King tides bring new sand

HANAPEPE — The King tides are supposed to peak July 2 and 3, but the effects were already being felt days prior at the Salt Pond Beach Park.

Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau lifeguard David Duncan said there was a lot of water coming over and depositing fresh sand at the popular beach park on Sunday and Monday.

“Look at the video taken by the lifeguards from the lifeguard stand,” Duncan said. “There is water everywhere, and the result is all this new sand. The video makes it look like 1946 Laupahoehoe, all over, again.”

According to Sea Grant data, the peak height for Salt Pond is scheduled to be 2.53 feet over normal, the highest level for Kauai. This is scheduled to take place July 2 and 3.

Sunday, Philip Pembrook said the water came up around 2:45 p.m., flooding the park and its network of pavilions. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data, Sunday’s high tide was posted at 2.31 feet.

“We had little waves,” Pembrook said. “But the water came up and flooded everything.”

The flooding and its resulting new load of sand made for good conditions for the Junior Lifeguard class that is running at Salt Pond, this week.

“This is all new sand,” Duncan said. “It’s crispy, fluffy, and waiting for the kids to get into it. The water is pretty choppy, though. And there’s brown water caused by the clay being stirred up, and the water is murky. We have set up a section where there is safe water.”

The Kauai Junior Lifeguard program, open to youth 8-11 for the keiki, and 12-17 for the Juniors, moves to Hanalei starting Monday and continuing through July 12. The Kauai championships is scheduled for July 20 at the Kalapaki Beach.

Kauai is scheduled for another round of King tides on July 31 and Aug. 1 with the Port Allen heights being forecast to be higher than this round.