Typhoon Mawar Cleanup: In October 2023, typhoon debris in Guam (e.g., appliances, green waste, and construction materials) awaited removal by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the extensive cleanup operation after Typhoon Mawar hit.
of the eight warmest years on record having occurred since 2007. The Pacific Ocean in this region has also seen a temperature increase of approximately 1.6 °F (0.9 °C) since 1982. Furthermore, in the western tropical Pacific Sea, the sea level has risen approximately 10–15 cm (4–6 in.), nearly twice the rate measured in 1993. Similarly in the central tropical Pacific Sea, sea level has increased to 5–10 cm (2–4 in.), which has already resulted in an increased frequency of minor flooding. Oceanic pH measurements recorded at Sta- tion ALOHA, Hawaii, show a >12% increase in acidity between 1988 and 2020 with a sig- nificant decline in phytoplankton size (Marra et al., 2022). According to G. Bare (personal communi- cation, June 10, 2024), when asked about cli- mate-related changes resulting from climate change, Leilani L. Navarro, the environmen- tal public health ocer supervisor for the Department of Public Health and Social Ser- vices at the Guam Division of Environmental Health, said: I have noticed that typhoons are more intense, and they come in unusual times of the year, such as Typhoon Mawar that hit Guam in May 2023, which is typi- cally the start of the summer season. In addition, air temperatures seem to be higher in the last 5 years, and wildfires are occurring more frequently than when I first came to Guam in 2010.
life in the Pacific Islands. In recent years, the region has experienced an increasing inten- sity of tropical storms and typhoons, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods (Frazier et al., 2023). According to G. Bare (personal commu- nication, June 10, 2024), when asked about how these effects of climate change are impacting environmental health program- matic areas, Navarro said: Heavy rainfall and flooding may increase the levels of pathogens in water and food and can increase foodborne and water- borne diseases. Increasing air tempera- tures may result in increased wildfires, which can a£ect food safety. Typhoons damage homes and buildings and result in unsanitary conditions that allow pests to breed and transmit diseases to people. For example, in 2018 Typhoon Yutu, also called Super Typhoon Rosita—the strongest typhoon ever recorded to impact the Mari- ana Islands—caused catastrophic damage to Saipan and Tinian in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Frazier et al., 2023). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, 2019) reported that the tor- rential rain and wind speeds of 130–180 mph killed 2 people, injured at least 133 others, and damaged or destroyed much of the build- ings and critical infrastructure on the islands. As a result, local, state, and federal partners mobilized to address widespread power out- ages, severed water lines, large-scale debris removal, and the large number of people experiencing homelessness (FEMA, 2019). In 2019, Typhoon Wutip (also called Trop- ical Depression Betty) brought heavy rainfall and flooding to Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Department
of Environment, Climate Change, and Emer- gency Management (DECEM, 2019) reported that in the Federated States of Micronesia alone, approximately 10,000 individuals were a£ected by Typhoon Wutip, with more than 100 families displaced. Furthermore, more than 90% of crops were destroyed in the worst-a£ected areas, with approximately $1 million in damages. The extensive dam- age caused by the inundation of salt water exacerbated the food security of the drought- a£ected islands and contaminated the limited freshwater resources (DECEM, 2019). UNICEF (2020) reported that Severe Tropi- cal Cyclone Harold caused major damage to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga. The greatest destruction occurred in Vanuatu, where winds >200 km/hr a£ected approxi- mately 92,300 people, including 24,300 chil- dren, which equates to 30% of the country’s population. Public infrastructures (e.g., roads, hospitals, schools, homes, churches) sustained major damage across Vanuatu’s northern and central islands of Maewo, Pentecost, Ambae, and Santo. Gardens were destroyed, food crops seriously a£ected, and water infrastructure damaged (UNICEF, 2020). In addition to these devastating storms, the USAPI region is also grappling with the emerging threat of wildfires (Pacific Fire Exchange, 2017). According to G. Bare (per- sonal communication, June 12, 2024), when asked about climate-related changes result- ing from climate change, John Kolman, the Hawaii district health ocer for the Hawaii State Department of Health, said: I have seen highways and roads become more frequently impacted by storms with debris and needed repairs. I have seen wildland fire risks increase, includ- ing burning structures.
Climate Change Impacts on Hawaii and the USAPI
Hawaii and the USAPI are facing numerous environmental health threats and risks due to climate change. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and changes in precipitation patterns are a£ecting the very foundations of
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May 2025 • Journal of Environmental Health
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