Saving Waikīkī Beach — at least for now

A crumbling, century-old stone wall that juts out from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel is in imminent danger of collapsing, say scientists. The groin is the sole reason sand remains along this main stretch of Waikiki Beach. Photo courtesy of the Waikiki Improvement Association.

A crumbling, century-old stone wall that juts out from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel is in imminent danger of collapsing, say scientists. Without it, the man-made beach in front of the landmark hotel would likely disappear in a matter of days, said Dolan Eversole, a scientist with the UH Sea Grant program. It would take several months to a year for the rest of the stretch of sand to erode. Beach replenishment is an enormous ongoing, but necessary, task. “Waikīkī is arguably as important as a slice of the H-1 and if a part of the H-1 needed maintenance there would be no question that we would go and maintain it, repave it, fill potholes,” said Chip Fletcher, a professor of geology and SOEST’s Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

Read more about in the Hawaii Civil Beat and the Huffington Post.