Reshape Magic Island break wall to restore Garbage Hole

Restore the Garbage Hole surf spot at the tip of Magic Island by reshaping the break wall that covers it. Garbage Hole was partially ruined by extending Magic Island too far in 1962; when Bruce Brown filmed “The Endless Summer” he selected Garbage Hole to show the ultimate maneuver in surfing, the tube ride. Soon after filming, the break wall for Magic Island was laid down covering most of the surf spot. At low tide on certain swells surfers such as Larry Bertlemann would still try to surf it, though it was very dangerous. Hurricane Iniki and Ewa should that the extension of the break wall was too far by destroying end of the break wall. Bud Browne gave water footage showing the wave is both a left and a right; Tiger Espere was the most well-known surfer who surfed the left.

The existing reef has never changed over the last 65 years: it consists of flat coral shelf until it meets basalt boulders piled onto the reef, and snorkeling on a flat day easily shows the present conditions. Discussions with the Yatching community confirm that changing the tip of Magic Island would not affect boating safety — any boat that far off from the channel entrance is going to be in trouble regardless of the presence of boulders or uncovered reef.

The project fits into all three categories of green fee projects. The breaks of Ala Moana Bowls and Garbage Hole were not created by dredging of the channel; Rabbit Kekai said both breaks were better before the channel was dredged, and photos from before 1952 show to longer lines of both spots. Reshaping the break wall would restore the surfing and could be done in a way to preserve the beach and lagoon, making it a highly visible local community benefit.