On a walk along the shoreline path at Kaanapali Beach, the signs of erosion are hard to miss. In some stretches, the famous West Maui beach narrows to a thin strip of sand between the ocean and the resorts, condos and pools that line the shore.
Exposed rock and drainage pipes are sometimes seen jutting out from the sand, while orange plastic fencing blocks access to erosion-impacted areas. Property owners have turned to sand pushing, or using temporary barriers and sandbags to hold back the ocean.
In recent years, the beach has also seen sidewalks collapsing and coconut trees falling into the ocean, offering a striking example of Hawaii’s coastal challenges.
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There’s a solution in sight, as a sand replenishment project is being discussed for the beach. But the proposal has divided the community: Property owners support it, while some community advocates oppose it.
“The problem is the structures, not the beach,” West Maui community advocate Kai Nishiki told SFGATE. “The beach is completely fine and healthy if we would just support the coastal ecosystem and support the landward migration of our beaches.”
In this photo from November 2025, erosion is encroaching on resort amenities.
In this photo from November 2025, erosion is encroaching on resort amenities.Heidi Sherman
‘Wasting taxpayers’ dollars’
“As we look at Kaanapali, what we see is, yes, water levels have risen. Kaanapali was at its widest in the late ’80s. … We’ve got some beautiful aerial photography of the beach in 1988, and it was very wide. It was gorgeous,” Chris Conger, vice president of marine engineering firm Sea Engineering, told SFGATE.
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Conger said human-induced climate change is accelerating sea level rise through warmer temperatures and melting land ice, and he views the resulting impacts on Hawaii’s coastlines as largely human driven.
Higher water levels allow more wave energy to travel across the reef and reach the shoreline, he explained. “As you increase water level, high tide gets higher, low tide gets higher, more energy is coming to shore through the entire tidal cycle,” he said.
In 2014, Conger worked with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Kaanapali Operations Association, which represents hotels and property owners, on a beach restoration project that would replenish sand along the eroding shoreline from offshore sources.
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The project completed environmental review and permitting. It was nearing construction when, in 2023, the Board of Land and Natural Resources voted against spending state funds on the effort, following public opposition.
More erosion is seen in this photo of Kaanapali Beach taken in March 2026.
More erosion is seen in this photo of Kaanapali Beach taken in March 2026.Heidi Sherman
Community concerns included impacts on marine species and damage to the undersea environment. Many testifiers called on a movement toward managed retreat instead, in which coastal development is moved inland. And some were critical of the spending, with one resident saying the sand replenishment project would be “wasting taxpayers’ dollars.”
With the state bowing out, the Kaanapali Operations Association, Conger and other partners regrouped to prepare their own plan to restore sand to the beach. Their proposal is expected to go to the state for review soon.
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The Kaanapali Operations Association shared these photos showing the changes in the shoreline conditions over a series of years.
The Kaanapali Operations Association shared these photos showing the changes in the shoreline conditions over a series of years.
The Kaanapali Operations Association shared these photos showing the changes in the shoreline conditions over a series of years.Kaanapali Operations Association
The Kaanapali Operations Association shared these photos showing the changes in the shoreline conditions over a series of years.Kaanapali Operations Association
A dynamic shoreline
Kaanapali Beach isn’t a static shoreline. In the section from Puu Kekaa (also known as Black Rock) to Hanakaoo Point, the sand shifts seasonally. In the winter, the North Pacific swell moves sand to the south, Conger explained; and in the summer, the South Pacific swell pushes sand back to the north.
On the southern end from Hanakaoo Point to Hanakaoo Beach Park (also known as Canoe Beach), the shoreline behaves differently due to the shallow fringing reef that dissipates wave energy, limiting how much sand can be moved. However, there’s a break in the reef right in front of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, so the incoming wave bends and accelerates as it moves through the channel, concentrating energy on that part of the beach.
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The map depicts the section of Kaanapali Beach from Puu Kekaa (also known as Black Rock) to Hanakaoo Point and Beach.
The map depicts the section of Kaanapali Beach from Puu Kekaa (also known as Black Rock) to Hanakaoo Point and Beach.Google Earth/Illustration by SFGATE
“You could call it an erosional hot spot, but all it really is is an inset of a section of the beach, where the wave is creating this dent,” Conger said.
