The Moloa‘a study area (transects 0 – 127) is located on the east coast of Kaua‘i. The area is bounded by Kepuhi Point to the north and Moloa‘a to the south. The shoreline is composed of calcareous sand beach interrupted by basalt headlands with a fringing reef offshore.
Overall, the area is eroding with an average shoreline change rate of -0.4 ft/yr. The area lends itself to division into four portions. The northern beach (transects 0 – 30) is located to the north of Pākalā Point. This section of the study area is experiencing erosion with an average shoreline change rate of -0.2 ft/yr. Ka‘aka‘aniu beach (transects 31 – 69) has experienced erosion with an average shoreline change rate of -0.3 ft/yr. The next beach (transects 70 – 73) to the north of Ka Lae ʻĀmana is eroding with an average shoreline change rate of -0.2 ft/yr. Moloa‘a Bay (transects 75 – 127) has experienced erosion with an average shoreline change rate of -0.7 ft/yr. Previous studies* did not analyze the Moloa‘a study area shoreline.
*Makai Ocean Engineering and Sea Engineering, 1991 Aerial Photograph Analysis of Coastal Erosion on the Islands of Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii. State of Hawaii Office of Coastal Zone Management Program.
Last updated: July 2021
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