Water
Water is the central thread of the Lahaina thesis. The 2023 wildfire was worsened by a lack of water to fight the fire, and the ongoing Stage 2 Water Shortage blocks reconstruction. This topic covers the historic ditch systems, aquifer conditions, proposed water capture strategies, and the regulatory framework governing water use in West Maui.
Sections
The Four-Buffer Framework
Coastal, riparian, peri-urban, and water collection zones forming the backbone of the recovery plan.
Environmental Analysis
Water systems, rainfall patterns, streams, and sea level rise projections for West Maui.
The Module System
A 26x26-foot building module using Hawaiian construction traditions, water capture, and solar response.
Pioneer Mill Water Infrastructure
Historic ditch systems, aquifer designation, and the water crisis blocking Lahaina's recovery.
The Water Crisis
Stage 2 water shortage, aquifer designation, and the infrastructure blocking Lahaina's recovery.
Proposed Systems - Water, Green Infrastructure, and Mobility
Integrated urban systems connecting water capture, green corridors, and a new mobility network.
Water System - Zone by Zone
The five water capture and distribution zones from mountain hinterland to coast, with specific strategies for each.
Drawings
Coastal Buffer Map
Plan showing the coastal buffer zone defined by sea level rise projections and the inland retreat boundary
Buffer Framework Base Plan
Base plan showing the coastal, riparian, and peri-urban buffer extents with the primary circulation framework
Peri-Urban Buffer
Agricultural transition zone between the proposed boulevard and highway serving as firebreak
Water Collection Hinterland
Map showing water capture zones above the highway reinforcing the historic ditch system
Buffer Framework - Mauka to Makai
Conceptual section showing four buffer zones from hinterland to nearshore: coastal, peri-urban, riparian, and hinterland catchment
Riparian Buffer
Riparian buffer design principles with section detail showing stream corridor restoration
Complete Buffer System
All four buffer zones overlaid — coastal, riparian, peri-urban, and water collection — in one comprehensive plan
Coastal Buffer Section
Sectional strategy drawing showing retreat, public access, dunes, and coastal park interventions along the shoreline
Composite Regional Analysis
Combined systems map identifying developable edges and constraint zones across West Maui
Integrated Framework Plan
Integrated plan linking buffers, circulation, the school, redensification, and the peri-urban park in one framework
Diagnostic Overlay — Systemic Vulnerabilities
Composite analysis showing overlapping infrastructure, water, and fire vulnerabilities across Lahaina
Existing Water Systems
Map of streams, ditches, collection pools, retention areas, and water infrastructure across Lahaina
Module - Water Capture
Section showing rainwater collection through sloped roofs and shared gutters between modules
Peri-Urban Buffer - 3D View
3D visualization of peri-urban agricultural buffer zone with water management and fire-resistant vegetation
Peri-Urban Buffer Map
Plan showing the peri-urban firebreak and agricultural transition zone between the rebuilt town and the highway
Proposed Green Infrastructure
Expanded green network connecting coastal promenade, riparian corridors, and agricultural edge
Proposed Recovery Framework
Hypothesis diagram showing four-buffer framework with coastal, peri-urban, riparian, and hinterland zones surrounding a protected urban core
Rainfall Distribution
Rainfall gradient map showing precipitation from 400 inches at summit to 12 inches at coast
Streams & Ditch Systems
Map of natural stream network overlaid with historic plantation ditch infrastructure
Riparian Buffer Map
Plan showing the riparian corridor running mauka to makai through Lahaina as a restored ecological and public-access spine
Riparian Buffer - 3D View
3D visualization of riparian buffer restoration showing stream restoration with vegetation and flood management
Water Capture Network
Proposed water capture network showing collection zones, channels, and directional flow from the hinterland toward town
Water Capture Ponds
Axonometric rendering of terraced water capture ponds and retention basins integrated with the upland landscape
Water Collection Strategy
Diagram showing water collection pond system and distribution from mountain hinterland to town
Water Collection Infrastructure
Perspective section of elevated agricultural terraces with water capture ponds and retention basins
Water Zones — Mauka to Makai
Diagram showing water capture and distribution zones from mountain to coast
Sources
Lahaina Aquifer Sector Designation
CWRM (State of Hawai'i) — State-level regulatory control over all water withdrawals in the Lahaina sector
El Parque del Agua / The Water Park
Alday, Iñaki, Margarita Jover, and Christine Dalnoky — Water infrastructure as public space; direct precedent for integrating water systems into community design
Online Rainfall Atlas of Hawaiʻi
Giambelluca, Thomas W. et al. — Definitive rainfall data for Hawaiʻi; source for the 97% precipitation gradient analysis from Puʻu Kukui to Lahaina coast
Buffer Zone Principles
Singh, Akhil — Comprehensive framework for coastal, riparian, agricultural, water retention, and residential buffer zones
Stream Classification Analysis
Singh, Akhil — Cultural versus aquatic stream resources; LSB land classifications applied to Lahaina watersheds
Restoring Streams in Cities: A Guide for Planners, Policymakers, and Citizens
Riley, Ann L. — Practical methodology for urban stream restoration; directly applicable to Lahaina's riparian buffer strategy
Stage 2 Water Shortage Declaration, West Maui
Maui County DWS — Demand exceeds reliable capacity by 41.8%; new water meter moratorium blocking reconstruction
Steps to Water: The Ancient Stepwells of India
Livingston, Morna — Vernacular water infrastructure as architecture; precedent for integrating water systems into public space
Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan
Waggonner & Ball Architects — Comprehensive urban water management precedent; demonstrates how water infrastructure can become public amenity and resilience strategy
3-Year Usage Forecast
Maui County Department of Water Supply — Projected water demand vs. supply through 2028; quantifies the 41.8% deficit blocking recovery
Yamuna River Project: New Delhi Urban Ecology
Alday, Iñaki, and Pankaj Vir Gupta — Urban river restoration and ecological urbanism; methodology for treating water corridors as design opportunities
Terms
Ahupuaʻa
Traditional Hawaiian land division extending from mountains (mauka) to sea (makai), integrating natural water systems for agriculture, community sustenance, and ecological balance. The ahupuaʻa organized land as continuous hydrological and social unit, with resource management distributed across elevation zones.
CWRM
Commission on Water Resource Management
Integrated Water Systems
A holistic approach combining flood control, ecological preservation, drought resilience, and community accessibility. For Lahaina, this means leveraging both natural systems (streams, wetlands, groundwater) and engineered infrastructure (storage, distribution, capture) to restore hydrological continuity.
Permeable Frameworks
Urban systems managing water through distributed infiltration, retention, and conveyance rather than centralized pipe-and-pump infrastructure.