The road connecting the northern communities of Oahu, Hawaii, passes through Punalu'u Beach, a narrow park.
But rising sea levels and other threats are exacerbating erosion at Punalu'u beaches, putting both parks and roads at risk.
Laramee: “The area is again connected by an incoming road and an outgoing road… If we lose the road there, we're also going to lose that community.”
Leah Laramee serves on the Hawaii State Climate Council.
The state has been looking at some long-term options to protect Punalu'u Beach, including adding sand to the beach.
But the community also wanted immediate action, so in March volunteers helped plant native plants on the beach dunes.
Lalami said the plants help prevent erosion by stabilizing the beach while still allowing the sand to move slowly and naturally.
Laramee: “We were hoping to get you to meet 20-plus people, but we ended up with 75 volunteers, and it was great to see so many people come out and care about the space there.”
Since then, residents have continued to weed and water the new plants — helping protect their beaches, roads and neighborhoods from rising sea levels, Lalami said.
Report source: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
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