Hawaii Kai Marina Groin Design and Permitting

The Hawaii Kai Marina entrance channel is located on the South Shore of Oahu. The marina and entrance channel were originally dredged in 1959, and subsequent maintenance dredging of the entrance channel has occurred in 1981, 1985, 1988, 2004, and 2013. The dredging project in 2004 included the construction of a sandbag groin to help stabilize the shoreline and minimize infilling of the channel. The sandbag groin was replaced in 2013, and the condition of the groin degraded significantly over time.

In 2014 the Hawaii Kai Marina Community Association retained Sea Engineering to design and permit a replacement permanent rock groin. A properly engineered rock groin reduced the need for future dredging of the entrance channel, eliminated the need for continual, expensive maintenance of the sandbag structure, and better stabilizes the Portlock Beach shoreline.

Sea Engineering, Inc. designed the new rock groin, prepared the draft and final environmental assessments, acquired the necessary permits, prepared construction bid documents, and provided construction management services.