Hawaiʻi’s beaches and dunes represent treasured natural and cultural resources, collections of diverse coastal ecosystems, and areas of traditional fishing, gathering, and cultural practice for all. The protection, preservation, and restoration of these ecosystems is thus a shared responsibility of us all, as residents and members of Hawaiian coastal communities.

Dune systems are an important resource that stores excess sand, like a natural reserve that provides an emergency supply of sand for when a beach erodes. Healthy sand dunes protect coastal development and infrastructure from inundation and erosion damage, and provide habitat for unique coastal flora and fauna. Dunes are naturally resilient, adapting to storm waves, high winds, and high tides. Combined with offshore reef systems, coastal sand dunes defend coastlines against high wave impacts, and are an important component of a healthy, sandy beach.

However, dune systems throughout Hawaiʻi are often degraded by heavy human use, unmanaged foot traffic, invasive vegetation, and coastal erosion. Hawaiʻi Sea Grant is working in partnership with the Department of Land Natural Resources (DLNR) Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) to implement a statewide dune restoration program that confronts this problem. Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and OCCL seek to support dune restoration projects by community organizations, as well as state and county agencies, as a way to improve beach resources, enhance coastal ecosystems, and build coastal resilience.

As part of this statewide program, any entity interested in planning and implementing dune restoration projects can request technical support, guidance, and financial support from our project team. Financial support can be either by direct purchase of materials or through a small grant to an eligible community-based organization.

Anyone interested in receiving support through this program is encouraged to complete this Dune Restoration Program Interest form to initiate contact with our team and determine the type of support we can offer.

All dune restoration efforts will be planned and implemented in accordance with the Hawaiʻi Dune Restoration Manual, ensuring lateral access along the beach is maintained, and the beach and nearshore environments are enhanced by the restoration activities.

Permitting requirements will vary by county and may include Special Management Area Permits. Refer to the Hawaiʻi Dune Restoration Manual (pg. 28) for more details to get started on permitting.