The Māʻalaea Harbor study area (transects 913 – 1010) is located on the south shore of the Maui isthmus. The Māʻalaea shoreline is composed of basalt and limestone rock, and calcareous sand. The area is exposed to south swells during summer months. Easterly trade winds blow offshore in this area year-round. Māʻalaea Harbor and breakwall were constructed in 1952.
Overall, the Māʻalaea shoreline is characterized by chronic erosion and beach loss. The beach was lost to erosion at transects 959 – 960 prior to 1997, at transects 968 – 979 prior to 1988, and at transect 980 – 987 prior to 1975. No beach was observed at transects 961 – 964 in any imagery dating back to 1949, thus no shoreline trend was calculated. Waves break against artificial revetments in these areas at high tide. For areas where the beach has been lost to erosion, rates are calculated up to and including the first shoreline with no beach and depict the speed at which the beach disappeared. The remaining beach in the east of the study area (transects 913 – 958) is eroding with an average rate of -0.5 ft/yr, with a maximum erosive rate of -0.9 ft/yr (around transect 939), threatening further beach loss. Several small pocket beaches in the west of the study area (transects 993 – 1010) have been approximately stable to moderately erosive with an average rate of -0.1 ft/yr, and maximum erosive rates around -0.2 ft/yr at each pocket beach.
Last updated: July 2021
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