What's happening to Kaanapali Beach?
Oct 4th, 2003, 02:51 PM
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What's happening to Kaanapali Beach?
Just got back from Kaanapali and noticed that the beach south of the Westin had shrunk since our last trip there last year. Loads of sand bags all along the shore line wall all along the stretch from the Kaanapali Ali to past the Hyatt. What's going on. I asked a realtor at the Westin time share sales and he mentioned "change in currents." What's that mean. He said it could change back???? Really??? I don't know, but I'm really curious.
Frank
Frank
Oct 4th, 2003, 07:31 PM
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>> I have read that the palm trees are tied to the Alii. <<
You read right!!! It's amazing. Tons of sand bags. We walked down to Cascades most evenings to their sushi bar (as Sansei's is closed for remodeling for a few more weeks) and you could see work being done daily with the sand bags. btw, Cascades had some great sushi!!
Frank
You read right!!! It's amazing. Tons of sand bags. We walked down to Cascades most evenings to their sushi bar (as Sansei's is closed for remodeling for a few more weeks) and you could see work being done daily with the sand bags. btw, Cascades had some great sushi!!
Frank
Oct 5th, 2003, 07:59 AM
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Rusty,
>> read elsewhere that Kaanapali beach north of Black Rock is also badly eroded <<
The Westin condo salesman who was telling me about Kaanapali Beach, south of the Westin resort, mentioned that the beach North of Black Rock (near their new timeshare<g>) was not effected. I didn't see it for myself, so I don't know for sure.
Frank
>> read elsewhere that Kaanapali beach north of Black Rock is also badly eroded <<
The Westin condo salesman who was telling me about Kaanapali Beach, south of the Westin resort, mentioned that the beach North of Black Rock (near their new timeshare<g>) was not effected. I didn't see it for myself, so I don't know for sure.
Frank
Oct 5th, 2003, 12:09 PM
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How "seasonal" is this problem. Right now I am double booked for next summer for both the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resorts in a studio and a hotel room at the Marriott. We do like a swimmable beach and found the beach in front of the Marriott rocky with sea urchins in places. Now if that much of the beach is eroded, does it make for a less swimmable beach and would we be better off at the Westin. Priorities are room (both the hotel and studio are 400 sq ft) a gorgeous pool and a swimmable beach. With the Westin, we could swim at the Sheraton and the other Westin hotel as well. So far there aren't any reviews of the new Westin because it is too new. Any thoughts anyone?
Oct 5th, 2003, 02:30 PM
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DawnCT,
>>Right now I am double booked for next summer for both the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resorts in a studio and a hotel room at the Marriott.<<
Don't know about the Westin Time Share, but you "currently" and that is of last week, really have no room in front of the Marriott to stretch out and relax on the beach. No one, other than a few surfers were to be found from just south of the Westin to at least the Hyatt. The Marriott is in this area. If you aren't familier, the Marriott is north of the Hyatt.
Most of the beach lovers were obviously north of the Westin. The beach got progressively more crowded as you headed toward the Sheraton at Black Rock.
If you are looking for an expansive beach, you can't beat staying at the Sheraton. We stayed there and loved it. The service was great as were the ammenities. The fitness room needs a few more "toys" but I was told they are working on that. Plus, if you stay at the Sheraton, you have access to the Westin and the Kapalua Bay Hotel too. All 3 were on the wrist band you got each day when you got towels. They are all Starwood properties I guess??? Guys were walking around checking wrist bands too.
Frank
>>Right now I am double booked for next summer for both the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resorts in a studio and a hotel room at the Marriott.<<
Don't know about the Westin Time Share, but you "currently" and that is of last week, really have no room in front of the Marriott to stretch out and relax on the beach. No one, other than a few surfers were to be found from just south of the Westin to at least the Hyatt. The Marriott is in this area. If you aren't familier, the Marriott is north of the Hyatt.
Most of the beach lovers were obviously north of the Westin. The beach got progressively more crowded as you headed toward the Sheraton at Black Rock.
If you are looking for an expansive beach, you can't beat staying at the Sheraton. We stayed there and loved it. The service was great as were the ammenities. The fitness room needs a few more "toys" but I was told they are working on that. Plus, if you stay at the Sheraton, you have access to the Westin and the Kapalua Bay Hotel too. All 3 were on the wrist band you got each day when you got towels. They are all Starwood properties I guess??? Guys were walking around checking wrist bands too.
