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HRS §171-151

Definitions for beach and coastal land rules

This section defines key terms used in this part of the law. It explains what beach lands, beach restoration, and coastal lands mean. These definitions help clarify which areas and activities are covered by the rules.

everyone

The statute, as written — Definitions

For the purposes of this part: "Beach lands" means all lands in the shoreline area including sand, rocky, or cobble beaches, dune systems, landward and seaward sand reserves, and all such lands subject to the natural processes of erosion and accretion. The term includes easements and rights in such land and any improvements on land. "Beach restoration" means an activity undertaken to: (1) Maintain and improve beaches and dune systems through management of sand and native dune vegetation; (2) Place sand on an eroded beach from an approved outside or adjacent source, with or without stabilizing structures; or (3) Remove abandoned remnant materials from beaches and dunes that pose a risk to public health and coastal ecosystems; provided that emergency erosion protection structures constructed pursuant to permits issued by the department and that continue to provide the protection for which they were permitted shall not be deemed abandoned remnant materials. "Coastal lands" means all land within the state coastal zone management area; provided that any leasing or development of public lands shall be limited to all fast lands up to one mile mauka of the shoreline and all submerged lands.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.