WAILUKU–Maui County resident Heidi Sherman said she hopes the current dilapidated Baldwin Beach Park pavilion will be rebuilt and relocated to a safer location with dune restoration in mind.
“I support rebuilding the pavilion and I support dune restoration,” she said. “I’m hoping they will be able to put in some dune plants after they remove the pavilion.”
Last Friday, the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation announced it had applied for emergency Shoreline Management Area (SMA) permits to remove the Baldwin Beach Park pavilion, located at Kapuka’ulua Beach or Baldwin Beach, which has been damaged over time by high surf and rising sea levels. The structure has since been fenced off and closed to the public after collapsing on or around Aug. 31, officials report.
On the morning of Mon., Sept. 9, Sherman and others gathered in the area to participate in the ongoing monthly huli’ia series, developed by Nā Maka Onaona, a 501c-3 non-profit organization based in Hawai’i, in collaboration with the University of Hawai’i Sea Grant program.
Huli’ia is an observational process documenting seasonal changes and shifts across entire landscapes, from mauka to makai, from the mountains to the ocean. The Huli’ia process documents natural changes over time, and identifies dominant cycles of important species or natural occurrences in these areas.
Tara Owens, extension faculty, coastal processes and hazards specialist with the
University of Hawai’i Sea Grant College Program, said through their ongoing observations, an event such as last week’s was likely to occur.
“Although it is the end of an era of many happy memories, the loss of the pavilion was expected due to coastal erosion, and it just so happened to be this year,” she said.
Owens said she and others have been gathering at the Maui County beach park for almost four years, where they’ve been developing a plan of action in hopes of one day restoring the dune area nearby. The efforts include native planting, community engagement, data collection and more.
She said she believes the collapse may have initially happened on Aug. 31, when portions of the foundation and one of the pillars were undermined.
“It could have even occurred earlier on Aug. 30 or overnight,” she said. “We do have photos from Aug. 29 prior to the collapse.”
“Over time we have a collective record of what we see and it’s meant to help guide management practices there,” Owens said of the huli’ia program.
She also said the Parks Department has a conceptual Master Plan from 2019 that is centered around retreat or realignment of the pavilion, roadways, and parking that incorporates dune restoration.
According to the county press release on Friday, once the emergency SMA permits are approved, the pavilion will be removed following public safety and environmental protection protocols. The SMA permits are required for any shoreline work.
“The Department is committed to minimizing the impact on the surrounding area, including marine life and coastal ecosystems, while ensuring the structure’s removal is completed efficiently,” said Patrick McCall, director of the County Department of Parks and Recreation, in a press release.
“We appreciate the community’s cooperation and understanding as we work to address the impacts of climate change on our coastal infrastructure. We advise all park users to exercise extreme caution in or near the water and to follow any posted warnings and safety advisories,” McCall added.
Updates on the demolition process will be provided through Maui County’s website and social media platforms.
Beach-goers are urged to avoid the area surrounding the pavilion, as waves may carry debris from the building into the ocean, creating potential hazards for swimmers and surfers.