Hawaii 1988

When this book first appeared, it opened a new and innovative perspective on Hawaii's history and contemporary dilemmas. Now, several decades later, its themes of dependency, mis­development, and elitism dominate Hawaii's economic evolution more than ever. The author updates his study with an overview of the Japanese investment spree of the late 1980s, the impact of national economic restructuring on the tourism industry in Hawaii, the continuing crises of local politics, and the Hawaiian sovereignty movement as a potential source of renewal.

The flood that greeted the new year in 1988 brought home the uncomfortable realization that many suburban areas of eastern Oahu are at risk from sudden and, in some cases, unpredictable flooding. Torrential rains fell over the southeastern portion of the island on New Year's Eve, precipitating major flooding in several suburban neighborhoods and resulting in $34 million in damages. Neither the current meteorological capabilities nor the present flood control structures for the Oahu area proved adequate to predict or control the deluge. This book documents and analyzes the meteorological conditions leading to the torrential rains, the causes and patterns of flooding, the performance of flood control structures in affected areas, the extent of damages, and the effectiveness of the local emergency response and recovery actions. Conclusions and recommendations are drawn from the analyses.

2011 Updated Reprint. Updated Annually. Hawaii Investment & Business Guide