Frank
Oct 5th, 2003, 05:16 PM
#9
Beach erosion occurs everywhere. It's a natural effect of tides and storms. Yes, the effect can reverse, but maybe not the following year, maybe not for many years. I live in an L.A. County beach town, and in certain areas the county builds large sand berms in the fall to battle against erosion over the winter. In the spring, the berms are bulldozed down again. This temporary solution obviously wouldn't work in tourist-dependent Kaanapali.
I'm curious to know whether the beach in that area is naturally occurring or whether it was created for tourism. A bit of trivia: Sand from Manhattan Beach (where I live) was barged to Hawaii to help create Waikiki Beach!
I'm curious to know whether the beach in that area is naturally occurring or whether it was created for tourism. A bit of trivia: Sand from Manhattan Beach (where I live) was barged to Hawaii to help create Waikiki Beach!
Oct 5th, 2003, 05:17 PM
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DawnCt,
We just stayed at the Sheraton in August. The beach is great, the grounds are beautiful, and you do have access to both the Westin and the Kapalua Bay Hotel. The rooms are not as nice as you might expect for the price (small, a bit drab) but you can't beat the location. I'd stay there again.
We just stayed at the Sheraton in August. The beach is great, the grounds are beautiful, and you do have access to both the Westin and the Kapalua Bay Hotel. The rooms are not as nice as you might expect for the price (small, a bit drab) but you can't beat the location. I'd stay there again.
Oct 5th, 2003, 05:21 PM
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Beaches erode because of man and nature. The only things that will bring the beach back would be a good storm (which could also further erode) and beach renurishing. The renurishing is very expensive and rarely done. Va beach just finished a multi million ($85 million)dollar beach renurishment program only to have it taken out to sea by Hurricane Isabel. Usually, it is the thing trying to keep the beach from eroding, such as seawalls that do the worst damage.
Oct 6th, 2003, 09:21 AM
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>>thanks for the reply. How big are the rooms and how are they furnished<<
To me they were normal sized and furnished. I liked it though. The grounds and general location are marvelous. I'dstay there again in a heart beat!
Frank
To me they were normal sized and furnished. I liked it though. The grounds and general location are marvelous. I'dstay there again in a heart beat!
Frank
Oct 6th, 2003, 10:45 AM
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Information for folks concerned about Kaanapali Beach erosion: I just visited both areas of concern during the past 3 days and offer the following report and opinions:
First, the BAD NEWS:
The beach is severely eroded in front of the Kaanapali Alii condominiums and the Marriott Maui Ocean Club, to the point that there is NO sandy shore. The ocean has eroded sand right up to the green vegetation and palm trees that line the water edge of both resort properties. In fact, it would not even be pleasant to stroll through the water where the beach formerly existed here, because of the wave action splashing along the newly established shore wall. Many thousands of sand bags have been placed to form a sea wall, in an effort to prevent the erosion becoming worse than it is. Bags are constantly being worn and eroded, resulting in them being washed ashore at points north along Kaanapali Beach. Bags are stacked 5-8 feet high in areas along the Marriott and Alii shoreline (which is most severely affected); in some places, the bags reach 5 ?deep? (between the ocean and the bordering lawn). In addition, large plastic barriers (such as used alongside highways to limit crash damage) have been filled with sand and buried beneath some of the worst ?bagged? areas. Both resort properties have lost a few palm trees, due to water eroding around their roots. Remaining trees all along the Alii water?s edge are anchored by ropes to the trees just a bit further back from the shore (i.e., along the rest of the paved Kaanapali walkway). The Hyatt (south of the Marriott) also has suffered beach erosion, but still has about 10 foot depth of sandy beach, and thus retains space for its wooded, wheeled cabanas and for anyone who wants to sit on the beach.
