Hawaii's Beaches Are Disappearing

[WalnutBaron]

I know there have been other posts to this effect in the past, but this one published by Pro Publica is enlightening and quite well done. Essentially the efforts of property owners to construct seawalls is causing ocean tides to carry the beach sand out into the ocean. The effects are pretty dramatic, as illustrated in this article.

 

[Tamaradarann]

I know there have been other posts to this effect in the past, but this one published by Pro Publica is enlightening and quite well done. Essentially the efforts of property owners to construct seawalls is causing ocean tides to carry the beach sand out into the ocean. The effects are pretty dramatic, as illustrated in this article.

The article does demonstrate the effects of seawalls on the beaches. Looking at the big picture the need for the sea walls as well as the ultimate cause of the beach sand loss is that Global Warming has made the seas rise. The World needs to get Global Warming under control to prevent further loss of beaches and damage to ocean front property as well as other negative environment consequences.

 

[bogey21]

The World needs to get Global Warming under control to prevent further loss of beaches and damage to ocean front property as well as other negative environment consequences.

Laudable goal but actions (or lact thereof) of China, India and 3rd World Countries will negate most of what the rest of us do...

George

 

[geist1223]

Need to get rid of all seawalls that simple attempt to protect residences and let nature take its course.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Laudable goal but actions (or lact thereof) of China, India and 3rd World Countries will negate most of what the rest of us do...

George

The developing countries are certainly going to increase their use of natural resources and their contribution to air pollution which will negate somewhat what the developed countries do reduce consumption and pollution. I don't think the world should give up, It needs to work toward attainable goals to prevent many of the negative results.

 

[Magus]

Developing countries co2 is rising so fasts its 2-5x the reduction of western countries. The US and Europe per capita co2 has been dropping for 3 decades. Ironically, the US is the only country to hit Kyoto accord goals despite not signing on. The Paris accords own data shows if the US literally stopped existing (0 co2) it would lower temperatures by less than 1 degree and if all signature countries hit their targets it would only lower temps by .22 degrees.

Without China, India, Brazil and others being required in these international agreements to at least stop co2 growth, all of these agreements are a joke - especially with free trade - where US and European countries manufacture goods in China or India with no co2 limits and import them for basically free into US/UK/Germany/etc.Tariffs are the best thing for co2 reductions if that is your goal.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Developing countries co2 is rising so fasts its 2-5x the reduction of western countries. The US and Europe per capita co2 has been dropping for 3 decades. Ironically, the US is the only country to hit Kyoto accord goals despite not signing on. The Paris accords own data shows if the US literally stopped existing (0 co2) it would lower temperatures by less than 1 degree and if all signature countries hit their targets it would only lower temps by .22 degrees.

Without China, India, Brazil and others being required in these international agreements to at least stop co2 growth, all of these agreements are a joke - especially with free trade - where US and European countries manufacture goods in China or India with no co2 limits and import them for basically free into US/UK/Germany/etc.Tariffs are the best thing for co2 reductions if that is your goal.

China, India, Brazil and the other underdeveloped countries are in various development stages and while possible it is very difficult for them to stop CO2 growth while developing. While using more Electricity doesn't create CO2 growth the genteration of electricity can. The US is trying to convert to renewable(solar, wind, geothermal etc) sources of electricity but with over 330 million people using it it will be quite a challenge to provide enough electricity without discharging CO2. With 4 times the populations China and India will have a much greater challenge to generate enough for their countries while inceasingly becoming more developed.

There are many steps that can be taken to reduce CO2 reductions. One that I advocated back in the 70's during the first Arab Oil Crisis which was implemented in Europe and would have the US in a different place right now was an increasing gasoline tax. Back then gasoline was $4.00 a gallon due to the Arabs servely increasing the oil we were dependent on. There was a major push to develop and buy fuel efficient cars since gasoline was so expensive. We lost that initiative when the crisis was over and gasoline went back to $1.00 a gallon. Now 50 years later gasoline is $2.00 a gallon and a bargain so why buy an electric or fuel efficient car?

 

[csodjd]

I recall two years ago, last time I was in Maui, that there were plans for a major multi-year project to restore the beach in Kaanapali. I thought it was supposed to have begun by now. Not sure the status of that, whether COVID impacted it, etc.

 

[DannyTS]

I read a seawall was approved in Eastern Oahu, the property belongs to Marty Nesbitt.

 

[bogey21]

This is nothing new. I remember this being done when I was a kid. In about 1945 Ocean City, NJ spent many dollars to restore their beach. My recollection is they pumped in tons of sand and built a large number of jetties which extended way out into the ocean...

George