State Seal

 

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

 

News Release

     LINDA LINGLE              

           GOVERNOR

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                                                                                                                                              PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON

                                                                                                                                              Phone: (808) 587-0401

                                                                                                                                              Fax: (808) 587-0390

                                                                                                                                             

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release: November 17, 2006

  

Surf Forecasts Point To Improved Conditions
For Waikiki Sand Pumping Project


HONOLULU— Long-term surf forecasts are suggesting a return to more typical winter surf conditions that will allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and its contractor to resume the planned sand pumping project to replenish Kuhio beach.

DLNR’s contractor, American Marine Corp., will pump up to 10,000 cubic yards of offshore marine sand to replenish Kuhio beach at Waikiki as a demonstration project that has been repeatedly delayed by forecast high surf.

“The contractor has indicated that work should resume after Thanksgiving,” said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson.

“The contractor needs at least a 5-day ‘weather window’ to remobilize (2 days) and pump without having to stop for high surf,” Young said. The project requires a 20 to 30-day operating window of calm seas.

The contractor has established a tentative re-mobilization date of Nov 27 and may begin pumping sand as soon as Wednesday, November 29.

The relatively small but troublesome, south swells that have continued to arrive on O‘ahu’s south shore over the last month, were unexpectedly out of season and just large enough to potentially disrupt the sand pumping operation, which will take place in relatively shallow water (10-12 ft).

The staging area on the beach will remain closed while DLNR’s contractor finishes the construction of the retention basin and associated silt containment devices.

Project objectives are to increase the size of the dry beach at Kuhio Beach, and to demonstrate state of the art offshore sand pumping technologies for future beach restoration efforts.

For information about the project, and project updates posted, go to the DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands web site at http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/occl/nourishment.php

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Media contact:
Deborah Ward
Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320