Waikiki Beach question...

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We will be staying at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. We are viewing the beach compliments of Google Maps satellite. There is a section of the beach directly out from the hotel that has an artificial looking barrier that is not far out from the beach and extends several hundred yards down the beach. My wife and I are having a "discussion" as to the purpose of this "barrier". Anyone?

[CruiserBruce]

Save the beach from erosion. 

[KeepCalmBearOn]

The Kapahulu Groin, its proper name, "Waikiki Walls" to local surfers and body boarders was built to create a beach. Waikiki was not an area of wide, natural beaches. A good deal of the sand to make it so was brought in from other areas. Before they built the Ala Wai Canal, Waikiki was a swamp and where the Kuekaunahi Stream emptied into Waikiki Bay. When they built the Kapahulu Groin they turned the Kuekaunahi Stream into a covered culvert (storm drain).

 

The sand to create Kuhio Beach and Queen's Beach (other side of the wall, was brought in from Waimanalo and Kaneohe NAS (now Kaneohe MCAS).

 

As side note, Waikiki Beach is just one of several beaches in Waikiki. Waikiki Beach is in front of the Royal Hawaiian, Moana and Outrigger WB. Halekulani is on Grey's Beach, Outrigger Reef is at Fort DeRussy Beach and the Hilton Hawaiian is on Kahanamoku Beach. All are in Waikiki.

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3 hours ago, scottca075 said:

The Kapahulu Groin, its proper name, "Waikiki Walls" to local surfers and body boarders was built to create a beach. Waikiki was not an area of wide, natural beaches. A good deal of the sand to make it so was brought in from other areas. Before they built the Ala Wai Canal, Waikiki was a swamp and where the Kuekaunahi Stream emptied into Waikiki Bay. When they built the Kapahulu Groin they turned the Kuekaunahi Stream into a covered culvert (storm drain).

 

The sand to create Kuhio Beach and Queen's Beach (other side of the wall, was brought in from Waimanalo and Kaneohe NAS (now Kaneohe MCAS).

 

As side note, Waikiki Beach is just one of several beaches in Waikiki. Waikiki Beach is in front of the Royal Hawaiian, Moana and Outrigger WB. Halekulani is on Grey's Beach, Outrigger Reef is at Fort DeRussy Beach and the Hilton Hawaiian is on Kahanamoku Beach. All are in Waikiki.

 

Wow! Very informative and thorough! Thanks....now I can impress my wife with the real story! We were tossing around things like the wall was to limit shark action, to create a kiddie pool area of the beach, and to create an area with no waves for pleasure purposes. Now we know. Looks like our hotel is at Kuhio Beach. Thanks!