Because of this, the Hyatt is among the hotels most affected. The shoreline there shows some of the most visible signs of persistent erosion.
“We recognize coastal erosion is a complex issue affecting shorelines throughout Hawaii and beyond. As a long-standing member of the Kaanapali community, we remain committed to being responsible stewards of the coastline,” Fred Findlen, general manager for Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, told SFGATE in an email.
“We are working closely with state agencies, environmental experts and community members to better understand shoreline conditions and evaluate potential long-term solutions,” Findlen continued. “We support collaborative efforts that balance environmental stewardship, public beach access and the long-term health and resilience of the shoreline while helping preserve Kaanapali Beach for future generations.”
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The photo taken in April 2024 shows temporary barriers in front of the Hyatt Maui where the break in the reef and erosion hot spot are located.
The photo taken in April 2024 shows temporary barriers in front of the Hyatt Maui where the break in the reef and erosion hot spot are located.Heidi Sherman
Sand replenishment proposal
The sand replenishment plan is now being prepared by the Kaanapali Operations Association. It expects to file applications in the “coming months.”
“We are proposing a science-backed, nature-based solution to help Kaanapali Beach adapt to the impacts of sea-level rise, erosion, avulsion events, and storm-wave effects to ensure it can be enjoyed by future generations,” Keolahou Hinau, executive director of the Pilikahakai Foundation, said in an email. “Our plan is to carefully collect offshore sand and bring it back to widen and increase the height of the beach to its healthy footprint in 1988.”
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Founded in 2024, the Pilikahakai Foundation was established by Kaanapali Beach Resort property owners, who are interested in preserving Kaanapali Beach.
“We are grateful for the feedback we received, which has made our plans better and led to additional protections being incorporated throughout the project,” Hinau said. “This project is about helping Kaanapali Beach adapt and continue to be available for future generations to enjoy. We want to create a more resilient, healthier shoreline, and in doing so, we can preserve beach access for all, promote nearshore water quality and support conditions for biodiversity to thrive. The project would also support dune restoration and the reintroduction of native plants, helping keep sand on the beach.”
Once the application is submitted to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, it moves through a review process: The Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands evaluates the proposal and makes a recommendation to the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
“That is where everyone scraps,” Nishiki said. A public hearing will be held, but the board ultimately has final say on whether the proposal moves forward.
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The photo taken in March 2026 shows erosion near the hardening structure adjacent to the gap in the fringing reef.
The photo taken in March 2026 shows erosion near the hardening structure adjacent to the gap in the fringing reef.Heidi Sherman
Competing visions for the shoreline
Critics question whether replenishment is the best use of resources, arguing it addresses symptoms rather than causes of erosion.
Nishiki, who is often in discussion with the Kaanapali Operations Association, argues that the beach should be allowed to naturally migrate inland and that restoration efforts should focus on dunes and re-naturalizing the shoreline to lessen the impacts, instead of engineering a sand replenishment project.
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Historical photos show the resorts were built on the sand dunes that once fed the beach, she added. “So if those structures were not there, we wouldn’t even be talking about beach nourishment or doing any sort of intervention on the shoreline, because the only reason to do beach nourishment at Kaanapali is because the structures were sited many years ago too close to the ocean and folks weren’t thinking about what is best for the future generations or what is best to have a healthy coastal ecosystem.”
She said hotels, pools and other shoreline structures will be increasingly impacted by sea level rise and argued that beach nourishment is only a temporary fix.
The section of Kaanapali Beach, between Puu Kekaa (also known as Black Rock) and Hanakaoo Point.
The section of Kaanapali Beach, between Puu Kekaa (also known as Black Rock) and Hanakaoo Point.Kaiyana Miyaki/Getty Images
In her view, the only long-term solution is to allow beaches to migrate inland by removing coastal structures. She also warned that nourishment can reinforce the status quo by encouraging continued investment in hazardous areas and creating a false sense of security that everything’s fine.
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“I think we’re at a pivotal moment in our history where the decisions that we’re making today are going to dictate if we have coastlines filled with sea walls and buildings falling into the ocean,” she says. “Or do we have beaches for our children and grandchildren?”
Editor’s note: SFGATE recognizes the importance of diacritical marks in the Hawaiian language. We are unable to use them due to the limitations of our publishing platform.
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