STATE ANNOUNCES PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO REPLENISH SAND IN WAIKIKI BEACH

Honolulu – Governor Neil Abercrombie and Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairperson William Aila today unveiled a partnership with Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Kyoya Company to restore and maintain Waikiki Beach.

The $2.4 million project will replenish the sand along a 1,700-foot shoreline of Waikiki Beach beginning at the Duke Kahanamoku statue to the area between Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton Waikiki hotels. The announcement was made at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel with HTA president Michael McCartney and Kyoya Executive Vice President Ernest Nishizaki.

“Through this public-private partnership, we will take care of Waikiki beach for all people of Hawai‘i to enjoy,” Governor Abercrombie said. “This partnership is a great example of being innovative and collaborative in moving forward with our New Day Plan.”

The sand replenishment project is expected to take about 60 days and will begin in late December 2011 or early January 2012 to take advantage of calmer ocean conditions in the winter. The state is contributing $1.5 million for the project, and Kyoya and HTA will provide $500,000 each.

“Everyone, from businesses to community groups and the public, is responsible for taking care of our environment,” Chairperson Aila said. “We are restoring Waikiki Beach that has eroded over the years in a way that is socially and ecologically responsible.”

Approximately 24,000 cubic yards of sand will be recovered from offshore deposits located 2,000 feet offshore, and pumped to the shoreline where water will be removed and then placed along the beach. The project will widen the beach by about 37 feet, restoring the beach to its approximate width in 1982.

“I was born and raised in Hawai‘i and I remember going to Waikiki Beach as a young boy,” Mr. Nishizaki said. “We believe it’s important to restore Waikiki Beach for long term use by residents and visitors. This is a great time and opportunity to partner with the state to see that our shared goal is accomplished.”

To minimize impacts to beach users, DLNR will work on the project in stages so most of the beach will remain open for public use.

In 2007, DLNR’s Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands pioneered this technology for beach replenishment by successfully pumping 10,000 cubic yards of sand from the same offshore deposits to three sites on Kuhio Beach.

This $475,000 pilot project allowed the state to restore a high-value recreational beach for public use, and the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association in 2008 named Kuhio Beach in Waikiki as winner of its Best Restored Beach Award.

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Attachments: Waikiki Project Aerial and Waikiki Poster Example of Future Shoreline.

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