Baldwin Beach

Comments

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  Merryfrankster (guest)

  The likely cause of the erosion is the industrial-scale mining of this area's beach sand by the Alexander Baldwin Co., which operated a sand kiln continually at Baldwin Beach from 1904 to 1979. For seventy-five years, tons and truckloads of beach sand were being removed from nearby beaches and processed in the kiln. Much of the refined sand was sent to build the roads of Oahu. The result is a permanent and irreversible imbalance in Maui's North Shore beach sand system. Many of the old beaches have disappeared entirely, leaving only rocky outcrops. The erosion continues today, after the mining has stopped, because the entire bay is essentially a closed system. Seasonal ocean currents spread the sand around the entire bay, taking sand out into the bay during the summer, and bringing it back to shore in the winter. The remaining beach sand is settling in spots on the ocean floor which would not need replenishing had the sand not been mined from the beaches. The erosion of the beaches has meant a loss of habitat, breeding and nesting grounds for many species including turtles and monk seals.

  18 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  JayZee

  Just there... plenty of sand. Nice beach!

  14 years ago | reply | hide comment