I believe that there is no advantage to building a seawall at Wailua Golf Course. The reason that I believe this is based on the latest edition of “The Essentials of Oceanography.” This is a college-level textbook. The highly respected
I believe that there is no advantage to building a seawall at Wailua Golf Course. The reason that I believe this is based on the latest edition of “The Essentials of Oceanography.” This is a college-level textbook. The highly respected professors Harold Thurman and Alan Trujillo authored it. Below are quotes from this book:
“One of the most destructive types of hard stabilization is the seawall.”
“Once waves begin breaking against a seawall, turbulence generated by the abrupt release of wave energy quickly erodes the sediment on its seaward side, causing it to collapse into the surf.”
“Where seawalls have been used to protect property on barrier islands, the seaward slope of the island beach has steepened and the rate of erosion increased.” “Eventually, the cost of repairing or replacing seawalls will be more than the property is worth, and the sea will claim more of the cost through the natural process of coastal erosion.”
As you might imagine, the seawall will do more harm than good. It is a costly short-term solution. The ocean should have the natural right-of-way. The hole could simply be moved.
I think the best solution would be to turn the golf course into a park such as Lydgate Park. Let the entire population of Kaua’i and or visitors enjoy the stretch of coastline. Golfers are a small minority of the population here on the island. Why should the golfers cost the county millions of dollars and ruin the shoreline at the same time?
Again, there is no advantage to building a seawall at the Wailua Golf Course.
LYNN HENKEL, Hanapepe
