The Kāʻanapali study area extends continuously from Hanakaʻōʻō Beach Park in the south to Kekaʻa Point (Black Rock) in the north (transects 943 – 1068). The coastline is comprised of a seasonally dynamic large continuous white sand beach exposed to both kona storm activity and seasonal northwest swell events. Offshore, sand with rubble and patches of coral reef begin south of Kekaʻa Point and grow into a shallow fringing reef near Hanakaʻōʻō Point. South of Hanakaʻōʻō Point, fringing reef and beach rock dominate the offshore setting. Hanakaʻōʻō Point is central to the area and provides a convenient feature around which to describe the shoreline.
As a whole, the study area (transects 943 – 1068) has experienced light to moderate erosion since 1912 with an average rate of -0.3 ft/yr. The northern portion (transects 1014 – 1068) has been relatively stable with an average rate of 0.2 ft/yr. The southern portion (transects 943 – 1014) has experienced moderate erosion over time with an average rate of -0.6 ft/yr. Hanakaʻōʻō Point (transects 1010 – 1020) is the most seasonally unstable section of coast in this area with a measured average seasonal difference in the low water marks of 54 feet, but, over the entire study period, shows mild long-term accretion with an average rate of 0.3 ft/yr.
Last updated: July 2021
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