Hawai‘i Sea Grant awarded $1M for beach and dune management on O‘ahu’s North Shore

On July 8, Governor Josh Green signed HB2248 which appropriates $1M to the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program to fund the development of a beach and dune management plan for the North Shore of O‘ahu, specifically focusing on the area between Sunset Beach and Sharks Cove.

The signing ceremony, held at the Hawai‘i State Capitol, included 16 bills that expand the state’s efforts to preserve Hawai‘i’s natural resources and foster sustainable tourism. While HB2248 focuses on one particular area on O‘ahu’s North Shore, the bill serves as an important coastal management, adaptation planning, and community engagement model for coastal communities within and outside of Hawai‘i struggling with sea-level rise and other coastal hazards.

“These bills represent significant steps forward in safeguarding Hawai‘i’s environment and promoting responsible tourism,” said Governor Green. “They build upon several bills I signed previously that aim to protect our environment, further clean energy legislation and enact climate mitigation and resilience measures.”

“These bills reflect our continued commitment to preserving Hawai‘i’s natural beauty and cultural values for future generations.”An important component of the project is community engagement and outreach so that the outcomes and pilot demonstration projects are aligned with community values, concerns, and needs. In addition to developing the beach and dune management plan, pilot projects focusing on public infrastructure such as beach access stairs and decks will be discussed.

Dolan Eversole, Hawai‘i Sea Grant’s coastal management specialist and project lead, said “This effort serves as a significant coastal management action plan reflecting the values and priorities of the North Shore community. In addition to the development of recommendations for site-specific beach and dune management practices, the plan will establish the scientific, environmental, and economic foundation for future evaluation of appropriate adaptation strategies for this critically important resource.“

Hawai‘i Sea Grant will have 1.5 years to develop the recommendations for increased conservation of the beach and dune area, a critical public resource. It will draw on similar community-based beach and dune management plans that it developed for Maui County, Kailua Beach Park on O‘ahu, Windward Oahu Tourism Assessment, and the Hawai‘i Dune Restoration Manual.

Bill sponsor Rep. Sean Quinlan represents the North Shore district where erosion has already undermined multiple homes. He noted “The comprehensive dune and sand management plan is  not just for the homeowners, not just for the community, but for the health of the economy.”