A historic seawall needed coastal erosion mitigation, so Oceanit created a seawall to preserve the historic beach for generations.
Created in partnership with
The project has been ongoing since 2021 in collaboration with the Honolulu Department of Design & Construction.
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A historic seawall in danger of eroding
The historic Queen’s Beach seawall in Waikiki was in danger of eroding. High tidal conditions, rising sea levels, and summer swells created holes in the seawall’s foundation, which stands about 10 feet high on the makai side. The wall’s concrete cap was also damaged, which posed a public safety hazard. The project site sits between Kapahulu Avenue and the War Memorial Natatorium, running along the shoreline paralleling Kalakaua Avenue.
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Preserving history while providing stability for generations to come
Oceanit’s Resilient & Sustainable Engineering (RiSE) team performed a seawall condition assessment and provided planning, design, permitting, and post-design services for this 500-foot section of the beach. In this ongoing project, foundation voids were filled with concrete while the historic seawall structure remained in place by installing a new decorative fascia, cap, and wave deflector lip.
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Why it matters
Oceanit’s design preserved both the structure and appearance of the 100-year-old seawall and includes a low-maintenance area that allows easy public access from the Waikiki Promenade.
At a glance
The Queens Beach Waikiki project required the following reviews prior to the start of construction
Environmental Assessment Special Management Area Diamond Head Special District Shoreline Setback Variance Conservation District Use Permit Section 401 Water Quality Certification Coastal Zone Management Consistency Review Section 404 Department of the Army Permit Archaeological Report Review Threatened and Endangered Species Review Marine Life Conservation District Approval
