State Funds Ala Moana Beach Park Sand Restoration
Oahu's Ala Moana Beach Park is getting a long-overdue sand refill, which is good news for the thousands of residents and tourists who use it daily.
- The state approved money to help the city restore sand that has eroded over decades at one of Oahu's busiest beach parks.
- The beach is man-made and doesn't replenish naturally, so without this kind of project the sand just keeps washing away with wind and tides.
- The city had set aside funds for this before, but the money got diverted to emergency COVID-19 response instead.
- The state is kicking in about $7.5 million, and the plan calls for dredging sand from deep offshore water and placing it along the shoreline, avoiding surf breaks and working some shifts at night to limit disruption.
Outlook: The project has been permitted since 2021, and the city has until 2030 to finish the work, with more cost and timeline details expected soon.