Erosion taking toll at Haleiwa Beach Park

Severe erosion is forcing the closure of makai entrances to the bathrooms and removal of outdoor showers at Haleiwa Beach Park, safety precautions announced Thursday by city park officials.

Most of the erosion is behind the sea wall fronting the Waimea side of the bathroom, which has been cordoned off with orange netting. The erosion has caused sinkholes to develop behind the sea wall — undermining the foundations of adjacent walkways and facilities.

Several palm trees near the sea wall with roots that have been exposed by erosion might also have to be cut down, pending an assessment by the city’s Division of Urban Forestry.

The city is taking the following actions:

>> Closing off the makai entrances to the bathrooms. The mauka side will remain open.

>> Decommissioning the outdoor shower and removing it, while exploring where to place a new one. Another shower at the Waialua side of the beach park is unaffected and will remain where it is.

>> Installing a sturdier, chain-link fence to replace the orange netting to restrict foot traffic and prevent further erosion.

“We want to thank the public for their patience and understanding while these measures are taken to ensure public safety,” said Department of Parks and Recreation spokesman Nathan Serota. “We urge the public to please refrain from approaching the restricted areas and from engaging in any unsafe activity that might pose a danger to themselves or result in further damage to the park facilities.”

The city is looking at long-term solutions to address the sea wall, as well as beach erosion, taking the current model of anticipated sea level rise into account.

A recent report released by the state Climate Commission said Hawaii should plan for 3.2 feet of sea level rise in the middle to latter half of this century. The 304-page Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report also said 3.2 feet of sea level rise would result in $12.9 billion in potential economic losses and displace 13,300 residents on Oahu.

The report painted a dire picture for the “seven-mile miracle” stretch of coastline along Oahu’s North Shore, which it said would “increasingly be eroded and permanently lost if hard structures such as roads and seawalls impede their landward migration.”

Erosion has taken a toll on shorelines across the state. Coastal geologists say about 70 percent of Hawaii’s shorelines are chronically eroding. On Oahu approximately 60 percent of shorelines are chronically eroding, from Waikiki’s tourist-laden beaches to Kualoa Regional Park, the North Shore and Makaha.