Island Voices
Waikiki Beach must be restored
By Sam Lemmo
Manager of the Coastal Lands Program of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Land Division
I find it strange that there have been no significant beach improvements at Waikiki in over 30 years.
In addition to aloha, a beautiful sea, rare forests and the best weather in the world, Hawai'i is famous for its beaches.
Waikiki Beach is everything and anything to Hawai'i's people and its visitors. It is a place of recreation and meditation. It is the transitional point from land to sea, where people and nature all come together. Its importance is clearly tangible, yet equally intangible.
Perhaps Hawai'i's greatest legacy exists on a little stretch of shoreline known to the world as Waikiki Beach. This place has it all: world-class surfing, warm blue water, top-notch visitor amenities and a heritage of human interaction in the free spirit of hospitality, generosity and compassion for one another.
However, the beach in Waikiki is practically in ruins. Sections of it are badly eroded or completely lost.
The beach, for lack of a better word, is a disappointment. The situation is both unacceptable and dangerous.
At high tide, much of the beach is submerged. As summer draws near, the surf is expected to kick up.
Those who are familiar with Waikiki's shifting sands are watching with concern, as sand levels are dangerously low.
The answer to all this is simple. There is nothing left to analyze or study. Improve the beach, and do it now.
The state has a solid plan and the timing is perfect.
With the completion of the city's promenade project and a potential economic upturn, we must dedicate some attention and financial resources to the restoration of Waikiki Beach.
The plans, human resources and the will are now in place to do the job safely. All that is lacking is the money.
We must own up to the past. As an old road must be maintained to allow passage from one point to the next, the beach must be maintained to promote commerce and to maintain Waikiki's legacy.
We may lose sight of its rich past and foreclose on future options unless we act now.
