A series of storms and an unusually active Pacific hurricane season have accelerated coastal erosion on Maui, leaving portions of beach parks roped off and shoreline walkways blocked. Experts warn that ongoing El Niño conditions could make recovery even harder heading into next year.
- South Maui and West Maui beaches have been hit hardest, with sections of beach parks closed and sandbags deployed to protect shrinking shorelines.
- Consecutive storms — from March Kona lows through seven Central Pacific tropical cyclones since July — have caused significant ‘episodic erosion’ on top of existing chronic erosion from sea-level rise.
- UH Sea Grant experts say extreme weather is preventing beaches from naturally recovering between storm events.
- Strengthening El Niño conditions are expected to persist into next year, raising concern about further damage.
- State coastal officials say erosion has been a crisis for a decade, and recent storms have created new critical problem areas across Hawaii.
Source: Maui Now
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