KUALOA AREA DESCRIPTION
Kualoa is located on the east
coast of Oʻahu between Kalaeokaʻōʻio
Point and Kāneʻohe Bay. The northern half
of the study area (transects 0 - 81) is lined with seawalls,
shore-perpendicular groins, and homes located close to the shore. Shallow fringing reef protects the
narrow calcareous sand beach from the full energy of northeast tradewind waves and refracted north swells.
The beaches at northern Kualoa
(transects 0-81) have experienced low to moderate shoreline change rates (<
1 ft/yr) since 1928. Long-term accretion at transects 0-56
results from accumulation of sand transported to the south, against the north
sides of groins constructed in the early to mid-1900's. Inspection of plots of shoreline
positions for northern Kualoa shows that accretion
ended at most transects in the last few decades as the shoreline reached the
seaward end of the groins.
The shoreline at Kualoa Regional
Park (transects 82-197) has experienced some of the highest erosion and
accretion rates on Oʻahu. The highest erosion
rates are found at Kualoa Point (around transect 125,
4.9 ft/yr) where the
shoreline has retreated over 400 ft since 1928. A low
concrete structure at Kualoa Point now offshore
between transects 119 and 138 has failed to slow erosion. Accretion rates of
similar magnitude (up to 4.5 ft/yr)
are found along Mōliʻi Fishpond and Secret
Island (transects145 -197). The shoreline at Secret Island has grown seaward as
much as 400 feet since 1928, and a sand spit has extended to the west toward
the Kaneohe Bay shoreline, suggesting that eroded sand from Kualoa
Park is being deposited in this area.
Previous studies (Hwang, 1981 and U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. 1977) also documented tong-term erosion at Kualoa
Regional Park.
For more information see: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/asp/coasts/oahu/index.asp
1 Hwang, D. (1981) "Beach changes on Oʻahu
as revealed by aerial photographs", State of Hawaii, Department of
Planning and Economic Development.
2 Sea Engineering, Inc. (1988) ÒOʻahu
shoreline studyÓ, City and County of Honolulu, Department of Land Utilization.
Keywords:
Oʻahu; Kalaeokaoio Point; Kaneohe Bay; Kualoa; Kualoa Regional Park; Moliʻi Fishpond