Maui County has approved an environmental finding for Kanai A Nalu condominium in Māʻalaea to remove its failing seawalls and install a buried sand-filled geotextile structure as a softer shoreline erosion solution. The $2.4 million project still needs additional permits before construction can begin.
- The Maui Planning Department issued a finding of no significant impact for the 80-unit Kanai A Nalu condo’s $2.4 million shoreline adaptation plan.
- The plan replaces aging concrete seawalls with a buried sand-filled ‘geotextile burrito’ structure, a new dune, and a public beach-access ramp.
- The project still requires a shoreline setback variance, a special management area permit, and building, grading, and flood development permits.
- Decades of erosion have stripped roughly one foot of beach per year at the property, and large-scale sand replenishment was ruled out due to incompatible offshore sand sources.
- County planners noted the burrito structure is not a permanent fix and said long-term solutions for the area still need to be researched.
Source: Maui Now
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