Tulsa World: Hawaii sees its prized beaches vanishing

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Hawaii sees its prized beaches vanishing

The ocean approaches foot- prints on Lanikai beach on Oahu Island's windward side. Hawaii geologists say more than 70 percent of Kauai Island's beaches are eroding, and a quarter of Oahu's shoreline has gone. Eugene Tanner / Associated Press

By AP Wire Services
Published: 11/15/2009 2:33 AM
Last Modified: 11/15/2009 4:52 AM

KAILUA, Hawaii (AP) — Jenn Boneza remembers when the white sandy beach near the boat ramp in her hometown was wide enough for building sand castles.

"It really used to be a beautiful beach," said the 35-year-old mother of two. "And now when you look at it, it's gone."

What's happening to portions of the beach in Kailua — a sunny coastal suburb of Honolulu where President Barack Obama spent his last two family vacations in the Hawaiian Islands — is being repeated around the islands.

Geologists say more than 70 percent of Kauai's beaches are eroding, and Oahu has lost a quarter of its sandy shoreline.

The problem is only likely to get significantly worse in coming decades, they warn.

"It will probably have occurred to a scale that we will have only been able to save a few places and maintain beaches, and the rest are kind of a write-off," said Dolan Eversole, a coastal geologist in the University of Hawaii's Sea Grant program.

The loss of so many beaches is an alarming prospect for Hawaii on many levels. Many tourists come to Hawaii precisely because they want to lounge on and walk along its soft, sandy shoreline.

Disappearing sands would also wreak havoc on the environment, for many animals and plants would lose important habitats.

Chip Fletcher, a professor of geology at the University of Hawaii, says scientists in Hawaii haven't yet observed an accelerated rate of sea level rise due to global warming.

Instead, the erosion the islands are experiencing is caused by several factors, including a steady historical climb in sea levels that likely dates back to the 19th century.

Other causes include storms and human actions such as the construction of seawalls, jetties, and the dredging of stream mouths. Each of these human actions disrupts the natural flow of sand.

But a more rapid rise in sea levels caused by global warming is expected to contribute to erosion in Hawaii within decades.

In 100 years, sea levels are likely to be at least 1 meter, or 3.3 feet, higher than they are now, pushing the ocean inland along coastal areas.

The state is doing everything it can to keep the sand in Waikiki. For example, it's joining with hotels in the state's tourist hub on a plan to spend between $2 million and $3 million pumping in sand from offshore. By AP Wire Services

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gadfly, Broken Arrow (11/15/2009 11:00:58 AM)

I hope that Oklahoma Senator Inhofe reads this article and that you call him to have him explain why this is not associated with global warming.

That Oklahoman's continue to support this Oil Company poster boy is disgusting; and completely un-Christian (we are supposed to take care of our planet).

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