project for a park in the vicinity of Beaver Creek had been abandoned 
because of excessive land and development costs, and as federal participa- 
tion in this proposed project was recommended by the Beach Erosion Board 
contingent upon prior acquisition of necessary lands by the State, the 
Chief of Kngineers did not recommend adoption of a Federal project for 
the proposed Beaver Creek State Park. 
WAIKIKI BEACH, ISLAND Of CAHU, I. H. 
Waikiki Beach is located in Honolulu on the south shore of the island 
of Oahu between Diamond Head and the entrance to Honolulu Harbor. The s tudy 
area comprised a shore frontage of about 34 miles. In addition to Waikiki 
Beach proper, it included the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor and Ala Moana Park shores 
at the northwestern end of the area. Honolulu had an estimated population 
of 245,500 in 1950. Waikiki Beach is the principal recreational center for 
the city and tourist trade. The additional seasonal population, consisting 
mainly of tourists numbered ]\2,000 in 1948. The tourist season includes 
practically the entire year. Highly developed residential, hotel, business, 
and park areas are contiguous to the shore area. Waikiki Beach proper in- 
cludes the shore from the Elks Tlub to the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor. Two sections 
of this shore are publicly owned and occupied by Kapiolani and Kuhio Parks. 
Another section, Fort DeRussy, is owned by the United States and used as a 
recreational facility for service personnel. Northwest of Waikiki Beach 
proper are the Ala wai Yacht Harbor and Ala Ioana Park rrontages, both 
publicly owned. The former is excluded for consideration pending develop- 
ment of the harbor. The mean tidal range at Waikiki is 1.2) feet and the 
extreme spring range is }.2 feet. Higher tides are rare. Waves affecting 
the study area are caused by atmospheric disturbances at some distance from 
the Hawaiian Islands. Waves approach predominantly from the south-southwest. 
The average height of waves observed 2,300 feet offshore was 1.5 to 3 feet. 
Waves to 5 feet high were observed on several occasions and during one 
storm reached a height of 11 feet. The energy of waves is rapidly dissipated 
as they cross the gently sloping coral shelf near shore. The direction of 
littoral drift is northwestward, but due to the change in shore alignment 
and the extensive reef, little material moves into the Ala Wai Harbor or 
Ala Moana Park areas. The Waikiki shore is subject to cyclical and seasonal 
onshore and offshore movements of sand. In its natural state the shore 
consisted of a continuous sand beach, the crest of which advanced and re- 
treated with the shifting of material on and offshore. With the develop- 
ment and improvement of the upland areas, seawalls,were constructed to limit 
the retreat of the shore. Since construction of the seawalls the beaches 
deteriorated until only scattered remnants remained. iiuch of the Waikiki 
shore had no beach at any season. Beaches that remained were of inadequate 
width to survive erosional cycles and were at times completely washed away. 
The beach is the principal attraction for tourists visiting Cahu. The tourist 
trade is a major factor in the economy of the island. Existing beaches, 
even under the most favorable seasonal conditions, are inadequate to meet 
public demand. The Territorial Government desires a restored and protected 
beach at Waikiki to preserve and encourage tourist trade. 
The District and Division Engineers and the Beach Erosion Board con- 
cluded that the most suitable plan for restoring and improving haikiki 
pil 
