Limit Emergency Shoreline Hardening Structures

Victory! In Hawaiʻi, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) oversees permitting for shoreline stabilization projects like sandbags and seawall repairs. Despite shoreline hardening being outlawed in Hawaiʻi (since 2020), more than 230 environmental exemptions have been granted to coastal property owners to install, repair, or replace shoreline hardening structures in the last 20 years. More than 60 of these exemptions involved permitting emergency sandbags. Sandbags interact with the coastline similar to seawalls and result in the disappearance of sandy beaches. 

For years, DLNR issued emergency shoreline hardening permits to coastal property owners whose homes or structures were threatened by erosion. In theory, these permits were supposed to be temporary (limited to 3 years) and used only for emergency situations (like hurricanes or tsunamis).  However, sandbags and other emergency shoreline stabilization projects were rarely removed when expired due to lax enforcement or being granted extensions. 

In 2023, the DLNR updated its policies to no longer grant emergency shoreline hardening permits in cases of coastal erosion. They also brought enforcement action against property owners who have expired shoreline hardening permits.  

In Hawaiʻi, beaches are considered a public trust and the state of Hawaiʻi is constitutionally obligated to protect them. DLNR is thus tasked with protection our shorelines. We are thankful that their updated policies are in line with the mandates set forth to protect our local coastlines.