Environmental Center Special Reports

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10125/1679

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Workshops on the Environmental Impact Statement Review Process and Techniques For Insular Environmental Management
(1989-12-29) Harrison, John T.; Miller, Jacquelin N.; Rappa, Peter J.
Tsunami Casualties and Mortality in Hawaii
(1987-06) Cox, Doak C.
Earthquakes Felt on Oahu, Hawaii and Their Intensities
(1986) Cox, Doak C.
The Oahu Earthquake of June 1948, Associated Shocks, and the Hypothetical Diamond Head Fault
(1986-08) Cox, Doak C.
Approximate Relationship of Intensity to Magnitude and Hypocentral Distance for Hawaiian Earthquakes
(1985-01) Cox, Doak C.
Mirex Monitoring in Hawaii, 1972-1973, Report to Environmental Protection Agency
(1973-07-31) Bevenue, Arthur; Cox, Doak C.; Okubo, Watson; Dollar, A.M.; Environmental Protection Agency
Zooplankton Populations and Water Chemistry from a Shallow (4.3 m) and Deep (600 m) Pumped Water Discharge, Keahole, Hawaii
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1983-08) Miller, Jacquelin N.; Walters, John F.
The recent installation of the shallow (4.3 m) and deep (600 m) coastal water supply pipes and support facilities at the University of Hawaii's National Energy Laboratory of Hawaii (NELH) at Keahole, Hawaii provides a new and unique research opportunity. A one month pilot study, funded by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant program, was initiated to conduct simultaneous deep and shallow water basic biological and chemical research. Zooplankton, water chemistry and related oceanographic parameters were assayed at a well-defined site over specific periods of time and in measurable volumes of water. The results of these measurements provide insight not only into diurnal fluctuations in the zooplankton community, but also into zooplankton patchiness. Simultaneous measurements of water chemistry, including suspended sediments and nutrients, complement the biological studies and provide a first order estimate of the water/biota relationships in the shallow waters and at 600 m off Keahole Point. In addition to contributing to basic zooplankton population biology research, such information is applicable to entrainment and impingement in ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) or conventional power plant intake systems and to determining the suitability of the water supply for aquaculture developments.
Workshops on the Identification, Use and Evaluation of Mitigative Measures in Environmental Impact Assessment
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1992-11) Rappa, Peter J.; Miller, Jacqueline N.; Pangelinan, Arlene A.
Economic, residential, and infrastructure development has occurred at a rapid rate in Micronesia and American Samoa during the past two decades. As a consequence, the once pristine natural environment has become somewhat degraded in some areas, especially near urban centers, and the cultural environment is becoming heavily impacted as well. Island managers have begun to appreciate environmental conservation and preservation as a way of saving their patrimony for future generations. One planning tool that island environmental managers have begun to embrace is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). EIA is a process whereby information is gathered on the potential environmental impacts of a development project so that decision makers can choose alternatives that are less consumptive of the environment. The Environmental Center at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, has been involved in the review of EIAs and improvements to Hawaii's EIA system since 1970. It was a logical extension of the service that the Environmental Center provides to the Hawaii state government that they assist in implementing EIA systems in U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands.
Volcanic Activity, Tidal Waves, and Other Marine Disturbances in Hawaii, September - December 1903
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1985-01) Cox, Doak C.
Local contemporary documents indicate that a number of unusual and even peculiar geophysical events occurred in Hawaii during the last four months of 1903, some of which seem not to have been noted in recent geophysical literature.
Tsunami Hazard at Proposed Sites for Kalaupapa Infirmary, Molokai
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1977-10) Cox, Doak C.
