Waikiki Beach needs a new wall
Rebuild it — and rebuild it soon. If the state doesn’t move quickly to replace an 89-year-old wall that keeps a prime section of Waikiki Beach from being swept away, it could soon fail and lead to the unthinkable: the sand fronting three hotels washing away within months.
That’s the takeaway from a new state report on the status of the wall known as the Royal Hawaiian Groin, which juts out into the ocean fronting the iconic “Pink Palace.” The report’s findings should signal to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) that it simply cannot limp along on this project — the stakes are far too high.
If the concrete wall fails, it’s not just the sand that could disappear. The DLNR report cited a 2008 study that said the potential collapse of the wall puts $2 billion in visitor spending and $150 million in tax revenue at risk — and the state can ill afford to lose valuable tourism revenue.
DLNR is considering six possible ways to fix the wall, and has rightly said it would make a recommendation on a preferred option based on input from Waikiki stakeholders and the general public at planned meetings. All of that would occur before asking the Board of Land and Natural Resources to decide on how to move forward.
DLNR must proceed with a sense of urgency since fixing the wall requires several permits, including one from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The agency projects that it could obtain approvals and start work in early 2017. In this case, setting a tight schedule — and keeping to it — is critical in order to protect Waikiki Beach, which draws millions of tourists each year.
The possible fixes range in cost from $880,000 to $1.7 million, which is not an exorbitant figure given the gravity of the situation.
As added incentive, the board of the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association, made up largely of Waikiki landowners, unanimously agreed to pay for half of the project cost up to $750,000. That buy-in from stakeholders who recognize the project’s need and its urgency should prompt DLNR to accelerate its pace.
Most of the proposals to fix the wall could produce an extra benefit — additional beach area. Further, the designs are not expected to negatively impact surf breaks, currents or water quality, according to the draft environmental assessment produced by DLNR and published Saturday by the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. In addition, work on the replacement wall would produce only short-term disruptions to beach use, and, we hope, minimal impact on tourism.
Most of the groin designs call for a 160- to 280-foot long T- or L-shaped concrete wall armored with boulders sloping down both sides, and the work itself would take 60 to 90 days.
We urge DLNR to carefully consider concerns raised by city lifeguards, who say a wider groin made of boulders would be a potential hazard for tourists who might walk on and jump from the structure or could be washed off the new groin during high surf.
Considering the current state of the wall, time has simply run out for temporary fixes. Much of the groin has been dislodged and 205 feet of the 370-foot wall is submerged. Already in 2012, the erosion of grout between the wall’s blocks that hold back the most sand above the shoreline created sinkholes. DLNR stacked 45 3,000-pound sandbags along the Ewa side of the wall to shore up the groin and help prevent the wall from toppling over, but waves and current forces have already displaced the top row of sandbags.
The Royal Hawaiian Groin, built in 1927, has held together the man-made Waikiki Beach for nearly nine decades. It has done its job well, and the state must now work diligently and swiftly to replace the wall in order to protect two of the state’s most valuable resources — Waikiki Beach and tourism.
16 responses to “Waikiki Beach needs a new wall”
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A ‘wait and see’ attitude is just procrastination. Expensive repairs become more expensive with more damage.
agree..apparently DLNR has again dropped the ball on this basic task.
“If the state doesn’t move quickly to replace an 89-year-old wall that keeps a prime section of Waikiki Beach from being swept away, it could soon fail and lead to the unthinkable: the sand fronting three hotels washing away within months.”
Or… you know, those three multibillion dollar, corporate owned hotels could pay to rebuild the see wall that is threatening their property and keeping it so valuable instead of milking the taxpayers for yet another over-budget, shoddy concrete job.
“As added incentive, the board of the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association, made up largely of Waikiki landowners, unanimously agreed to pay for half of the project cost up to $750,000. That buy-in from stakeholders who recognize the project’s need and its urgency should prompt DLNR to accelerate its pace.”
Given how much tax revenue is generated in this district this seems fair but I realize it will not satisfy everyone.
State could auction off these 89 year old cement block on E-Bay, citing a Great, Hawaiian King once stood on it.
Is it necessary to completely tear down and rebuild a new sea wall to replace the existing one? With the advanced undersea concrete technology used today worldwide, couldn’t the existing wall be used as a foundation to build on? Would be much cheaper.
T groins work better if there are more in place than one. Europe uses them rather successfully to manage shoreline erosion. Can’t say the same for a straight groin.
Record number of tourist paying a record number of transient accommodation tax, aka hotel room tax. Where is this money at?
Fast forward some 89 years. to read about how O’ahu’s rail is also “falling down”.
Sand bags will just give our Vietnam veterans flashback.
In Hawaii, temporary means some ten years down the lone.
…down the line. sorry
The Waikiki hotels should pay at least a major share of the costs if not all of the costs.
I know that things take time in the “NO CAN” state … especially in a bureaucracy …but/and how sad that the public and local news paper need to advocate to do the right thing instead of it moving forward with its own inertia.
How about this idea: the taxpayers sprung for the convention center; have the hotels spring for the groin repair (preferably a T-groin, which seems to be the most effective)? Seems fair to me….
Waikiki Beach needs a new wall
Honolulu/Hilo needs new Mayors
Legislators need new leaders
Honolulu Hale needs new elected officials
RAIL needs HELP
Any questions ?