KAILUA, Hawaii — Jenn Boneza remembers when the white sandy beach in her hometown was wide enough for people to build sand castles. “And now when you look at it, it’s gone,” she said.
What is happening to portions of the beach in Kailua is being repeated around the Hawaiian Islands. Geologists say more than 70 percent of Kauai’s beaches are eroding, while Oahu has lost a quarter of its sandy shoreline. They warn the problem is likely to get worse in coming decades.
Chip Fletcher, a University of Hawaii geology professor, said scientists don’t blame global warming.
Instead, the erosion is caused by factors including a steady historical climb in sea levels that likely dates back to the 19th century. Other causes include storms and human actions like the construction of seawalls, jetties, and the dredging of stream mouths.