The tsunami research group at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics was asked by Urban 9, consultants to DAGS in planning for a new infirmary at Kalaupapa, Molokai, to advise on the tsunami hazard at proposed sites for the infirmary. When management criteria for the natural hazards have been officially adopted, I believe that it is the responsibility of the proposers of developments, permitting agencies, and their consultants to apply the criteria to proposed developments. At present, however, the only tsunami hazard zoning that has been officially adopted is that establishing the evacuation zone for tsunami warnings. The prohibition of construction within all of this zone would, however, be over-protective. More pertinent, I believe, to the evaluation of the tsunami hazard at the proposed sites for the infirmary will be the methods used in the establishment of the coastal high hazard zone under the Federal Flood Insurance Program. Unfortunately these methods have not as yet been officially approved, or even completely developed. Hence, it appears appropriate that the University should provide much more guidance to the estimation of tsunami hazards, than would otherwise be the case.
Tsunami Hazard at Ke-Ahole Point, North Kona
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, [1980s?]) Cox, Doak C.
The 100-year tsunami runup height at Ke-Ahole Point, Hawaii has been variously estimated as between 6.7 feet and 15 feet above sea level. The estimates have been assigned to various near-shore loci, and at least two different methods have been used to estimate runup profiles transverse to the shoreline and 100-year tsunami inundation limits. By one combination of methods of estimation, the fenced area of the sea-coast test facility of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, graded to 11 feet above mean sea level, would be inundated by the 100-year tsunami.
Stream-Flow Effects of Proposed Diversion Hanawi Stream, Nahiku, East Maui
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1980-04) Cox, Doak C.
It is probable but not quite certain that immediately below the proposed point of diversion of 10 million gallons per day from Hanawi Stream, the stream will be entirely dry, except for pools, at some times when the diversion is made in dry weather. It is just possible that the total contributions to the inflow of the plunge pool from which the diversion will be made including the hitherto unsuspected spring in the pool, will supply slightly more than the diverted flow. Even if this is not the case, but the hitherto unsuspected spring exists and has a substantial flow, the periods when there will be no flow immediately below the pool will be very rare and brief. Even if the spring in question does not exist or has insignificant flow, it appears that there will be no flow immediately makai of the pool only about 0.4 percent of the time. Seaward from a point 160 feet makai of the pool there will be flow in the stream at all times, although the dry-weather flow will be only a small fraction of the natural dry-weather flow. Broad limits can be set to the rates of residual dry-weather flow after diversion, but the actual rates within those limits cannot be determined because there have been no determinations of some of the springflow contributions to the stream. Correlations with antecedent rainfall have been made for the Big Spring that makes the major contribution to Hanawi stream flow and for two other springs for which there are flow records, and synthetic flow records for these three springs are presented. Critical uncertainties and methods of analysis when and if they are reduced are discussed. An alternative to the proposed diversion of Hanawi Stream water is identified and factors pertinent to determining the merits of its adoption in place of the proposed diversion are discussed.
Special Management Area Boundaries and Guidelines Under the Shoreline Protection Act
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1975-09) Cox, Doak C.; Bartram, Paul; Holt, Susan
Act 176 (1975) calls for the establishment of a "Special Management Area" for shoreline protection, and for the institution of special controls on development in that area. This report on Special Management Area boundaries and development control guidelines has been prepared at the request of the City and County of Honolulu and for the information of the other counties as well. The report reflects, at least in part, the opinions of a considerable number of people who reviewed an early draft, widely distributed, including several members of the University community who were involved in the preparation of the draft and final report.
Reflection of Seismic Risk in the Honolulu Building Code
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1989-06) Cox, Doak C.
This report deals with an issue concerning the seismic risk zone to which the island of Oahu should be assigned in the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and the building code of the City and County of Honolulu. At present the assignment is to UBC zone 1. More than a decade ago, however, the adequacy of the risk reflected by this assignment was challenged, the challengers claiming initially that the assignment should be to zone 2 and more recently recommending assignment to zone 3. In recognition of the challenge, the Natural Hazards Group of the University of Hawaii established in 1985 a Task Force to investigate the appropriateness of the risk zone assignment. The investigation was undertaken by the author of this report as a member of the Task Force. The methods used in the investigation are summarized and the conclusions reached are presented in this report, which is the last of several prepared by the author for the use of the Task Force as a whole.
