Kaanapali Beach Erosion

There's a decent possibility you've been to some of Maui's beaches if you've ever travelled there. The epicentre of Maui's well-known west coast, Kaanapali Beach, is also likely where you had one of your best beach experiences.

But if you've recently tried to visit the Kaanapali, you've definitely noticed something quite odd: it's no longer there. A stunning cliff built of sand, concrete, and broken objects has largely taken its place. No matter how at ease and carefree the seaside breeze and pia coladas have made you feel, this is likely to be a stunning discovery.

What transpired, then? Even though this is a particularly catastrophic example, West Maui has had erosion issues brought on by ocean swells for a long time. The same land-and-sea interaction that created these magnificent islands initially doesn't appear to be aware of our presence or interest in the several pricey hotels we've erected around the Kaanapali coastline. The coastline is still being destroyed by the waves. This year, it has taken very large chunks and gotten mouthfuls of pavement and coconut palms, damaging a large portion of the popular Beachwalk and terrifying the living daylights out of resort visitors staying just metres away.

The popular promenade that runs down the beach has been completely inaccessible as a result, and the majority of the beach is currently underwater.

Officials claim that despite decades of erosion issues in the area, these issues are not solely a result of nature. As a result of sea level rise brought on by climate change, swells are progressively increasing worse. It is a stunning wake-up call that the tides are now dramatically advancing on one of the most popular spots in Hawaii, destroying a famous beach and scaring visitors back inside their hotels. 

Some of the more vocal locals claim that this time is different since they have witnessed multiple cycles of erosion and restoration at the site. Ongoing discussion centres on whether the walkway will even be restored. That is due in part to bureaucracy. The walkway's owner, Kaanapali Alii Resort, would require particular licences from Maui County in order to repair it.

The possibility that Maui County might not issue such licences is a second, more important factor. It's difficult to avoid the conclusion that this is the case because, whether anyone wants to admit it or not, a restoration would be fleeting. The unsettling reality is that incidents like this will increase as sea levels rise.

When asked about the recent erosion at Kaanapali Beach, the interim dean of the University of Hawaii's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Chip Fletcher, did not hold back, calling it the worst he had ever seen. The pavement there was undermined and broken off by erosion to a degree I've never seen before. 

Regarding a proposal to get the boardwalk rebuilt, Fletcher is pessimistic. Instead, he asserts something that ought to be evident but is difficult to accept: the shoreline is shifting. Additionally, as was already noted, the ocean is unaware that we exist even though human activity is causing it to increase. According to Fletcher, the only option we have is to stop interfering in the future years.

Black Rock and the northern end of the beach are still reachable for the time being. Additionally, it's possible that the water will start to recede later in the winter. Don't change your trip plans; Kaanapali Alii Resort is open and inviting visitors.

Having said that, the long view of the situation is somewhat alarming. We are decades late in fixing these subsequent challenges, which not only affect coastal towns in Hawaii but all across the world, according to experts like Chip Fletcher.   

In ten years, how will Kaanapali Beach look? How long will it be before the sea realises the seashore is actually somewhere behind the row of beachfront hotels? Other than the fact that experts believe we still have a chance to engage in a managed retreat, there isn't much good to say about this situation. Moving the shoreline is an example of a planned retreat before nature takes care of it.

Amazingly, it appears that this is our best chance of ensuring that Kaanapali Beach will be a destination that our children and grandkids will enjoy as much as we have.