Hau‘ula is located on the northeast coast of O‘ahu. The beach is composed of calcareous sand with terrigenous alluvium around Kaipapaʻu and Ma‘akua Stream mouths. Shallow fringing reef protects the shoreline from the full energy of northeast tradewind waves and refracted north swells. The back-beach is lined with seawalls and homes located close to the shore.
The beaches at Hau‘ula have experienced moderate rates of erosion when averaged along the length of the shoreline (-0.3 ft/yr) since 1928. The highest rates of erosion in the study area (exceeding -0.9 ft/yr) have occurred at Kaipapaʻu Point. Chronic erosion to narrow seawall-lined beach has resulted in loss of the beach at Kaipapaʻu Point (transects 0 – 9) and along Kamehameha Highway and Kālaipāloa Point (transects 124 -140). Waves wash up to the base of seawalls in other sections at high tide. A pavilion at Hau‘ula Beach Park (transects 53 – 54) was lost to erosion in the 1990’s.
Results of this study generally agree with previous studies (Hwang, 1981)*, which found erosion to the vegetation line in the north and south of the study area and at Hauʻula Beach Park.
*Hwang, D. (1981) “Beach changes on Oʻahu as revealed by aerial photographs”, State of Hawaii, Department of Planning and Economic Development.
Last updated: July 2021
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