Severe erosion has also struck the NORTH side of the Sheraton Black Rock. This is the side that borders the North Kaanapali Golf Course. The sand and beach is completely eroded from north of Black Rock to the Eldorado cabana building, which stretches perhaps 1/8 mile; the ocean flows right up to the huge, black boulders that form a sea wall along this part of the coast. The erosion is so bad that the pilings are exposed underneath the Eldordo cabana. The beach is still existent from the Kaanapali Villas and Royal Lahaina, and all the way north up to the Mahana/Embassy area in North Kaanapali Beach. However, the existing beach is much thinner than normal, and flat (rather than sloped down from the grassy shoreline). There is a bit of room to sit on dry sand at least as far as Kahekili Park, and the new Westin Kaanapali timeshare.
Now for the GOOD NEWS:
I spoke with the Kaanapali Alii General Manager, and he saw slight signs (as of 2 days ago) that the ocean current/swells are finally changing back to their normal Fall/Winter direction. Thus, he believes that the ?worst is over,? and that the shoreline has already begun the first stage of restoring itself. My amateur eyeball indicator confirmed this yesterday, when I observed the first signs of beach erosion from SOUTH of the Sheraton Black Rock: Swells on October 4-5 have eroded sand here and left perhaps two foot high ?shelves? along the frontmost part of the Sheraton beach. This means that sand is moving from here and is returning to the Marriott/Alii end of Kaanapali Beach. (As explained to me, the entire south side of Kaanapali?from the Sheraton to the Hyatt?is a distinct ?cell,? where basically, the sand continually moves back and forth and does not go anywhere else. Strange science fact, huh? Thus, this summer?s erosion has been a natural phenomenon of sand migrating from the Marriott/Alii to the Sheraton, albeit an abnormally long and severe period?and now is beginning its normal return and rebuilding of beach at the Marriott end. I assume that a similar ?cell? exists north of the Sheraton?and that the beach will also restore itself there in the next few months. NOTE: I was told that the beach is currently wider at the Mahana end than normal, but did not walk up there to observe it yet.)
I stay at The Whaler, which is located almost in the center of the South Kaanapali erosion phenomenon?and where erosion created a very thin beach and steep ?shelf? of 5-8 feet the last two years, during November-December. Dum-de-dum-dum?.
Your handy dandy erosion reporter, Bob Cohen
First, the BAD NEWS:
The beach is severely eroded in front of the Kaanapali Alii condominiums and the Marriott Maui Ocean Club, to the point that there is NO sandy shore. The ocean has eroded sand right up to the green vegetation and palm trees that line the water edge of both resort properties. In fact, it would not even be pleasant to stroll through the water where the beach formerly existed here, because of the wave action splashing along the newly established shore wall. Many thousands of sand bags have been placed to form a sea wall, in an effort to prevent the erosion becoming worse than it is. Bags are constantly being worn and eroded, resulting in them being washed ashore at points north along Kaanapali Beach. Bags are stacked 5-8 feet high in areas along the Marriott and Alii shoreline (which is most severely affected); in some places, the bags reach 5 ?deep? (between the ocean and the bordering lawn). In addition, large plastic barriers (such as used alongside highways to limit crash damage) have been filled with sand and buried beneath some of the worst ?bagged? areas. Both resort properties have lost a few palm trees, due to water eroding around their roots. Remaining trees all along the Alii water?s edge are anchored by ropes to the trees just a bit further back from the shore (i.e., along the rest of the paved Kaanapali walkway). The Hyatt (south of the Marriott) also has suffered beach erosion, but still has about 10 foot depth of sandy beach, and thus retains space for its wooded, wheeled cabanas and for anyone who wants to sit on the beach.
Severe erosion has also struck the NORTH side of the Sheraton Black Rock. This is the side that borders the North Kaanapali Golf Course. The sand and beach is completely eroded from north of Black Rock to the Eldorado cabana building, which stretches perhaps 1/8 mile; the ocean flows right up to the huge, black boulders that form a sea wall along this part of the coast. The erosion is so bad that the pilings are exposed underneath the Eldordo cabana. The beach is still existent from the Kaanapali Villas and Royal Lahaina, and all the way north up to the Mahana/Embassy area in North Kaanapali Beach. However, the existing beach is much thinner than normal, and flat (rather than sloped down from the grassy shoreline). There is a bit of room to sit on dry sand at least as far as Kahekili Park, and the new Westin Kaanapali timeshare.
