Help us raise $25,000 for Poipu Beach!

   

Poipu Beach Park is one of the island's most popular beach destinations and has been known as one of the safest swimming beaches on Kauai. However, in recent years, the beach fronting Poipu Beach Park has been significantly degraded. The deteriorating condition of the beach is a result of on-going erosion and loss of beach sand along the entire beachfront area. A major safety condition has also resulted due to the loss of the tombolo (sandy connection between the beach and near-shore reef/boulder platform), which has created a swift and dangerous current, presenting a safety issue for beach goers and swimmers. Lifeguards have reported increased rescues of swimmers in this area.

The Poipu Beach Resort Association (PBRA) and Poipu Beach Foundation (PBF) have been working closely with the County of Kauai on a long-term solution for beach nourishment in Poipu. This project consists of an in-depth Shoreline Study, which would design an initial beach nourishment project as well as gathering the necessary data to obtain all county, state and federal permits necessary. 

The Shoreline Study will:

• identify near-shore and inland compatible sand sources for nourishment;
• include a coastal processes study, including wave, current and sand transport processes;
• bathymetric and topographic profiles and
• alternative analysis for various beach restoration approaches.
• The study would also identify alternatives to alleviate the safety situation that developed in the area of the eroded tombolo.

The cost of the Shoreline Study is approximately $300,000. The County has budgeted $150,000 for this project and the Office of Economic Development has received grant funding from the Hawaii Tourism Authority for another $75,000, which is contingent on a private partnership of matching funds in the amount of $50,000. The County has therefore asked the Poipu Beach Foundation to help raise the additional dollars needed to fund the project.
 

The Eric A. Knudsen Trust and Knudsen Family have pledged $25,000 to the Poipu Beach Foundation for this project under the condition that the Foundation raise the additional $25,000 required for the project within the next few months.

Your kokua to help nourish the Poipu coastline is urgently needed. If you are interested in supporting this very important beach nourishment project at Poipu Beach, please call or email Poipu Beach Foundation: info@poipubeach.org and 808.742.7444 or simply donate online by clicking the ‘donate’ button located on this page. PBF is a 501-(c)3 non-profit organization. Your donation may be a tax deduction. Please consult your tax advisor.

Poipu Beach aerial photo by Dave Caylor.

POIPU BEACH FOUNDATION

The Poipu Beach Foundation is a small, non-profit charitable 501 C-3 organization, formed in the spring of 2000 with the specific purpose of enhancing the social, cultural and physical environment of Kauai’s South Shore. The intent of the Poipu Beach Foundation is to raise funds for projects that accomplish these goals as well as oversee the implementation and completion of chosen projects.

Since inception, the Foundation has raised funds for and completed the following projects:

• Production of the Maha`ulepu Heritage Trail map and website
• Establishing the Koloa Heritage Trail; providing interpretive printed and electronic information about the trail
• Building the children’s play structure at Poipu Beach Park
• Poipu Beach and Brennecke’s Beach sand replenishment
• Prince Kuhio Celebration 2003-2010
• Hawaiiana Festival 2002-2009
• New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2002-2009
• Malama Ola (to take care of life) 2009

We have also raised funds to assist in the development of a Monk Seal Documentary video in support of efforts to educate the public about the Poipu baby monk seals and for the new VariQuest Design Center for Koloa School. 

If you are interested in making a donation to the Poipu Beach Foundation, please call 808.742.7444 or email at info@poipubeach.org.