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Dennis Hwang
Coastal Hazard Mitigation Specialist
Education
JD, University of Houston
MS Geology and Geophysics, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
BS Geology, University of Rochester
Email: djh@opgilaw.com
Phone: (808) 544-8608
Fax: (808) 531-8628
Address:

Pacific Guardian Center Makai Tower, 24th Floor
733 Bishop Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

Dennis Hwang combines his science and law background to concentrate on implementing science into decisions of the community so that hurricane, tsunami, flood, erosion, wind and earthquake impacts are mitigated. He authored the Hawai'i Coastal Hazard Mitigation Guidebook, which is used in the land use process in Hawai'i. A similar version was produced for Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. He co-authored the Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards, which is now in its second edition and being produced for several states. Mr. Hwang is also Counsel at the Office of O’Connor Playdon and Guben and his clients include government agencies and planning departments dealing with coastal, hazard, and land use issues.

Hwang is a member of the NOAA National Focus Team for Hazard Resilient Communities, Hawaii State Hurricane Advisory Committee, American Society of Civil Engineers, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Hawaii State Bar Association and is a Court Appointed Arbitrator. He believes in implementing science using a flexible approach based on a continuum of key elements. These concepts will soon be applied for portions of the Pacific Region to address hazard and sea-level rise issues.

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