Protect Wailūa Beach, Kauaʻi- Stop Sandsavers Project

As part of the Kūhiō Highway Emergency Shoreline Mitigation Project at Wailūa Beach on the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is attempting to use untested coastal armoring called Sandsavers. Their proposal positions these polyethylene plastic blocks (5 ft wide x 3 ft high x 4.75 ft deep) would be placed in one to two arcs, spanning the entire beach so that they are submerged during high tide and partially exposed at lower tide. The proposed use of Sandsavers blocks would significantly restrict public access to the water and prevent safe recreation. 

The Kauaʻi Chapterʻs immediate goal is to protect Wailūa Beach and prevent the implementation of this pilot Sandsaver technology. 

Our intermediate goal is to encourage alternative solutions for the Kūhiō Highway Emergency Shoreline Mitigation Project including but not limited to dune restoration and potential landward relocation of Wailūa bridge.