The Oneloa (Big Beach) and Mākena study area (transects 0 – 129) is on the southern Kīhei shoreline of Maui. The shoreline is composed of calcareous and basalt (black) sand beaches, which are divided into seven embayments by basalt headlands and a cinder cone (Puʻu ʻOlaʻi) near the center of the study area. The coast is exposed to south swell in summer, refracted northwest swells in winter, and Kona storm waves. Waves break on or near the shoreline as the deep nearshore reef provides little protection from the full energy of open-ocean waves.
Oneloa (Big) Beach (transects 0 – 62) has been approximately stable in the south three-quarters of the beach, except for an area of erosion around transect 9 (up to -1.1 ft/yr), and erosive in the north quarter (up to -1.2 ft/yr at transect 60) since 1949. Puʻu ʻOlaʻi (Little) Beach (transects 63 – 68) has been approximately stable to accreting since 1949 with an average rate of 0.4 ft/yr. Oneuli Beach (transects 69 – 94) has been slightly to moderately erosive since 1931 with an average rate of -0.3 ft/yr. Maluaka Beach (transects 95 – 113) has been slightly to moderately erosive since 1931 with an average rate of -0.3 ft/yr. Historical shoreline positions at three pocket beaches in Mākena Bay (transects 114 – 129) indicate long-term erosion with an average rate of -0.4 ft/yr. These beaches are highly variable, disappearing intermittently.
Last updated: July 2021
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