The South Wailea study area (transects 130 – 220) is located on the south Kīhei Coast, Maui. The coast is exposed to south swell in summer, refracted northwest swell in winter, and Kona storm waves. The deep fringing reef provides little protection and waves break on or near the shoreline. Basalt headlands divide the study area shoreline into several embayments with calcareous sand beaches.
Beginning in the south, Kaʻawa Beach (transects 130-132) has experienced moderate long-term erosion since 1931 with an average rate of -0.4 ft/yr, but has shown signs of recovery since the late 1990s. Pepeiaolepo Beach (transects 133 – 158) has been slightly to moderately erosive beginning in 1931, then showing signs of recovery since the late 1990s, resulting in an average long-term trend of 0.0 ft/yr. On the north side of a short headland separating the two beaches, Poʻolenalena Beach (transects 159 – 175) has experienced moderate to high rates of erosion (up to -0.7 ft/yr near transect 172) with an average rate of -0.6 ft/yr, yet has shown signs of recovery since the late 1990s. Palauʻea Beach (transects 182 – 199) has experienced low to moderate erosion with an average rate of -0.4 ft/yr. Polo Beach (transects 206 – 220) has been relatively stable to slightly accreting since 1931 with an average rate of 0.1 ft/yr.
Last updated: July 2021
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