Updated at 12:00 p.m., Friday, January 12, 2007
Kailua Beach lifeguard tower to move mauka
Advertiser Staff
The Kailua Beach lifeguard tower will be moved to a new permanent location next week.Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokesman Bryan Cheplic said his department's Ocean Safety and Lifeguard division this week determined that unusually high surf and the erosion threatened the tower's current location.
Crews from the Department of Parks and Recreation moved the tower to a temporary spot which did not interrupt or interfere with lifeguard service.
Cheplic said the new permanent location will be about 20 yards mauka of the old spot and will be less vulnerable to ocean and beach conditions while still maintaining the needed view of the beach and nearshore waters. He said crews will begin laying the new foundation and moving the tower on Tuesday.
"Occasionally, these types of things happen since we have no control over the environment or weather conditions," said Jim Howe, operations chief for the Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Division in a news release.
Cheplic said the new location was a joint decision of the University of Hawai'i School of Ocean, Earth and Science Technology, city Department of Design and Construction, and Punalu'u Builders.
