Situation
The ocean’s unrelenting power makes seawall repair inevitable. GBI was contracted to repair and reinforce the Pono Kai Seawall in Kailua, Oahu.
Solution
The project involved removing almost 1800 cubic yards of existing fill behind the seawall, then replacing it with structural fill wrapped in nonwoven fabric. The restoration work also included repair of the damaged north and south ends, re-grouting 300 linear feet along the top of the north end, and beach re-nourishment.
Since the existing wall was vertical instead of a 1:1 slope once uncovered, the main challenge was to excavate down without collapsing the wall. Working with the tides and the surf, GBI placed sand filled bulk bags on the makai (seaward) side of the wall to assist in erosion control, replacing them along the work zone as the project moved forward.
Notable
The project was awarded the General Contractors Association Of Hawaii Award of Excellence in the category of projects $1 million or less.
Project Details
Awards
General Contractors Association Of Hawaii Award of Excellence in the category of projects $1 million or less
