The state has withdrawn support for the long-planned Kaanapali beach restoration project.
Leave a Comment
76 thoughts on “Restoration of Award-Winning Kaanapali Beach Canceled”
The state has withdrawn support for the long-planned Kaanapali beach restoration project.
10 million is nothing compared to the rail . The dredging equipment has already been used successfully in Waikiki.
And on that note, will they Stop resanding Waikiki Beaches? If not, why choose Some Beaches over Others, is there a Political Motivation? Everything in Hawaii turns out to be Politically Motivated, they are the “mouthpieces” for the Hotel/Resort/Timeshare Industry. More going on than meets the eye. To believe that the industry doesn’t know that they need to move buildings is showing a lack of intelligence. They have long term plans to do so.
I think this is a great decision. Now if Oahu County would stop granting exceptions for the repair, expansion, and building of Seawalls especially for the rich and famous ie the Obama Estate.
I am thankful my tax payments may/will not go to this project. I’d rather the tax funds go to further protect our beaches by solving the unhoused issues and cleaning up our beach garbage and encampments. Perhaps even providing sanitation stations in order to protect the wildlife and beaches.
Mahalo!
Start a GoFund me for these repairs!
The walking path is an essential part of the local experience.
The beach erosion began only after the land was developed. Solution? Return the land to its natural state! Remove the resorts!
It is indeed the time to make this decision to respect what is best for the coastal environment there. Honoring the health of nature and the wishes of most of the local population rather than continuing to pander to and invest in significant state funds in high end business profits is the right choice for Maui nei. Mahalo to the DLNR for a bold and necessary move respecting land and locals. Mahalo.helen
Frank, Hawaii is carrying a large debt load that is increasing year over year, the State can keep throwing money into the hole of problems attempting to subsidize, but to what end? The Federal Government isn’t going to continue subsidizing Bad Behaviors, Hawaii isn’t California. Sometime in the near past Hawaii actually sold their Only Real Monetized Commodity, their Aloha is gone. With that removed from the negotiating table they have Nothing left to Leverage. Soon Hawaii will be Forced to Fix Their Own Problems, the Fed could do it!
Everyone is making good points, but am I wrong in assuming that the Timeshares, Resorts and Privately owned places at the Alli have all paid $$ and taxes towards this? What is going to happen to those dollars that have been collected? Will they go the way of all the $$ that are collected in Hawaii for who knows what?
When tourism declines on one of the most famous beaches in the world because of the beach erosion, the powers that be will miss the tourists’ $$ and all the tax dollars.
Thank you. As someone who lives in a coastal area of the Continental U.S. that enjoys the hundreds of millions of dollars per year left behind by tourists (which reduces my tax bill Tremendously) . . . this may come back to bite someone in the b#tt.
What is Hawaii thinking?
Kaanapali Beach is also the Drowning Capital of Hawaii. There are no life guards. Pretty sad that the resorts and state doesn’t do anything about it.
Great post Carl.
Hawaii averages around 85 drownings a year.
On Kauai and Maui 75% of the deaths are tourists.
Almost seems they don’t care if tourists die?
Is that right, Carl? I own MMOC Napili tower & have spent months on K Beach over the years. Seen a number of sad drownings in the Maui News, but in my observation, South Maui has had lots of drownings, as well as up around Honolua.
I live in South Maui and last week I drove up to see how Kaanapali Beach looked. Instead of a narrow strip of sand the beach in front of K. Alii it was wider than any other stretch of the beach. Sands constantly shift with the seasons and winter storms are becoming more severe. That is the way nature works. Personally, I am pleased that DLNR has decided not to waste any more tax dollars on this losing battle—unfortunate as it may be.
Had developers, back in the 60’s and 70’s and 80’s, consulted with local Hawaiians, wise in the ways of the ocean, they would have been advised to build those hotels and condos much further back from the shoreline. Instead, they competed to be as close to the water as possible. Don’t back down DLNR!
It’s a well known fact that everyone wants to be close to the beach and ocean, hotels and resorts have provided that for over 60 years. “Real Hawaiians” were Consulted and even in most instances helped construct the buildings, just as they did throughout the Islands. People are often quick to judgment and rarely consider what occurred vs what is the “popular fantasy” of the moment, drama seems to perpetuate itself quickly. It’s more popular to Criticize than Factualize, why not Blame those officials that Permitted the locations? Is it because they were all of Hawaiian Decent! Investment and Return is often what the Islanders back then saw most, Dollars to Save a Waning Culture from disappearing. The Good and Bad, all in One
The initial agreement was negotiated 10 years ago, and the resorts have been working towards that. Now they get told that they have lost 10 years in making any alternate plans, everything they have been working towards could be thrown away.
I have no problem with the state putting conditions, such as making this the last time that replenishment would be allowed – so the resorts know to plan towards other solutions. But changing direction at this point on the original plan blindsides those involved, causing chaos and uncertainty.