'Hawaii’s 25mm Per Year Sink': Scientists warn islands are vanishing faster than sea rise
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Sinking Hawaii
New research shows parts of Hawaii are plunging 25 mm per year, sinking faster than sea levels are rising—a double threat to coastal life.
Hidden Crisis
While sea level rise grabs headlines, scientists warn Hawaii’s land subsidence is happening 40 times faster, threatening to flood neighborhoods much sooner.
Double Threat
As the ocean rises, Hawaii’s land is also sinking, compounding flood risks and cutting disaster preparation timelines in half.
Vanishing Shorelines
Areas like Mapunapuna are sinking and slipping under the sea, with roads and buildings collapsing into unsteady ground at alarming rates.
Rapid Collapse
Oahu’s south shore is dropping faster than ever recorded, forcing urgent questions about how much longer coastal communities can hold on.
Flood Countdown
Scientists warn some Hawaiian regions may see 50% more flooding by 2050, turning what was thought to be a future problem into an urgent crisis.
Urban Peril
Hawaii’s industrial and urban zones built on unstable sediment face accelerating sink risks, demanding new approaches to city planning and defense.
Submerged Future
If current rates continue, key coastal hubs could be underwater within decades, forcing painful choices about relocation and retreat.
Urgent Warnings
Experts urge policymakers to act now, as Hawaii’s sinking land and rising seas will soon outpace current flood protection plans.