Honolulu Secures Funding for Ala Moana Beach Restoration

The State Board of Land and Natural Resources approved $7.44 million to replenish sand at Ala Moana Regional Beach Park.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in National Parks

Honolulu Secures Funding for Ala Moana Beach Restoration

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State officials have authorized $7.44 million in Green Fee revenue to restore sand at Honolulu's Ala Moana Regional Beach Park. The project aims to replenish the shoreline after wind and tides caused significant erosion.

Why it matters

Ala Moana Regional Beach Park serves an estimated four million annual visitors and hosts over 850 permitted activities. Restoration is essential as an offshore swimming channel currently prevents the natural replenishment of the beach sand.

The restoration project will place up to 70,000 cubic yards of sand along the beach. City officials have secured a conservation district use permit for the work that remains valid through February 11, 2030.

The players

State Board of Land and Natural Resources

This board oversees the management of public lands and natural resources within the state.

City and County of Honolulu

This local government body manages city infrastructure and public recreational spaces including Ala Moana Regional Beach Park.

The details

The city has already completed the necessary environmental review and permitting for the replenishment project. Previous efforts to fund this work were stalled when officials redirected a $10 million allocation toward COVID-19 emergency response equipment.

In 2020-2021, the city initially allocated $10 million for sand replenishment.
In October 2026, the state board approved the new $7.44 million funding package.
The current conservation district use permit expires on February 11, 2030.

Travel Outlook

This project follows the implementation of the Hawaii Green Fee to support local environmental conservation. It represents a shift toward using dedicated environmental revenue streams to maintain high-traffic tourist destinations against long-term erosion trends.

Visitors should anticipate potential construction activity at the park, which may be scheduled during night hours. City crews plan to phase the work to avoid disrupting major summer holidays.

The takeaway

Maintaining popular urban shorelines requires consistent investment to counteract the effects of natural erosion and modified tidal flow. Visitors can monitor city updates to plan their trips during periods when construction activity is minimized.