ProPublica found that Hawaii property owners received more than 230 exemptions between 2000 and 2020 from state and local laws restricting seawalls, including approvals to retain existing shoreline structures or build new ones.
Notes on verification
Confirmed directly by ProPublica's dataset and corroborated by multiple independent outlets (Star-Advertiser, AP/West Hawaii Today/KITV, Grist) reporting the same figure and timeframe.
Sources
- Data Store Archive - News Apps - ProPublica (projects.propublica.org)
- https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/12/31/hawaii-news/paradise-lost-hawaii-officials-promise-changes-to-seawall-policies-that-have-quickened-beach-destruction/ (staradvertiser.com)
- https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2021/01/03/hawaii-news/hawaii-pledges-to-strengthen-oversight-over-beach-erosion-2/ (westhawaiitoday.com)
- https://grist.org/buildings/pearl-harbor-oahu-hawaii-seawall-erosion/ (grist.org)