Now for the GOOD NEWS:
I spoke with the Kaanapali Alii General Manager, and he saw slight signs (as of 2 days ago) that the ocean current/swells are finally changing back to their normal Fall/Winter direction. Thus, he believes that the ?worst is over,? and that the shoreline has already begun the first stage of restoring itself. My amateur eyeball indicator confirmed this yesterday, when I observed the first signs of beach erosion from SOUTH of the Sheraton Black Rock: Swells on October 4-5 have eroded sand here and left perhaps two foot high ?shelves? along the frontmost part of the Sheraton beach. This means that sand is moving from here and is returning to the Marriott/Alii end of Kaanapali Beach. (As explained to me, the entire south side of Kaanapali?from the Sheraton to the Hyatt?is a distinct ?cell,? where basically, the sand continually moves back and forth and does not go anywhere else. Strange science fact, huh? Thus, this summer?s erosion has been a natural phenomenon of sand migrating from the Marriott/Alii to the Sheraton, albeit an abnormally long and severe period?and now is beginning its normal return and rebuilding of beach at the Marriott end. I assume that a similar ?cell? exists north of the Sheraton?and that the beach will also restore itself there in the next few months. NOTE: I was told that the beach is currently wider at the Mahana end than normal, but did not walk up there to observe it yet.)
I stay at The Whaler, which is located almost in the center of the South Kaanapali erosion phenomenon?and where erosion created a very thin beach and steep ?shelf? of 5-8 feet the last two years, during November-December. Dum-de-dum-dum?.
Your handy dandy erosion reporter, Bob Cohen
Oct 6th, 2003, 05:16 PM
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Humuhumu, thanks for the detailed report. It is certainly encouraging to see some body actual answer the question asked, especially in such detail.
Cindyrella, from the report by humuhumu and others, it appears that there is still lots of undamaged beach at Kaanapali and there will be no need to go elsewhere to find a beach. The Maui Eldorado is adjacent to Black Rock and therefore it is about the same distance from South Kaanapali Beach and North Kaanapali Beach. The Eldorado is close to the Sheraton and the beach in that area appears to be OK. I understand that that Maui Eldorado's "cabana" is closed but you will not be missing much. It is not much of a cabana and it is not used very much.
Cindyrella, from the report by humuhumu and others, it appears that there is still lots of undamaged beach at Kaanapali and there will be no need to go elsewhere to find a beach. The Maui Eldorado is adjacent to Black Rock and therefore it is about the same distance from South Kaanapali Beach and North Kaanapali Beach. The Eldorado is close to the Sheraton and the beach in that area appears to be OK. I understand that that Maui Eldorado's "cabana" is closed but you will not be missing much. It is not much of a cabana and it is not used very much.
Oct 9th, 2003, 05:35 PM
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The Mahanna end of the beach is bearly a beach. Morth of Kanapali. HOWEVER and I may regret telling everyone.
The Aston Mahanna is a QUIET GEM of a condominium complex. Absoulutely manificent OCEANFRONT views from every CONDO ! The resort tends toward retirees...not children. But it is quiet and just awesome. Rent from a private owner..NOT ASTON ! And you will quite likly get a nicer condo.
The place just blew me away for the price. $ 140- 180 a night...And I have stayed at the Westin and Shearton etc. This condo did not give you daily maid service and room service etc. BUT WHO CARES ! It has a complete kitchen and Washer/dryer etc and the BEST VIEW in all of MAUI in my opinion.!!!
The Aston Mahanna is a QUIET GEM of a condominium complex. Absoulutely manificent OCEANFRONT views from every CONDO ! The resort tends toward retirees...not children. But it is quiet and just awesome. Rent from a private owner..NOT ASTON ! And you will quite likly get a nicer condo.
The place just blew me away for the price. $ 140- 180 a night...And I have stayed at the Westin and Shearton etc. This condo did not give you daily maid service and room service etc. BUT WHO CARES ! It has a complete kitchen and Washer/dryer etc and the BEST VIEW in all of MAUI in my opinion.!!!
Oct 21st, 2003, 04:57 AM
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These web sites have a report and photos with regard to the erosion of Kaanapali Beach and west and south Maui beaches in general.
http://starbulletin.com/2003/08/19/news/story5.html
http://starbulletin.com/2002/06/10/news/story1.html
http://starbulletin.com/2003/08/19/news/story5.html
http://starbulletin.com/2002/06/10/news/story1.html
