KEKAHA — The Kekaha lifeguard tower was moved approximately 25 feet inland Thursday morning, a county spokesperson said. Erosion from wave action along the Kekaha shoreline west of the seawall continues to eat away at the shoreline, enhanced by the
KEKAHA — The Kekaha lifeguard tower was moved approximately 25 feet inland Thursday morning, a county spokesperson said.
Erosion from wave action along the Kekaha shoreline west of the seawall continues to eat away at the shoreline, enhanced by the higher tides which accompany the full moon.
Wave action also hampered the work of construction crews working to shore up a portion of the beach close to Kaumuali‘i Highway which had been barricaded on July 24 to protect motorists from parking too close from the eroding shoreline.
The tower, formerly located along Kaumuali‘i Highway, was first moved on Aug. 6, 2011, because of shoreline erosion. At that time, county officials were planning to relocate the tower to a new location about 164 yards down the beach toward MacArthur Park.
The move to MacArthur Park took place on Aug. 15, 2011, and the tower enjoyed its new vantage point until July 18 when, once again due to eroding shoreline, it was moved about 40 yards to the western end of the park.
This week, it was moved yet again.
Utilizing heavy equipment to load sandbags and a crane to position the sandbags along the eroding highway shoulder, workers dodged waves which crashed onto the shore Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re watching history in action,” said an employee of a Pacific Missile Range Facility contractor, using a video camera to capture the crashing waves. “I’ve stopped by this spot every day after work and taken pictures and video because who knows how far in the waves will come.”
On July 25, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a disaster proclamation authorizing emergency repairs to that portion of the highway to prevent imminent collapse from the wave erosion, according to a release from the state Department of Transportation.
In the proclamation, Abercrombie cited the potential loss of the sewer force main in the highway, and pointed out that the highway is the only route providing access to the west end of Kaua‘i, including the county landfill, the wastewater treatment plant and the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Mana.
From July 24 when the highest tide was at 1.17 feet, the heights of the tides have progressively risen to 1.81 feet on July 28, increasing to 2 feet on July 30 and July 31. Those were the biggest heights in July, according to the Waimea Bay readings from the Hawai‘i Tides website.
On the day of the full moon, Wednesday, the highest tide was at 1.95 feet, decreasing to 1.86 feet on Thursday. The tide is forecast to decrease to 1.72 feet today, and 1.56 feet on Saturday.
Another full moon will take place before August ends and the Hawai‘i Tides website is forecasting a maximum height rise of 1.85 feet during that full moon.
“We’re monitoring the situation and will take appropriate action as the situation warrants,” the county spokesperson said.
∫ Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
