Waikīkī Beach works kick off

The multi-million dollar effort to restore sand to Waikīkī Beach has officially begun, reports the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Yesterday morning, Kahu Kordell Kekoa joined project principals for a traditional Hawaiian blessing. 

Mobilization of heavy equipment began last week and soon hydraulic dredging and pumping of as much as 20,000 cubic yards of marine sand about a ½ mile offshore begins.

The Waikīkī Beach Maintenance Project is intended to restore and maintain the beach between the Kūhiō Beach Ewa Groin and the Royal Hawaiian Beach areas. 

The program is a public-private partnership with DLNR and the Waikīkī Beach Special Improvement District which is providing $1 million of the $3-4 million estimated total project cost.

According to DLNR, the project will result in certain beach areas being closed or restricted and is expected to be complete sometime in May.