Hawaii Ratings Indicator Type Info Status Beach Access 8  7   Water Quality 7   6   Beach Erosion 8   -  Erosion Response -  5   Beach Fill 5  -  Shoreline Structures 5  3  Beach Ecology 4  -  Surfing Areas 10  4*  Website 5   -  Explain this chart Special comments: * Surfing areas on Oahu and Maui are seriously threatened.

Hawaii 

Summary

Beach access in Hawaii and information regarding access are generally good, although some landowners are attempting to restrict access by creatively defining their shoreward property line and some designated beach access paths are fenced off by adjacent property owners. There is plentiful information on surfing areas, which the state recognizes as valuable recreational, economic, and cultural resources. On the other hand, erosion is a serious problem, and shoreline armoring is proliferating in response. An inventory of these sites is needed, along with a program to limit their construction and monitor the effects of structures already built. Beaches should be posted with health advisories when testing indicates that EPA's BEACH Act standards are exceeded.

Indicators

(+) In December 2007, Kaua‘i County Council passed a science-based shoreline setback ordinance that mandates a 40-foot minimum setback plus 70 times the annual coastal erosion rate as recommended in the Hawai‘i Coastal Hazard Mitigation Guidebook. Previously, the county required a 40-foot setback with an option for land owners to appeal up to 20 feet.
(+) As an alternative to hardened structures for erosion protection, the State DLNR is working on guidelines for truly temporary biodegradable erosion control sandbags. These bags and blankets are intended to serve as temporary emergency erosion control and are composed of 100% coconut fiber (Coir). Initial trials have been promising.
(+) Hawaii Sea Grant prepared Natural Hazard Considerations for Purchasing Coastal Real Estate in Hawai'i (May 2006).
(+) Hawaii’s coastal managers consider sand bag revetments to be “hard” structures, meaning they are not permitted as much as they have been in the past.
(+) All beaches in Hawaii are publicly owned and/or controlled.
(+) Hawaii recognizes waves as a valuable recreational, economic, and cultural resource.
(+) The University of Hawaii monitors over 80 beaches around the state to better understand the process of seasonal profile adjustment.
(+) In May 2005, Hawaii's Board of Land and Natural Resources proposed administrative rules that prohibit all extractive uses in the state-regulated waters around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Following this, former Rep. Ed Case introduced a bill that would establish a protective refuge for the federal waters surrounding the NWHI. The NWHI are now a national marine sanctuary, the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

(0) On Maui, 62% of the sandy shoreline is eroding at an average rate greater than one foot per year. As much as 30% of the sandy shoreline has either significantly narrowed or been lost since the 1940s. Nearly 8 miles of beach have been lost due to shoreline armoring.

(-) Hawai'i is one of the only coastal states without a centralized science office to deal with such issues as coastal erosion.
(-) On Oahu there are only 86 public rights of way for over a hundred miles of coastline. Many shoreline paths were created with the intent to provide beach access and are tax assessed at only $100 -- yet they remain closed to the public.
(-) Major sewer spills occurred on Oahu in early 2006. A sewer spill in Honolulu due to a line break released an estimated 48 million gallons of raw sewage into the Ala Wai Canal and closed beaches in Waikiki. Additional sewer spills occurred during a period of heavy rain in November 2007.
(-) On Oahu, the Honouliuli sewage treatment plant in Ewa and the Sand Island plant operate under section 301(h) waivers from the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. These two plants and one in San Diego, California are the only major sewage treatment facilities in EPA's Region 9 that still have these waivers. UPDATE: In January 2009 the EPA issued a decision to not renew the waivers for the two sewage treatment plants.
(-) Nearly 25% (17 miles) of Oahu’s beaches have been lost or significantly narrowed over the last century as a result of coastal armoring along the coastline. Beaches in front of seawalls are 50-70% narrower than non-armored beaches.
(-) Past practices of locating shorelines for certification too far makai has tended to reduce beach access, lead to inappropriate shoreline construction setbacks and in some cases lead to shoreline armoring.
(-) Current water quality information is just now (2006) becoming available on the HDOH website and beach health advisory posting procedures are confusing.

Victories

• Kauai Bans Plastic Shopping Bags In October 2009 the island of Kauai banned the use of plastic grocery bags. The county will distribute 25,000 free reusable bags to assist the local community make the transition away from single-use bags. The ban goes into effect on Jan. 11, 2011, the same day that Maui County's plastic checkout bag ban goes into effect.
• Favorable Hawaii Navy Sonar Ruling. Federal District Court Chief Judge Ezra in Hawaii ruled that the U.S. Navy would not be allowed to carry on its undersea warfare exercises without implementing further mitigation measures to protect marine mammals. In response to a complaint brought by Surfrider and other conservation groups, Judge Ezra ordered eight new mitigation provisions including increased monitoring for marine mammals for one hour each day before using sonar, three lookouts exclusively to spot the animals during sonar use and stop sonar transmission altogether when one of the mammals is within 500 meters, and sonar must be gradually powered on to warn marine mammals and allow escape. The judge also held that the Navy has failed to investigate alternatives to conducting these exercises. In a parallel case in California on the same day, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected President Bush's attempt to exempt the exercises from environmental laws.
• Preservation of Pupukea-Paumalu, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii Surfrider Oahu Chapter and Surfrider Japan, working together with North Shore Community Land Trust, the Trust for Public Land and many dedicated community activists, helped secure the scenic bluffs overlooking the famous North Shore waves of Sunset Beach, Rocky Point and Pipeline from development. The coalition eventually included backing by the state, the city, the military and federal agencies, which contributed to the purchase price of approximately $8 million. Fundraising for Pupukea-Paumalu continues in an effort to support the coordination of community planning and stewardship activities so that residents, visitors and surfers from around the world will be able to enjoy the property in perpetuity. The North Shore Community Land Trust has set up a special restricted savings account for the Pupukea Paumalu Stewardship Fund. All tax-deductible donations to this fund are designated specifically for the acquisition and protection costs for Pupukea Paumalu. More Info
• The Oahu Chapter has been working closely with the Hawaii Dept. of Health Clean Water Branch (DOH) in reviewing and modifying their ocean water quality testing procedures and standards. In April 2005 when EPA presented a BEACH Act grant check to DOH, Oahu Chapter chairperson Peter Cole was part of the presentation, symbolizing the partnership between EPA, Surfrider, and DOH in the protection of the beaches of the State of Hawaii.
• Between 200 and 300 people, including Oahu Chapter activists, marched to the State Capitol to oppose plans to sell land along the Kakaako waterfront and build high-rise apartments. Surfrider is part of a Save our Kakaako coalition that includes Life of the Land and Sierra Club.
• The Oahu and Maui Chapters began posting current DOH beach water quality results on their websites, before DOH had the capability of doing so. The DOH website now has current water quality data.
• Surfrider Foundation’s Oahu Chapter held a paddle out designed to increase public awareness of the pollution problems along Oahu’s coastline.
• The Maui Chapter continued their long-running battle to prevent an expansion of Ma'alaea Harbor which would ruin the famous surf break there. They produced a Save Ma'alaea video documenting the issues. The Chapter has developed a well-articulated Ma'alaea Action Plan, outlining goals, strategies and core values.