Waikiki Erosion Control Project Wraps Up

A new beach improvement and shoreline stabilization project for Waikīkī Beach has been successfully completed, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said in their latest announcement. 

“The effort between the DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) and the Waikīkī Beach Special Improvement District demonstrates a successful public-private partnership with the district funding half of the project cost and providing logistical and technical support through the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant Program,” said DLNR.

The project consists of a 95-foot-long sandbag stub groin and the transfer of approximately 1000 cubic yards of beach sand from the Diamond Head swim basin of Kuhio Beach.

The groin and beach sand serve to stabilize the Diamond Head (Southeast) end of Kuhio Beach park fronting the Duke Kahanamoku statue.

According to DLNR, the work is intended to fix an erosion hot spot in the far eastern corner of Royal Hawaiian Beach until a more comprehensive master planning effort for Waikīkī Beach can be completed.

“This project demonstrates the successful outcome of public-private partnerships and is an important component of a longer-term vision for comprehensive beach management and maintenance in Waikīkī,” said Sam Lemmo, OCCL Administrator.

After three weeks of construction, the work was completed a couple of days ago. The project consultant and engineering designer was Sea Engineering Inc. and the contractor was JS International, Inc.