The coastline of Hanapēpē study area is composed of basalt rock bluffs and embayments with small pocket sandy beaches. There are three pocket beaches within the study area. The beach within Hanapēpē Bay (transects 67 – 79) lies immediately to the north of Port Allen Small Boat Harbor east of the mouth of Hanapēpē Stream. The location and orientation of the beach means that it is sheltered from the majority of seasonal wave activity from the south. Glass Beach (transects 81 – 87) lies to the east of Hanapēpē Bay entrance. Wahiawa Bay (transects 89 – 96) contains a small pocket beach and river mouth. Glass Beach and Wahiawa Beach are exposed to seasonal south swells with the embayment at Wahiawa offering a smaller window of exposure to waves.
The average shoreline change of the beach north of Port Allen Small Boat Harbor is erosional with an average shoreline change rate of -0.7 ft/yr. Glass Beach is experiencing slight accretion with an average shoreline change rate of 0.2 ft/yr. Wahiawa Bay is experiencing accretion with an average shoreline change rate of 0.6 ft/yr. Previous studies* did not analyze the Hanapēpē study area.
*Makai Ocean Engineering and Sea Engineering, 1991 Aerial Photograph Analysis of Coastal Erosion on the Islands of Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii. State of Hawaii Office of Coastal Zone Management Program.
Last updated: July 2021
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