Waikiki Beach Case Study

1) Causes of erosion on Waikiki Beach:
a) The Pacific's rough current wears away the smooth surface of the sand
b) The construction of sea walls
c) The loss of coastal dunes buried by man made structures
d) Storms
e) Fast moving motor crafts

2) Past and Present attempts to save the sand on Waikiki BeachIn June of 2012, the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources completed a beach replenishment project that added 24,000 cubic yards of offshore sand across 1,730 feet of Waikiki's Beach. I believe this was a good attempt however one fourth of the sand was washed away after only one year of the $2.2 million project, therefore I think it bought more time but was not a permanent solution. There has been ten replenishment projects since 1939, meaning 300,000 cubic yards of sand has been placed on Waikiki's beach over the past seventy seven years. Replenishing the sand isn't a solution to the erosion issue it's only prolonging the survival of the beach. An upcoming project to save the beach is the creation of a nonprofit Waikiki improvement district under Bill 82, which would raise funds for restoration efforts. The bill passed first reading earlier this month and was referred to the Zoning and Planning Committee for further debate. |

3) Economic, Social and Environmental impacts on tourists and residents of the area
Economic Impacts:
-Erosion on the Waikiki shoreline is detrimental to the economy of Hawaii as the beach is a major tourist attraction as well as most of locals businesses rely on sales related to the beach environment
- Local shops and businesses lose money due to declined tourist rates
- The entire economy of the state is greatly shortened due to expenses of beach replenishment, loss of tourists and expensive injuries caused by beaches
- Lack of houses and hotels being bought and sold by the shores because of noise and disruption from machinery
- Cost of beach replenishment

Social Impacts:
- Tourist counts are reduced due to the loss of the shoreline and lost beach
- Less people on and near the beaches
- Locals have their water sport hobbies restricted due to dangers of surfing near the shore and being injured by exposed concrete
- The future of Waikiki's beach is on the line of disappearing which would mean the loss of Hawaii's most cherished beaches, effecting the country on a global scale as it would no longer be a desired vacation destination or desired place to live

Environmental Impacts:
- Pollution is introduced into the atmosphere due to the machinery used to pump the sand.
- Marine and fish life is effected due to disruptive machinery in the ocean which may kill a lot of creatures and destroy their habitats
- Plant and soil contamination
- Water contamination
- Restoration of the beach will allow beach creatures to gain their habitat back