Hawaii Beach Monitoring Program: Beach Profile Data for Maui and Oahu, Hawaii, USGS OFR 01-308

This data set is intended for scientific research of beach morphology and
volume changes.

Biannual beach profiles were collected at 42 Oahu and 36 Maui Locations between
August 1994 and August 1999. Surveys were conducted at approximately
summer-winter intervals and extend from landward of the active beach to about
-4 meters water depth. Profile data on this CDROM are presented in both
Microsoft EXCEL 97/98 & 5.0/95 Workbook (.xls) format and comma separated value
(.csv) format. Graphical representation of the surveys (x vs. z and x vs. y)
are presented in EXCEL format only. Site descriptions, including beach
location, directions to site, GPS information, and a description of Reference
Points used, are available in both EXCEL and ADOBE ACROBAT .pdf format.

Cross-shore beach profile data were collected as a component of the Hawaii
Coastal Erosion Study, a cooperative effort by U.S. Geological Survey and
University of Hawaii in order to document seasonal and longer-term variations
in beach volume and behavior. The overall objectives of the Hawaii Coastal
Erosion Study are to document the recent history of shoreline change in Hawaii
and to determine the primary factor(s) responsible for coastal erosion in
low-latitude environments for the purpose of predicting future changes and to
provide quality scientific data that is useful to other scientists, planners,
engineers, and coastal managers.

The overall strategy consists of first quantifying the magnitude and location
of serious erosion problems followed by close monitoring of coastal change in
critical areas. Bi-annual beach profiles have been collected at over 40
critical beach sites on the islands of Oahu and Maui. Once sufficient
background information is analyzed and key problems are defined, field sites
will be selected for detailed process- oriented studies (both physical and
biological) to gain an understanding of the complex relationships between reef
carbonate production, sediment dispersal, and the interaction of man-made
structures with sediment movement along the shore.

Information derived from this project will be used to develop general
guidelines for sediment production, transport, and deposition of low- latitude
coasts. Planned major products include a comprehensive atlas of coastal
hazards, journal articles and reports presenting results of our studies, and a
"living" database of shoreline history and changes based on results of the
beach profile monitoring and softcopy photogrammetric analysis.