If the beach is disappearing, just dump more sand on it. The concept seems disarmingly simple, but it is at the leading edge of the shoreline protection movement in Hawaii and elsewhere. State officials are hoping to make it easier for communities to add sand to their eroded beaches, in part to reduce the number of seawalls built in Hawaii. I think it s a great idea. It is much preferable having a beach than a seawall, said Stephen Leatherman, the Florida International University meteorologist who is known as Dr. Beach, for his annual rankings of the best beaches in the country.
Beach erosion is a problem across the nation, and Hawaii is no exception.
Surveys show that 25 percent of Oahu s beaches have suffered serious erosion. The reasons are many. Some causes are natural, such as changing sea levels and ocean conditions, and some reflect human interference, such as the construction of shoreline structures. Seawalls often are unattractive, can restrict access along the beach, limit beach recreation uses and can promote beach erosion. In certain cases, they may be appropriate for protecting homes and roadways, but their use should be limited, said Sam Lemmo, who runs the coastal lands program for the Department of Land and Natural Resources.