The Kūʻau area (transects 826 – 966) extends from Kūʻau Bay to Hoʻokipa Beach Park. The shoreline consists of sandy pocket beaches separated by rocky headlands. Ako Point, central to the area, divides Kūʻau into two sections with most beaches described individually.
The Kūʻau study area has experienced light to moderate erosion over time with an average rate of -0.5 ft/yr. The western portion of the area (transects 826 – 886) extends from Kaulahao to Ako Point. This section of coastline has experienced moderate to severe erosion since 1912, with an average rate of -1.2 ft/yr. Kaulahao (transects 832 – 839) is a small, wide, coral-rubble and white sand beach that fronts a beach rock bench*. This section of shoreline has experienced moderate erosion with an average rate of -1.0 ft/yr. Tavares Bay has a small pocket beach backed by a revetment (transects 852 – 854). It has experienced moderate erosion with an average rate of -0.7 ft/yr, with no visible beach at transect 852 in 2014. To the east of Tavares Bay is a pocket beach (transects 858-866) fronting private residences. This beach has experienced moderate to severe erosion with an average rate of -1.5 ft/yr, with complete beach loss by 2007 at transects 858 – 860, and by 2014 at transects 865 – 866. The beach at Ako Point (transects 872 – 886) consists of a small volume of sand overlying a rocky bench. This beach has experienced light erosion over time with an average rate of -0.5 ft/yr, and no visible beach in the 2014 imagery at transects 872, 879 – 880, 882 – 883, and 886.
The eastern portion of the study area (transects 893 – 966) includes Father Jules Papa, Hamakuapoko Papa and Hoʻokipa Beach Park. These beaches are characterized by white sand beaches fronted by a wide shelf of reef or rock.
The eastern portion of the study area has experienced conditions ranging from moderate erosion to mild accretion over time, with an average rate of 0.02 ft/yr. Father Jules Papa (transects 893 – 896) has experienced moderate erosion over time with an average rate of -0.5 ft/yr. The shoreline at Hamakuapoko Papa (transects 913 – 924) has experienced light erosion with an average rate of -0.2 ft/yr. Hoʻokipa Beach Park (transects 946 – 966) in the far eastern portion has experienced light accretion rates since 1975 with an average rate of 0.2 ft/yr.
*Makai Ocean Engineering and Sea Engineering, 1991 Aerial Photographs analysis of Coastal Erosion on the Islands of Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii. State of Hawaii Office of Planning Coastal Zone Management Program.
Last updated: July 2021
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