Waikiki Beach

In response to your article on the sand departing Waikiki Beach (Dec. 25):

In researching an article for The Times (July 29, 1982), I found that the sand on Waikiki Beach actually came from Manhattan Beach. Kuhn Bros. Construction Co. was busy excavating for its many projects in the 1920s and excess sand on the hills of Manhattan Beach was a problem. At the same time, Oahu was looking for some nice white sand. A few boatloads of California real estate were shipped across the water and everyone was happy.

Many a honeymooner has since returned from Hawaii with a little vial of Waikiki Beach sand--that actually came from the South Bay.

JOHN McCAFFERTY, Santa Barbara