Laniloa, Pounders, and Kokololio Beaches (transects 0 – 172) are located in Lāʻiemaloʻo on the northeast coast of Oʻahu between Lā‘ie and Kaipapaʻu Points of Oʻahu. The beach is composed of calcareous sand with intermittent exposed limestone. Seawalls front many of the shoreline properties in this study area.
The northern two-thirds of Laniloa Beach (transects 0 – 45) has experienced low erosion rates (< -0.5 ft/yr). The southern third of Laniloa and Kehukuuna Point (transects 46 – 73) has experienced moderate to high erosion rates (exceeding -2 ft/yr around transect 60). Much of the beach at southern Laniloa and Kehukuuna Point (transects 47 – 73) was lost to erosion in the past decade with waves breaking against sea walls at high tide.
Pounders Beach (Lā‘ie Beach Park, transects 76 – 102) has experienced moderate erosion rates at the northern end and has been stable to accreting in the south. Kokololio Beach (transects 103 – 172) has experienced accretion in the north (> 1ft/yr around transect 115). The beach was lost to erosion at Kaipapaʻu Point (transects 168 – 172) in the last few decades.
Results of this study generally agree with previous studies (Hwang, 1981; Sea Engineering, 1988). These studies tracked movement of the vegetation line from 1949 – 1988 and found erosion along Laniloa and Kehukuuna Point, accretion at Kokololio Beach, and erosion at Kaipapau Point.
*Hwang, D. (1981) “Beach changes on Oʻahu as revealed by aerial photographs”, State of Hawaii, Department of Planning and Economic Development.
**Sea Engineering, Inc. (1988) “Oʻahu shoreline study”, City and County of Honolulu, Department of Land Utilization.
Last updated: July 2021
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