HONOLULU (KHON2) — For almost three months, a portion of the Moanalua Section of the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve known as “Middle Ridge” will be closed as crews work to remove the Haiku Stairs.
The closure comes from Hawaii Administrative Rules and was authorized by DLNR Chair Dawn Chang.
Officials say the closure is necessary to protect biological resources, public health, safety and welfare and more.
The stairs fall under the jurisdiction of The City and County of Honolulu and since their announcement to remove the stairs, several hikers have shown up in a final attempt to do the prohibited path.
Middle Ridge is not an official, maintained state trail and has become eroded and dangerous with the increase in hiker traffic in the last few years.
Department of Land and Natural Resources
To prevent people from getting injured in an attempt to cross the ridgeline and out of concern for the ecological damage hikers are doing to the native forest, DLNR officials said this was the right choice to make.
However, even with heavier police presence, hikers have been adamant about attempting the prohibited path before it’s removed for good.
People caught using the trails during the closure period could be cited
The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife has posted closure signs for the impacted trails.
The Kulanaʻahane Trail and Kamananui Valley Road will remain open.
DLNR encourages hikers to use designated Nā Ala Hele trails and to be mindful of the impact each one of us has on nature when we choose to recreate in sensitive places.