Hawaii Beach Access Under Threat
Hawaii lawmakers are considering reopening the door to shoreline hardening like seawalls to save beachfront condos from erosion. The state's coastal administrator warns this could result in permanent loss of public beaches for both residents and visitors. Meanwhile, Los Angeles beaches could join the National Park System as officials seek public input on the proposal.
- Over the last century, about 25% of the beaches on Hawaii's three major islands have been lost to erosion, which is worsened by the construction of seawalls. On Oahu alone, seawall construction has already led to the loss of 29% of its beaches. - While Hawaii's Coastal Zone Management Act is meant to discourage shoreline hardening, government officials have granted over 230 environmental exemptions for seawalls to wealthy private landowners. - All beaches in Hawaii are technically public property, and obstructing access is a misdemeanor. However, private landowners have a history of blocking public access with vegetation, fences, and walls. - A 2020 study projected that without changes to coastal management, nearly 40% of Oahu's sandy beaches could be lost to shoreline hardening by mid-century as sea levels rise. - The Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study is evaluating the coastline from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach for inclusion in the National Park System. This is an early step in a process that would ultimately require an act of Congress or a presidential proclamation for designation. - The National Park Service is accepting public comments on the Los Angeles proposal online through April 6, 2026, and will hold a virtual public meeting on March 11, 2026. - Previous efforts to establish a national park in the Los Angeles area date back over a century, including a 1916 bill to protect forests in the Sierra Madre Mountains and a 1920s effort to safeguard parts of Santa Monica from mining.
