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. [tier=unverified indep_score=0.3 clusters=3 claim_tier=notable] [rescored 2026-09-15: curated origin-host map (PR #65); unclassified hosts no longer scored as aggregators]
Sources
- Data Store Archive - News Apps - ProPublica (seed:conspiracy_and_investigation)
- https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/12/31/hawaii-news/paradise-lost-hawaii-officials-promise-changes-to-seawall-policies-that-have-quickened-beach-destruction/ (corroboration)
- https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2021/01/03/hawaii-news/hawaii-pledges-to-strengthen-oversight-over-beach-erosion-2/ (corroboration)
- https://grist.org/buildings/pearl-harbor-oahu-hawaii-seawall-erosion/ (corroboration)