Name of case study
Kapukaulua Dune Restoration project
Location
Kapukaulua, Hawai’i
Location
Ongoing planning and pilot studies since 2019
Scale
Landscape / regional scale
Area / size
12 hectares
NbS employed
Dune preservation
Type of NbS
Ecosystem restoration; Ecosystem protection
Initiator
Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)
Funder
The University of Hawai’i Sea Grant Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant) was awarded a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund to develop site-specific plans for dune restoration at Kapukaulua (Baldwin Beach) from Lower Pāʻia Park to Wawau Point (“Baby Beach”); Federal funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
Budget
Not available
Design group
Tetra Tech
- Coastal erosion / wave attenuation
- Coastal inundation
- Sea level rise
- Climate change adaptation
- Disaster risk reduction
- Disturbance prevention (erosion, storm damage, flooding etc.)
- Habitat provision
Summary of case study
This project aimed to kickstart the restoration of approximately 12 acres of degraded coastal sand dunes in Hawai’i and its surrounding region by implementing tailored dune restoration and preservation strategies. The overarching objective is to bolster ecosystem restoration while enhancing community resilience in the face of sea-level rise (University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, 2022).
Seven restoration zones and crafted proposed strategies have been proposed, aiming to develop site-specific plans supporting habitat restoration and community resilience (University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, 2022). To ensure comprehensive guidance, the Kapukaulua Advisory Group was formed, providing expertise and guidance throughout the development of the Kapukaulua Dune Restoration strategies (Tetra Tech, 2023). The involvement of the local community, including the Pāʻia Youth and Cultural Center (PYCC), has been instrumental. PYCC, operating an after-school program, previously collaborated with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant to install a pilot dune restoration project, and their ongoing involvement underscores community engagement and commitment (University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, 2022).
Kapukaulua holds significant cultural and historical value, marked by documented heiau (Hawai’ian temple), habitation sites, and burial sites. Past and current human interference and environmental degradation, including extensive sand mining and sewage outfalls, have led to erosion and ecological decline. Addressing these challenges necessitates a comprehensive restoration approach (Tetra Tech, 2023).
At Kapukaulua, invasive ironwood trees pose both ecological and public safety concerns. While removal is necessary for ecological restoration, phased removal and engagement with the community ensure alignment with community preferences and needs (University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, 2022).Guiding principles for dune restoration include allowing natural processes to guide the restoration, considering sea-level rise projections, avoiding importing sand, and prioritising public safety by removing hazardous debris and vegetation (Tetra Tech, 2023). Restoration strategies encompass expanding existing dune restoration efforts, restoring native plant cover, addressing erosion hotspots, enhancing beach access, and creating kipuka restoration sites for gradual expansion of the dune ecosystem. Additionally, reintroducing sand from the ironwood forest and stabilising erosive clay deposits with native vegetation are proposed to mitigate erosion and enhance ecosystem resilience (University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, 2022).
References
- Tetra Tech (2023). Regional Shoreline Managment Scoping Study – Appendices. Report for the State of Hawai’i Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Coastal Zone Management Program. Available online: https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/op/czm/ormp/ormp_implementation/Regional%20Shoreline%20Mgmt%20Scoping%20Study/RSM%20SS%20Report_Appendices_28Feb2023.pdf. Date accessed 9 May 2024.
- University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (2022). Hawaiʻi Dune Restoration Manual. National Sea Grant Office, Rapid Response Funds Funding opportunity NOAAOAR-SG-2019-2005864 (HH-21-01). Available online: https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hawaii-Dune-Restoration-Manual-Final.pdf. Date accessed 9 May 2024.