Recommended Air Quality Standards for Hawaii
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1971-01) Air Pollution Task Force, Environmental Center, University of Hawaii
This report has been prepared in response to the request of the Department of Health, State of Hawaii for a review by the Environmental Center, University of Hawaii of the air quality standards prepared by the Department.Air quality standards are goals for air quality, in terms of desired limits on concentrations of specific pollutants in the ambient air, that have been prescribed by a political entity, such as the State of Hawaii, as pertaining within a specified geographical entity, such as the Hawaii Air Quality Control Region.
Mirex Monitoring in Hawaii -- 1973-74, Final Report
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1974-09) Johnson, Jerry M.; Dollar, Alexander M.
The 1973-74 Mirex Monitoring Program - Hawaii was undertaken in accordance with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Determination and Order dated August 31, 1973 (Attachment 1). In that D.&0., EPA stayed its prohibition against aerial application of Mirex in Hawaiian pineapple fields provided that a Mirex monitoring program was carried out according to their specifications and approval.
The Locus of Tsunami Runup Frequency Distributions
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1978-12) Cox, Doak C.
In June 1978, the Environmental Center issued a review of the "Coastal High-Hazard Zone as Mapped for the National Flood Insurance Program" (Cox, 1978). I have recently been made aware of a problem with the determination of the coastal high hazard zone that I did not anticipate in that review. This problem has to do with the assumption that the near-shore tsunami runups and the frequency distributions on which the zone limits are based could be taken to apply at a location of 200 feet inland from the shoreline. In this review I detail the problem, trace its source, and suggest certain courses of action to reduce it.
The Lanai Earthquake of February 1871
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1985-01) Cox, Doak C.
From an extensive compilation of the reported effects of the large Hawaiian earthquake of February 1871, it is concluded that the earthquake occurred at 22:11 on 19 February Honolulu local time (08:42.5 on 20 February Greenwich time); that its epicenter was probably south of Lanai within 60 km of 20.8º N, 157.0 W; and that it had a Richter magnitude of 7.0 + 0.5. Considering its probable epicentral location, it seems appropriately referred to as the Lanai earthquake. Probable average intensities of the earthquake on the Modified Mercalli scale are estimated at IX on Lanai, VII to IX on East Molokai, XI to VIII on Maul; IV to VI on Hawaii; VI to VII on Oahu; V on Kauai; and IV on Niihau.
Japanese Tsunamis in Hawaii - A Preliminary Report
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1980-01) Cox, Doak C.
The study leading to this report was undertaken because of the importance of historic information in tsunami hazard management, and particularly in the identification of tsunami hazard zones in the National Flood Insurance Program whose full implementation in Hawaii is scheduled in the near future. In this program, the hazard zones are intended to represent the extent of tsunami inundation expectable, on the average, once in a hundred years. This preliminary report is the first product of the review of the historical record of Japanese tsunamis in Hawaii. It reflects an extensive search for and review of local contemporary documentation of the Hawaiian effects of the Japanese tsunamis that have been reported to be observed or recorded here. It also includes some notes on a tsunami reported in Hawaii early in the 19th century that might conceivably have been of Japanese origin.
Inventory of Non-Energy Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Hawaii Phase I
(Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1997-01) Miller, Jacquelin N.; Morrow, James; Ewald, Veronica; Ludwig, Noel
International concern for global climate change has stimulated a wide range of data gathering and analysis efforts worldwide. The recognition that certain atmospheric gases, many of which are anthropogenic in origin, have the capacity to absorb infrared radiation-and thus trap heat in the atmosphere--has focused research efforts on these so-called "greenhouse" gases. In order for a country to assess its contribution to such global warming, it must first develop an emissions inventory of greenhouse gas sources and sinks. In the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently published such an inventory (U.S. EPA, 1994) and has been funding the efforts of each state to develop their own inventories of sources of greenhouse gas emissions (U.S. EPA, 1995, hereafter titled the State Phase I Workbook). It is this latter document which serves as the basis for the present report by providing the bulk of its overall methodology.

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