State and county officials will meet today to discuss possible solutions to the severe erosion that has exposed a large concrete foundation below Waikiki’s Kuhio Beach.
One of the solutions is rebuilding the shore by hauling sand from one end of the beach to the eroded spot in front of the Hawaiian Oceans Waikiki rental business, officials said.
The erosion is occurring in an area that was part of the $2.4 million beach replenishment project between Kuhio Beach and the Royal Hawaiian groin in May 2012.
Apparently, unusual surf conditions and/or man-made structures in the water may have caused the sand to erode faster than expected or collect somewhere else.
Meanwhile, the state continues to work with homeowners affected by severe erosion on Sunset Beach on the North Shore.
Deborah Ward, spokeswoman for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said coastal lands officials Tuesday continued to advise residents on what they can do to stop the erosion and how to apply for permits.
Officials pledged to expedite any acceptable erosion projects given the dire situation involving 10 or so homes that face the Kammy’s surf break.
Many of the homes, including the residence of pro surfer Fred Patacchia Jr., sit dangerously close to a 20-foot cliff formed by recent wave action and accelerated in only the past few weeks. Pools, decks, trees and beach ladders already have been lost to the sea.
Dolan Eversole, a University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program coastal hazards extension agent, said both erosion hot spots haven’t seen any unusually large swells recently. But unknown circumstances, including waves flowing in an unusual direction and other conditions, can occur to help intensify erosion in certain spots, he said.
The North Shore problem is complicated by the fact that the homes sit on concrete foundations that make them hard to move, if it comes down to that, Eversole said.
The Waikiki problem is easier to address, he said, because the erosion is happening on public land. "It’s just a matter of agreeing to do something," Eversole said.
The state paid for more than half the cost of the Waikiki replenishment. The Hawaii Tourism Authority and Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts, owner of the Moana Surfrider and other Waikiki hotels, each contributed $500,000.
