I guess it's Chasmanthium latifolium. If you Google it there are a lot of articles about dune stabilization. It seems to be an East Coast grass so either it's introduced in Alaska or your neighbour is calling something else sea oats. If gathering wild seed is working for him, why not just continue doing that?

Here is a link that might be useful: Sea Oats at Bluestem.ca

I do plan on doing the gathering/replanting. However, this year's the new seeds won't be there until fall, (which is really the start of winter), then late a planting or over wintering them. I was hoping to get a head start this spring with nursery seeds. Thanks for the reply and the link.