Posted on September 10, 2018
Homeowners at “Klausmeyer’s” surf break at the east end of Makaha Surfing Beach are getting some help to save their property from further erosion. Tuesday morning, sand restoration work will begin.
Longtime Makaha resident John Puu has watched the shoreline changes in front of his home.
“This property used to be bigger than this, you know,” said John Puu, Makaha resident. “From that last hurricane Lane that came through, it came at a weird angle, the swell of the waves. It came and it ate up all of the land that we had.”
He says they lost about 20 to 30 feet of land just within the last two weeks.
“And we are still losing even today it’s just dropping, from when the high tide comes that’s when the land starts dropping,” said Puu.
Private company Henry’s Equipment Rental and Sales has volunteered to move sand from the west side of Makaha beach to the east side, where homes are being threatened by erosion.
“As you can see behind me the erosion is severe, and so the homes are at risk because that erosion’s gotten all the way up to many of their fence lines,” said state senator Maile Shimabukuro, who represents Makaha, Nanakuli and Waianae.
Senator Shimabukuro says that the Department of Land and natural Resources or DLNR surveyed the area and will be issuing an emergency permit so that the work can be done.
“Most of the time it kind of happens off and on. It depends on the resources said Shimabukuro. “There have been lean years where it’s been difficult for them to get out here.”
Puu says he would like to see more sand added to the entirety of the beach instead of just moving it.
“Usually they push the sand towards that way, and then they take it from this side, and they take it to that side. That is why we have been losing a lot of sand on this side,” said Puu.
Senator Shimabukuro says she hopes preventative measures will happen annually before large winter swells come and sweep away more sand.
“That is something I’m sure we will talk to DLNR about and see if they think that could solve the problem,” said Shimabukuro.
Source: khon2
