Hawaii planning to replenish sand at Waikiki Beach

The sand in the area has been eroding about one-to-two feet per year, leading water to rush into seawalls and a hotel restaurant bar at peak high tide.

The restoration project would cost between $2 million to $3 million. On Friday, the state appealed to the Hawaii Tourism Authority — a quasi-state agency that promotes Hawaii to the world — to help fund the effort.

"The beach is in dire need of repair right now," Sam Lemmo, administrator of the state Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands, told the agency's board on Friday. "But we're a little bit under on the money."

The project would pump sand from a spot offshore to a stretch from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel to the Duke Kahanamoku statue.

The state has already set aside $1.5 million, and hopes the tourism authority will provide about $1 million.

It also hopes Kyo-ya Hotel and Resorts — the owner of the Royal Hawaiian, the Moana Surfrider and other Waikiki hotels — will contribute $500,000.

The plan would take 25,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach using a submerged pump and pipeline. This would add about 40 to 50 feet to the beach, doubling the beach width in some areas and tripling it in others.

The same process would likely need to be repeated every 7 to 8 years to keep the beach sufficiently wide.

"This is not a one-time project. This is not a long-term solution by any means. This is what I could consider to be maintenance," said Dolan Eversole, a coastal geologist with the University of Hawaii Sea Grant program.