State lawmakers heard from scientists Thursday who said Hawaii will face an escalating number of coastal erosion and flooding incidents as climate change-driven sea-level rise plays a greater role here in the decades to come.

In addition, state Rep. Chris Lee (D, Kailua-Lanikai-Waimanalo) said he plans to introduce a bill requiring the state to better prepare for the potential impacts of climate change on Hawaii.

"I think it’s clear we can’t wait any longer to get a handle on what is a big challenge for us to come," said Lee, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection.

The joint session of the Senate and House energy and environment committees was held Thursday as at least five homes on Sunset Beach were in danger of being overwhelmed by ocean waves that have eroded the stretch along Rocky Point. In October, houses on another section of Sunset Beach were similarly in jeopardy, and erosion exposed an old concrete foundation and rebar on Waikiki Beach.

"Perhaps it’s a glimpse into our not-so-distant future," said Dolan Eversole, coastal storms program coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Eversole and Deanna Spooner, coordinator of the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative, told lawmakers of a growing body of evidence pointing to a surge in climate change impacts on Hawaii.

Scientists with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA and the University of Hawaii have added to the science predicting sea-level rise and its impact in the islands.

Eversole said a general estimate on sea-level rise is 1 foot by 2050 and 1 meter, or 3.28 feet, by 2100.

"I think those numbers are on the lower end for Hawaii," he said.

In addition to rising sea levels, Hawaii must deal with flooding from a rising groundwater table and the likelihood that storm surge and potential destruction will reach further inland during extreme weather events.

"Areas that are in trouble now are likely to get worse," he said.

Eversole urged the state to develop adaptation strategies for coastal inundation zones. For instance, current building codes do not prevent slab-on-grade construction on the coast when homes should be built using the flood-friendly post-and-pier method, he said.

Lee said his bill, now being drafted, establishes a timeline and commits funding in an attempt to achieve a greater understanding of the issue. It will fund positions and create a panel of experts that will advise the state "so we can effectively get the job done" and be better prepared through the year 2050.

The legislation will be part of the joint House-Senate majority package and will be fast-tracked to the governor this year, he said.

"If we lose our beaches, we lose our economy and we lose our way of life here," Lee said.

"In Kailua, for example, the beach is the heart of our community, and it is a driver for a lot of the small businesses in the area. It’s eroding faster than it’s ever done before. And if we cannot save it over the course of time, it has disastrous consequences for our community."

But with a limited source of funding, the state may need to prioritize management of certain beaches, Lee said.

"We are in the triage mode as far as coastal management and trying to protect our beaches," Eversole agreed. "The way our laws and statutes are set up, all beaches are created equal, that we should apply all the same policies and rules to all the beaches. The reality of the situation, however, is there are some areas that are going to be extremely difficult to recover."

On the other hand, he said, there are some "legacy beaches," including Sunset Beach, that deserve a higher priority of protection.

"There are a variety of places around the state where you can draw a line and say we are absolutely not going to allow any armoring because, as you know, it’s a domino effect. As soon as you build one (sea) wall, it affects the neighbors."