TRACKS AREA DESCRIPTION

Tracks (Kahe) Beach (transects 0 - 51) is located in Nānākuli on the west coast of Oʻahu. The shoreline is composed of carbonate sand and basalt rock (in the north) with a fringing reef near the shore. In the south the shoreline is fronted by stone revetments and groins constructed with Kahe Point Power Plant in the early 1960's (Clark 2005). The area is exposed to southerly swells in summer months and during winter Kona storms and westerly swells in winter months.

Tracks Beach is experiencing chronic erosion of -1.3 ft/yr, averaged along the length of the beach. The highest erosion rates are occurring in the south of the beach (up to -1.5 ft/yr). A relatively wide sand beach existed in the north as recently as 1949. The shoreline in the north is now composed mostly of exposed basalt rock and cobbles.

A previous study (Hwang, 1981) found chronic erosion at the north and south ends of the beach.

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) “Oʻahu shoreline study”, City and County of Honolulu, Department of Land Utilization.

Keywords:

Oʻahu; Tracks (Kahe) Beach