Bad news and good news from Honolulu: According to Hawaii News Now, Waikiki Beach is shrinking again due to erosion. The good news is that new sand is on the way, and will be replenished in a different area than the last project in 2006. According to the report, crews will work in the winter when the surf is fairly flat along the south shore. The equipment will move in this week, and the $2.3 million project will involve the closure of some parts of Kuhio Beach.
This project is necessary for the city and state's tourism industry, the report continues. According to the state, Hawaii could lose an estimated $2 billion in overall visitor expenditures and $150 million in tax revenue if nothing is done.
A barge similar to the one used in 2006 will collect 24,000 cubic yards of sand from offshore and pump it through a pipe to a basin on the beach. Once the sand is dry, it will be blown into place using a new method. Parts of the beach will be blocked off for public safety.
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