, John Muir, the mountains were calling. Alaska the final frontier, was the next coastline that I dared to explore. Here tides were radical and moved quick. When hiking the coastlines of the Kenai peninsula, an advanced plan needed to made because tides could change by 20 feet and the path could be swallowed by the ocean. The coastlines of southern Alaska are littered with small islands inhabited by sea lions hiding from Orcas, puffins diving into the ocean and sea otters searching for clams. Glaciers here are still massive and display what might have been in Wisconsin millions of years ago. Coastlines are new and fresh here. Ice melts and reveals rock, waterfalls and rivers are creating valleys. Mostly unreachable and uninhabitable the coastlines of Alaska are breathtaking. Raw and untouched, brown bears search the sandy beaches for large clams, large seabirds also search for food. A truly healthy ecosystem who’s only threat has been natural disasters caused by man.

Now, a Maui resident, I spend the majority of my time just feet away from the ocean. Maui has opened my eyes to what is under the water. My wife has a healthy obsession with mollusks and a hobby of ours is to scour the beaches and tide pools for abandoned shells. We are not alone, sandpipers, frolic around looking for treats. Coral reefs here appear healthy and support colorful fish. Eels with their sharp teeth popping out of unlimited caverns, darting from one sanctuary to another. The raw beauty of an untouched coastline is rare. Luckily, Maui is not O’ahu where you see homes falling into the ocean but we are not far behind.

In summary, coastlines evolve, millions of years from now none of what we know will exist. Ice ages, global warming, manmade disasters, volcanic events and earthquakes will continue to change the planet Earth. What we can do today is not be greedy and selfish. Unfortunately, government and politicians have become so inefficient in environmental protection. I am proud to say that the people of Hawaii do an amazing job making their voices heard. Let us continue to protect our coastlines, whether it be sign waving, signing petitions, attending council meetings and sharing stories, whatever it takes.