Work addressing erosion at Diamond Head to start

A $2.08 million project to address cliff erosion and rock slides along two makai portions of Diamond Head is set to begin Monday.

The work by Prometheus Construction will focus on a pair of cliff-side areas along Diamond Head Road: a western site near the bottom of Beach Road and an eastern site at the foot pathway known as Kuilei Cliffs.

According to the Department of Parks and Recreation, which has jurisdiction of the sites, the project includes assessments of rock-slide potential, removal of boulders and other hazards, and implementation of rockfall- and erosion-mitigation measures, including installation of wire-mesh fencing with galvanized wire rope and anchoring.

Beach access via the eastern pathway will be closed for the duration of the project, although the shower at the top of the path will remain open. Access from the western side will remain open. Vehicular access to the upper portion of Beach Road will be restricted to local traffic only. Pedestrian access to the beach will remain open.

The project is scheduled to be finished in the fall.

Personnel from Parks and Recreation, the Department of Facility Maintenance and Honolulu police collaborated Friday in a sweep of homeless individuals from the project areas. Before that happened, those affected were offered outreach services.