Spending $13 million on sand might seem dubious — until one realizes it’s actually a small price to pay to protect Waikiki Beach, with its estimated $2.2 billion annual economic impact to Hawaii.

This is a world-renowned asset — but due to erosion and sea-level rise, Waikiki’s man-made shoreline has been noticeably losing sand. Money will shore up the Royal Hawaiian groin into a T-head rock wall to shield the coast from summer swells; and will return a groin to Kuhio Beach where erosion periodically exposes a remnant building foundation. Also upcoming will be a study to ID several other Waikiki coast-protection projects. Beauty takes money.

Hawaii losing Chinese tourists, too

Usually, international affairs seem remote from local concerns, but not so with the current U.S.-China trade battles. The effects are visible in Hawaii’s tourism industry, at least.

National industry sources are reporting a drop in Chinese tourists. Locally, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has calculated a 25% drop in visitor arrivals from China in April compared to that month in 2018. The first four months of the year are down 23.3%. Let’s hope this faceoff resolves amicably — and quickly.