Beach erosion again exposes concrete at Kuhio Beach

WAIKIKI (HawaiiNewsNow) - It was just last October that beach erosion exposed an area of concrete along Kuhio Beach. Nine months later, it has happened again.

Beach boys say the concrete reappeared about two weeks ago on the beach behind the hula halau stage and banyan tree. They blame the summer swells and extreme tides.

"I'd say in the summer it seems to be happening more often, where the sand goes out," said Corbin Peleiholani of Hawaiian Oceans Waikiki, which rents out surfboards and other beach recreation equipment. "Once the tide eases up during the month, it tends to come back and cover some of it."

This is the same spot where the city used bulldozers to push sand over the concrete nine months ago. At the time, officials stressed it was a temporary fix. As it was, waves washed away the sand in a matter of hours.

The tides eventually changed, returning the sand and covering up the concrete. But once again, it sands out on the otherwise sandy tourist attraction.

"It looks out of place," said visitor Ashton Ostermayer. "It looks like something that was either covered up or wasn't taken out when it should have been."

Last year, we found out that it probably part of the old Waikiki Tavern, which was at the site until about 1960.

Right now, there are no signs or anything else to indicate the hazards from the concrete.

"There's some rocks exposed here, there's some jagged rebar right behind me," said Peleiholani. "It's somewhat dangerous."

"I wouldn't let my kids play on it if I was here," said Ostermayer. "I'd pull them away from it, absolutely."

Experts have been working on a longer-term fix to keep the sand from washing away. Meantime, the mayor's office said it is aware of the erosion and it keeping a close eye on it. But right now, there are no plans for a return of the bulldozers to try to bring back the sand and cover the concrete. This time around, it looks like nature will be allowed to take its course.

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