The Lahaina study area (transects 781 – 858) is located between Māla Wharf to the north and Lahaina Boat Harbor in the south. The shoreline is comprised of sandy pocket beaches broken by hardened shoreline in the south and central portion of the area, and a sand beach at Puʻunoa in the north. Coastal armoring in the form of seawalls was constructed north of Lahaina Boat Harbor to protect private property and Front Street from shoreline change. Puʻunoa Beach (transects 804 – 858) is a narrow beach that starts from the seawall fronting businesses on Front Street and ends at Māla Wharf. Puʻunoa Point provides a reference feature to juxtapose the behavior of Puʻunoa Beach to the north and to the south.
As a whole, the area has experienced moderate erosion over time with an average rate of -0.6 ft/yr. The shoreline north of Lahaina Boat Harbor (transects 781 – 802) has experienced moderate erosion with an average rate of -1.0 ft/yr. South of Puʻunoa Point (transects 803 – 843) the shoreline has experienced a range of shoreline change, from erosion in the southern portion, switching to accretion toward Puʻunoa Point, resulting in an overall average rate of -0.3 ft/yr for the section. North of Puʻunoa Point (transects 844 – 858) the shoreline fronting Puʻupiha cemetery has experienced moderate erosion over time with an average rate of -0.7 ft/yr.
Last updated: July 2021
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