Some Institutional Constraints to Coastal Zone Management:

Abstract

THE COASTAL ZONE plays a strategic role in Hawaii's overwhelmingly marine economy. It is easily the state's most valuable marine asset. The general coastline of the Hawaiian Islands combined is 750 statute miles, fourth largest among the states and territories and equals almost one-half of the total open-sea shoreline of the 48 contiguous states. It embraces the entirety of Hawaii's maritime activities, which account for over 95 per cent of all the products, besides passengers, moved to or from Hawaii or between the Islands of the Hawaiian Chain. The marine-related activities which occur in the state's coastal zone account for a broad spectrum of business-tourist services, boat building, marine construction, ship repair, brokerage agencies, warehousing, commercial diving and many more. The pressures of different uses on Hawaii's coastal zone have been mounting dramatically in recent years, causing an increasing variety of management problems. This paper is a first attempt to examine critically the factors which impede the formulation and implementation of an effective system for optimum management of Hawaii's vital shoreline. The problems plaguing Hawaii's coastal zone management are primarily the result of institutional