Kamaole Beach Park III

Dune Restoration       

As the trail headed north toward Kamaole III, it became evident that there was more work to do.  The park beach dunes were severely degraded from use, wind, and sea.  In June of 2006, Hoaloha 'Aina applied for a grant to bring in 600 tons of sand, over 1000 native plants, irrigation, and temporary sand fencing.   The grant was accepted and the group went to work.  Beach grade sand was brought in from central Maui and was then sculpted to create new dunes and access paths.  The purpose of the sand fencing is to help stabilize the dunes until the native plants can take over.  The fencing (and the plants) trap blowing sand, protecting the dunes and preventing the sand from blowing out onto the lawn areas.  The roots of the native plants will go deep into the dune and if a storm should remove the sand, some roots will always survive enough to regenerate the plant once again.   The temporary sand fencing will likely be removed within a year.

CONTINUING ALONG THE HERITAGE CORRIDOR TRAIL: The County does not want a trail or path bisecting its parks, but people can continue walking through the Kamaole Parks and then along the beach to Charley Young.    There are places where you must choose whether to walk along South Kihei Road or continue over rocks, but even if it is not marked, the coastal trail runs all along land perimeters.  When you come to condo properties, please use respect but the land (usually grassed) closest the ocean is still state land and you are welcome to use it.  Soon, Hoaloha 'Aina will be installing hiking symbols identical to those installed along the trail between Kihei Surf Side and Kamaole III to help people identify the way.   Next, walk through Kalama Park and exit at the far north end onto Halama Street.  Toward the end of the road, you can use a beach access path and walk further along the beach until you come to Menehune Shores.  Depending on tide, you may be able to walk around the revetment and on to the Whale Sanctuary.  During high tide, you will not be able to go further at this time.  Hoaloha 'Aina will be working with Menehune Shores to establish a walking path through their gates which will afford safe and dry passage during any tide.  From the Whale Sanctuary--you can walk all the way to Maalaea!