Strong Kona winds this winter have eroded iconic Waikiki beach, creating a serious hot spot near the Royal Hawaiian Groin. 

State officials said on Monday during a press conference that natural wave conditions are expected to replenish the sand once the usual spring and summer trade wind pattern returns. 

In the interim, Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts LP, the owner of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, responded to the “washout” surrounding the stairs, by installing sandbags.  Exposed metal on the Royal Hawaiian groin was removed to prevent injuries to ocean users. 

This is in addition to the $2.5 million investment that Kyo-ya, the state and other parties made in 2012 to move 27,000-cubic-yards of sand from offshore onto Kuhio Beach. That replenishment shored up sections of Waikiki Beach which were severely eroded, especially in front of the police station and Moana Hotel. 

“We were looking at a complete loss of sand in this sector, which would have been catastrophic in the heart of Waikiki Beach, said Sam Lemmo, administrator of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands. “The Hawaii Tourism Authority and Kyoya helped with this project. This private-public partnership is expected to continue with the execution of the DLNR’s long-term beach maintenance plan for Waikiki.”

Lemmo said about $15 million to $20 million of further maintenance is required over the next decade since Waikiki is an engineered beach, which includes imported sand and rock stabilizing structures. The state is developing a 10-year-plan to eliminate erosion hot spots, which include Royal Hawaiian Groin and a stretch of sand adjacent to Kuhio Beach, Lemmo said. It also has budgeted $1.3 million to restore the archaic Royal Hawaiian Groin itself. 

Lemmo said the adoption of city bills 81 and 82 would allow Waikiki commercial property owners to partner with the state to fund coastal protection. If House Bill 444 continues moving, it also could provide additional funding, he said. 

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